Like I mentioned before, the coming of fall results in a series of local holidays. The most recent of which is National Day. This is one of China's "golden weeks." A time when work stops and people get to go home and visit with family for a week or work and get overtime. National Day represents the formation of the Peoples Republic of China. The official day is Oct. 1st and this year marks the 51st year of PRC's one party system. So, it is kind of like the fourth of July to us. I have to admit, the holiday came and went. I don't recall any dramatic display of patriotism. Although, there certainly were a lot of people out and about in the city.
On Saturday we headed out for a day in Shanghai with kids. It started with a subway ride into Puxi to Jin'ang. Here there was a temple and a park. The park was nice but in China grass is to look at, not to run on. Twice we got busted for playing on the lawn, along with many Chinese. Then AC and JP decided to jump on one of those kid spin merry go rounds. You know the ones we used to play on as a kid. Well, it didn't go well. AC got dizzy and let go, then came flying off.
After spinning out of control we headed down Nanjing Rd. which is one of the premier shopping streets. However, after being here two months there are many premier shopping areas. This is the only place I have been to that has multiple high end shopping districts. And I am not talking Nordstrom. We are talking Dolce Y Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermes.... We don't have a Banana Republic, but if I want Prada, I am all set. As for the injured spinner, nothing an Icee couldn't fix.
After a pretty lengthy walk we landed at "People's Square," which prior to the establishment of the PRC, was a horse race track. Once gambling was banned by the government it became a park and the location for Shanghai's municipal government. While walking through the park I was struck by a huge crowd of people standing by papers attached to trees and bushes. I found it odd, so I investigated further. There were one page description with and occasional picture attached, and although I can't read Chinese, I was able to sort out basic details like 160 cm. I kind of had a pit in my stomach, because I think we may have happened upon a missing persons gathering. However, I did not feel a somber atmosphere. The event really did strike me, so when we got home I did a little internet searching, only to discover that what we happened upon was the weekly "Marriage Market" This is a place where worried parents or grandparents come to advertise there unattached progeny with or without their consent... So that is why there were only a few with pictures attached!!! No actually, there is a projected shortage of brides over the next 20 years. 24 million to be exact (well guesstimated). Should I say don't mess with mother nature.....you reap what you so... end of comment. (click on the blog title to learn more about the marriage market)
Anyway, marriage is a significant status symbol in China, but in Shanghai, the independent, self sufficient woman is emerging. Not without societal pressures however. In the US the term Cougar refers to single woman over forty. In China there is the Shengu, or "left over woman" which is an unmarried woman over the age of 28...... Twenty eight, come on... if they are only going to have one child, give these women a break, and allow them to define themselves!!!!
Back to our excursion, we continued to head down Nanjing road and from Peoples Square on the crowds started building and building. So, we took refuge at the Sofitel for a glass of wine, some sodas and a bathroom stop. We were pretty sure there would be clean bathrooms in a fancy western hotel. After our little break we realized that all of Shanghai was on Nanjing Road (see picture above of the sea of heads) so we thought we better make our escape. We continued to the river. We we got to the bund we took the people mover under ground and we were back on the Pudong side of the Nanpu river....and we were hungry. So we went to the "Super Brand Mall" and dined at South Beauty, and excellent Chinese chain restaurant, with a view of the river. After everyone was satisfied, we luckily got a cab and home we went. As a bonus we got to enjoy the fireworks from the cab on the way. Then sweet dreams were had by all.
No comments:
Post a Comment