Let the Sky Fall

Let the sky fall

When it crumbles

We will stand tall

Face it all together

At skyfall

That skyfall

 

In case you do not know, this is a clip of Shanghai’s night view in the latest James Bond film-Skyfall. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!

When I was watching this movie at theater, this scene literally filled my eyes with tears and set off an attack of homesickness. To be honest, I never loved Shanghai that much in my entire life before watching this movie in which Shanghai got a chance to unfold its glamorous beauty before audience all around the world.

Shanghai, best known as one of the most international cities in the world and the economic engine of China, drawing more and more attentions due to its prosperity and modernization. Nevertheless, this city is also comfortably wrapped with multicultural and historical characters. Dating back to the period of World War II, Shanghai was invaded by the western countries, which resulted in emerging foreign concessions. Nowadays the architecture built at that time still well remained in Shanghai as one of the most popular attractions.

But make no mistake, even though with several years of foreign exposure, all the alleys, the Shanghai cuisine and the intimate dialects have suggested that Shanghainese had preserved their distinguished Chinese characters in perception, culture and lifestyle all along.

Last summer, we headed to Shanghai after our joyful sightseeing in Zhouzhuang and decided to do nothing but shopping and relaxing. Here are my recommendations of “Where to go” in Shanghai to silly, simply, happily enjoy your life.

Nightlife is definitely a highlight part of Shanghai. But how could you pick out the worthy-going ones from a blurred mixture of tons of bar and pubs? It’s actually quite simple: Ask your local friend.

My friend back from college whose origin is Shanghai recommended me the “Vue Bar” that located on top floor (23^nd floor) of Hyatt on the Bund. I would say it’s a must see place in Shanghai only if the drinks could be not that overpriced (Entrance fee is 100RMB with just one free cocktail). Sitting in the “Vue Bar”, you can simply enjoy the most stunning night view of this city. At nighttime, the Bund is lit up and the cruises steered slowly through Huangpu River, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy with a glass of mojito.

The night view @the Vue Bar. Forgive the poor quality, I forgot to take my SLR camera. Photo (cc) Yujing Zhao, some rights reserved.

Girl’s night with alcohol involved @bar on the Bund. Photo (cc) Yujing Zhao, some rights reserved.

 

 

When it comes to night view, how could we miss “the Bund”? This street is widely known for its colonial buildings that were banks, private firms and hotels that definitely worthy to go more than once. While strolling on the Bund at night, you can find modern shopping malls on one side, and admire the old Shanghai buildings on the other side. Heading straight forward to the Bund Promenade where you would be able to view the grandeur of Shanghai architecture.

Views on the Bund. Photo (cc) Yujing Zhao, some rights reserved.

Night view on the Bund. Photo (cc) Yujing Zhao, some rights reserved.

 

 

Her Name is Molly—Series Story (1)

Her name is Molly, and she only worries about one thing: die before see everything in this world.

Molly has millions of fans in Weibo(Micrioblog), and they followed Molly through photos and stories to travel around the world.

A snapshot of Molly’s Weibo account homepage

For Molly, a story begins without reasons, and also has nothing to do with how it ends. All she cares is how she lives and what she feels right now.

Molly originally comes from Hong Kong and now she lives in Shanghai. Regarding to her friends words, she’s an untidy boy inside an adorable lady who’s never afraid of mess, dirty, even death. Why do they so? Just listen to some of her craziest travelling stories:

She flied to Kashgar just several days after the riot in Kashgar had been reported. Despite anyone’s persuasion, she carried on  regardless; She climbed a snow mountain with barefoot; She had have camped in a desert in India.

“Although these sound crazy to people, I don’t think I have experienced a real crazy adventure.” Said Molly in a interview with Reading Time Journal.

 

Photos (cc) by Haisen, Wang and Yaoge and published on Flickr under a Creative Commons License. Some rights reserved.