Shanghai
The next time I saw China was in to 2005, when we stopped over in Shanghai on our return from Europe. What a difference. Shanghai was abuzz with distant, and not so distant, jackhammers. Very tall apartment blocks leapt from old waterfront coal loader sites, almost as we watched.
Shanghai Business District (from our hotel)
The thousands of push bikes I had seen in the eighties were now replaced by motorbikes and many many new cars. The skyline is now studded with futuristic new office towers. We looked in vain for old China Town or the Chinese markets. Although appearing on our out-of-date map these were now replaced by grand boulevards, flanked by sales rooms for expensive European cars; exclusive fashion boutiques; and jewellery stores. At one of these I was able to have my Swiss watch cleaned and serviced at no cost - remarkable.
The Bund
We were staying at the Peace Hotel in the Bund. Our suite was on two levels with wide flat screen televisions on each; and two bathrooms. We had bought it on-line at less cost than the Travel Agent was able to find us a single room. We travelled under the river to reach the central business district and the tallest of Shanghai’s buildings. We travelled on top of the river on a sightseeing cruise. We had some excellent Chinese food at the restaurant in our hotel and it even provided a floor show with our meal one evening. But because of a local wedding another night, we decided to eat in the European bar and grill in another part of the hotel. It was one of the most expensive steaks (and certainly not the best) that I have ever eaten. More fool us!