Yes, Shanghai! Every once in awhile, we are struck by the fact that we live in China and go periodically to hang out in Shanghai! Really, fantastic is the only way to describe it.

I’ll confess right from the start that I was somewhat hungover and tired when we headed out for our walking tour, discovered over breakfast in the latest edition of Time Out Shanghai, the what-to-do, where-to-eat magazine that has given me so much good advice to date. Off we headed to explore the architecture created by Ludlo Hudec in the 1930s when Shanghai was at its (first) height. I felt better upon finding the Grand Theatre and Park Hotel, close to each other and each a wonder of Art Deco styling. The magazine sweetened the walk by running a contest for readers: do the walk and answer some questions by reading various displays, plaques and construction signs and be entered to win a glorious weekend at the Pudong Shangri-La. Oh yeah, baby! Let’s do it!

Shanghai Weddings

We schlepped through a number of neighbourhoods, getting lost once and trying to answer the question of the wrong building, but it was fun! Nearly at the end, we happened upon a “renovated” neighbourhood near a canal and set up as a pedestrian mall–a rarity in Shanghai and a blessing. Apparently all the brides in Shanghai go there for their wedding photos, many of which we will post for you here. And why wouldn’t they? If you can get a spot on the bridge over the canal, the backdrop is Pudong, with arguably the most interesting architecture anywhere.

I hereby dedicate this portion of the blog to my dear friend Lynne and her husband Martin, whose son is getting married in September. It’s too bad Jelena already has her dress as I’m sure she would be inspired by these designs: