Zai Shanghai: The New Years Experience of a Lifetime

Just in the knick of time, our highly anticipated trip to Shanghai was upon us.

In total, about 20 of the foreign teachers from Aston left our depressing homes, still stinking of Christmas spirit, via a Sunday night sleeper train. These trains are very compact, with about 6 beds to a compartment. I had a top bed, which left me with not even enough room to sit up. Everyone chatted excitedly, and when the lights went out at 11pm, we were mid conversation. In our anticipation, we could barely sleep.

We arrived in Shanghai at 6am, and immediately booked our return tickets.  Our group of eight found our hostel, a small but friendly place, easily enough. Located right next to People’s Square, just one famous part of Shanghai, we strolled through this highly commercial district on our way there. Our mouths watered and our eyes widened as the memory of our Western lives consumed our senses. Subway, Starbucks, Hershey’s, Coldstone Creamery, H&M, Best Buy, Zara, Mango… this was heaven! We took a moment to celebrate this euphoria on the famous Nanjing Road.

Our first stop, as our group of 7 broke into two groups of four and three, was Starbucks. Andy, Rob, Stephanie, and I savored the taste of delicious coffee, while Andy’s camera began to snap pictures almost of it’s own accord. My dry erase marker, which was accidentally left in my coat pocket, made its first appearance as well. 

Then, it was off to the Bund. Though covered in fog, we took in the famous skyline with pleasure: the Pearl and Jin Mao Towers, the beautiful inlet to the Pacific Ocean, the passing boats, and the buzz of tourists. At this point, I realized that I was looking in the direction of America and my family: a moment of nostalgia that momentarily consumed me.

After exploring the Bund a bit, we made one of what would be many stops to Subway. I never knew a sandwich could taste so delicious. The famed Chinese Sex Museum was next on the agenda, only for us to discover it had closed down. That evening, we searched for a certain Mexican restaurant, whose review we found in a recent magazine. After walking for half and hour, and then searching the area on locals conflicting directions for another hour, we decided to give up. We ate pizza at a small place in People’s square, and then called it a night. Though the day had disappointed us, it was still laden with comic moments. 

Tuesday was New Years Eve. Andy and I got up bright and early to meet Emma, who had to arrive a day later, due to a Monday class. We immediately headed to Starbucks to pass the morning, and then were off to the Yuyuan Gardens. Old Town Shanghai was wonderful! It seemed far removed from the sprawling metropolis of the Bund and People’s square. Traditional Chinese Architecture clashed with the electric logos of Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Starbucks. 

The Gardens themselves were gorgeous, and provided us with ample opportunities to take numerous comic and completely pointless pictures. 

Walking back through Old Town, we passed a vendor who told me I was beautiful, and enthusiastically informed me that his son was single. His son then proceeded to dance with me in the middle of the road, afterwards telling me that I was his first girlfriend. We took a couple picture, and unwillingly parted ways. Ah, the woes of love.

The Jin Mao tower was the place of the night.  Exiting the subway, we found, to our chagrin, that there was absolutely no way around the massive construction site that seemed to be circling the tower. Walking along the edge, wondering if we would ever find a way around this seemingly infallible blockade, we discovered a break in the wall. Sprinting across a 100-meter stretch of wet cement (the women in stilettos, might I add) we finally crossed over to the Tower side.  Three separate elevators later, we finally reached the bar on the second highest floor to see the view, getting a fancy drink for the same price as traveling the next floor up. It was gorgeous, and unbelievably posh. I had a Blue Shanghai, which seemed fitting for the occasion. 

After, everyone was about to return to the hostel when, in a stroke of spontaneity, Stephanie and I decided we wanted to see more of Shanghai nightlife than just New Years. We headed to one of the most famous clubs, called Muse, only to find it rather lounge-ish and not suited to our dancing inclinations. Grabbing a taxi to the next location, we met the other half of the Aston Teachers at the Bull Dog, a traditional style English pub located in the French Concession. Unbeleivablely, there was no entrance fee for ladies, and free cosmopolitans on top of that, Cosmopolitans being my favorite drink, and my wallet feeling rather thin at the moment, this was simply AWESOME. Stephanie and I met a group of guys from San Francisco, who there on vacation. It was nice to get back in touch with Americans. All of my close friends are English here; although we had no problem connecting and having loads of fun, it’s different when your with people of your same background and nationality.

 

After the Bull Dog, Stephanie and I decided it was time to Dance. And dance we did, at a fantastic club called Mirrors, until we finally dragged ourselves out of the club at 5am. What had originally been projected as an early, mediocre night had turned into a randomly spectacular one. 

The next day, Andy, Rob, Steph, and I had a lye-in. We made it to Subway around 12, and then to Starbucks. After only a few days there, we had already developed a routine. We walked around the shopping mall for a while, and then back to the hostel to get ready for the night. Our first stop was the Hostel bar, where we had pizza as opposed to an expensive meal. Then, our group hit the streets to Spring Sunrise, a bar that Andy had found and booked us a table at for the night. As it turned out, he had booked us unknowingly into a private party of about 20 people. Also unknowingly, it was a Costume Party. Removing ourselves from this hilarious mess-up, we joined the other half of Aston crew at the Mural Bar, our saving contingency plan.

The rest of the night can be summed up in Pictures. We had so much fun, all the way until 4am!

The following day, we were all exhausted, but managed to check out of the hostel by noon. After Subway and Starbucks yet again, we walked around the French Concession, and then back to the Bund for some non-foggy portraits of the place. 

Afterwards, we made our way to the French Concession, finding the Subways literally jam-packed with people. That's China for you!

Catching a night train back to Jinan Thursday night, we fell into our tiny beds and slept like babies. Shanghai was just what I needed to break out of my post-Christmas funk. Watch out, China, Amy’s Back!