Shanghai is China’s modern, pulsing heart. It’s home to millions of people, and as the economic center of the country, home to billions more dollars and yuan. Aside from being an economic powerhouse, Shanghai is also mainland China’s most international city. It’s one of the few places outside of Hong Kong where you’ll find someone […]
Ten Must-See attractions in Shanghai Read Post »
Disneyland. Ugh. What place on earth better represents the soulless void of American consumer capitalism? Maybe Walt Disney himself wasn’t actually a Nazi sympathizer, but he was anti-union and virulently anti-communist. I figured since I’m living in Communist China, I might as well go visit Shanghai Disneyland. If you’d rather skip Disneyland, click here for
I Finally Broke Down and Went to Shanghai Disneyland Read Post »
On June first at the stroke of midnight, Shanghai officially lifted its two-month lockdown. Two very long months of not leaving the apartment, thousands of daily COVID-19 cases, and boredom, so much boredom. But now, praise Mao and Buddha, the lockdown is over. Kind of.
Shanghai Ends the Lockdown, But Will it Ever be Normal Again? Read Post »
So, you’re thinking of learning Chinese, are you? Great idea. Not only is it a fascinating language, but it’s also spoken by over a billion people. Learning Chinese will give you insight into the enthralling, large, sometimes beguiling nation of China. Get ready to open the doors to one of the world’s great, historic cultures.
How I learned Chinese (and So Can You) Read Post »
Shanghai is under lockdown. As I write this, I’m sitting in my apartment, awaiting the call to go downstairs and take my twelfth COVID-19 test. These nucleic acid tests are the only time I’ve been through my front door for eight days straight. I haven’t left my apartment complex since… sometime in March? The days
The Great Shanghai Shutdown Read Post »
Just when you thought it was safe to take off the mask and go outside, COVID-19 is back with a vengeance in China. This time, though, it’s the highly contagious Omicron variant running amok and causing havoc in the Middle-Kingdom. That means travel restrictions, lockdowns, and mandatory testing. Is this the virus’s last gasp? Or
COVID-19 Strikes Again in China: This Time it’s Omicron Read Post »
China is a country of rule breakers. It’s a nation of criminals, scofflaws, delinquents, lawbreakers, and ne’er do wells who are constantly engaged in a convoluted game of cat and mouse with the authorities. This flagrant disregard for the rules and regulations was one of the biggest things that shocked me about China. Don’t believe
Breaking the Law in China Read Post »
Despite China’s best efforts, the dreaded Delta variant of COVID-19 recently slammed into the country with a vengeance. The total cases in the country are now sitting around 121,837. That may not sound like much compared to the United States or elsewhere, but it’s a lot for China. This is after administering nearly one and
How China’s COVID-19 Delta Variant Outbreak Ruined My Summer Vacation Read Post »
If you’re looking for an escape from Shanghai’s overwhelming glistening modernity, you could do a lot worse than Qiuxia Garden. The garden is located in the suburb of Jiading, about an hour cab ride away from the glittering steel towers downtown. The garden, and the surrounding old town, makes for an incredibly relaxing afternoon getaway.
Qiuxia Garden: An Ancient Chinese Garden in Shanghai’s Backyard Read Post »
There’s water everywhere, but in China, it isn’t safe to drink. It rained all day yesterday. Even though I had an umbrella with me, my shoes are still soggy from trudging through a downpour. This isn’t even the rainy season. Sometimes it rains non-stop for two weeks straight. Everyone’s walls have water damage and sometimes
You Can’t Drink the Water in China Read Post »
