Shanghai is not necessarily the best city for tourism because it isn't a city with must-see sights. Walk along the Bund and you've pretty much crossed off the one big to-do. Nonetheless, I have a list of tourist sights that I want to see and I am slowly working my way through it. That "tour guide from hell" mentality my father instilled in me relaxes a bit when I have a whole year to see everything.
Recently I decided I want to go on one of the big bus tours around the city. You know, the ones where you can sit on the top level and take pictures, then get on and off at various sites. They universally signal "TOURIST" but I think it would be fun and a good way to see the city from a new perspective. I mentioned this plan to another foreign teacher from my arrival group. I received a look of disdain as she told me "I live here. I'm not a tourist."
Girl, please.
Yes, you've lived here for four months. Just like me. This makes you neither Shanghainese nor Chinese. You're a foreigner. If you don't want to do embarassing tourist things, that's fine (me sharing plans was not an invitation, by the way). But please, un-arch that eyebrow and tone down the disgust. I don't think me saying "big bus tours" aloud automatically diminished your cool factor.
In honor of that arched eyebrow, here's some tourist things I've done recently:
Shanghai Museum of Sun Yat-Sen's Former Residence
Sun Yat-Sen was a Chinese revolutionary who helped overthrow the Qing dynasty. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the Republic of China and became it's first president.
We have had really nice weather the past few days, and Shanghai has some beautiful green spaces to while away the hours. Also a great place to shoot the breeze with old Chinese men. Snag a bench in the shade and watch them flock to you.
Old people are very active in Shanghai. They make a concerted effort to exercise, but they do it in a lot of fun ways. I've seen a lot of tai chi and some huge night-time dance classes held in parking lots. However I also see old people just playing games that get them up and moving, including badminton, kite-flying and spinning tops. I'm always tempted to join in when I see the dancing classes, but it's usually unclear to me if this is an invite-only thing or what. Here's hoping my new friends from the park can give me the lowdown.