Qibao Ancient River Town

So much of my trip to Shanghai was about seeing my old favorites from the time I studied abroad. It was great to reminisce, but I was also determined to see at least one new area before heading back home to Hong Kong. 

Shanghai is famous for its nearby river towns, and although they are now extremely touristy, the picturesque settings are perfect for a quick day trip. 

After researching a few, I decided on Qibao - one of the closest to Shanghai and easily accessible via Metro on Line 9. From there, the tourist district is well marked. On the way to the scenic riverfront area, there are lots of small shops that never seem to sell anything worth buying.  Mostly just souvenirs and other useless gift items.

The town dates all the way back to the year 960, but it was hard to imagine what life would have been like for residents back then. These days, I could tell that the residents often live in their small shops (I could see several with mattresses propped up against the walls). On the side streets, there were groups of young children playing together. Although this district has become a modern tourist trap, there are still glimpses of the basic and difficult life that most locals must endure to make a living. 

The riverfront area was very charming. It doesn't appear to be used for much anymore (besides touristy boat rides). There were several tea houses and restaurants to visit for a peaceful view of the river to pass the day. 

When I was walking along the river, I could see a tall pagoda off in the distance and I decided to walk there and see what it was all about. Inside, I found that it was extremely well restored, with a giant buddha in each level and excellent views of the surrounding town.

Finally, no trip to China would be complete without exploring the street food culture. Qibao lives up to expectations, with countless vendors selling various meats on sticks and other unusual specialties. I was also intrigued by several cotton candy artists that carefully created floral-looking masterpieces with the sugar. Although I didn't buy any food, it is always fun to see the types of things that locals will eat.

Qibao doesn't require too much of a time commitment, but it offers a welcomed respite from the busy streets of urban Shanghai. It is still quite crowded, but I enjoyed wandering aimlessly through the streets and discovering more of the culture that makes China so unique. 

Shanghai

I can't believe how much has changed since I was last in Shanghai. Five years ago, I arrived at Pudong airport with a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension. It was my first time visiting Asia and I was unsure what I would encounter. Now, five years later, I am once again living in Asia. This time, however, I felt like a pro. I walked through the airport with a sense of nostalgia, and I was excited to spend a few weeks in a city that I once called home.

My arrival as a businessman is a lot different than it was as a student. Instead of stepping into a taxi with my school address printed in Chinese, I was greeted by a signboard and ushered into a black, chauffeur-driven Mercedes. I arrived at the hotel, and the elevator catapulted me to the lobby on the 91st Floor. Looking out over the city, I felt a sense of dominance that I never would have predicted when I was attending job fairs and hopelessly searching for an employer who would give me a chance. The view of the Pearl Tower and the sprawling megacity was awe-inspiring. 

View from my hotel room on the 87th floor at night

View from my hotel the next morning

I decided to spend one day visiting my former school and reminiscing about all the fun times I had there. CEIBS is located very deep in the residential part of Pudong, so half of the experience is just getting there. I walked past the restaurants and bars I used to eat at with my classmates. The Thai place, the Vietnamese place, the Mexican place – all were seemingly unchanged since 2010. I went into the Carrefour where I bought my groceries and supplies to get me through the semester. When I lived here before, I was committed to trying something new in each visit, and this trip was no exception. With an unidentifiable dumpling in my hand, I walked the last few blocks to the campus. 

Returning to CEIBS, where I spent a semester of my MBA

The CEIBS library sits at the center of the campus

My timing was perfect, as the school was preparing for the latest batch of students to arrive. Some things stayed the same, but the campus had doubled in size since I was there. I snuck into the new dorms. They were so much better than where I lived. It was strange to not know anyone, but I was glad to go back.

5 years have passed since my opening ceremony at CEIBS

On my way to the Metro, I walked past a day spa where I enjoyed countless massages for incredibly bargain prices. I considered going inside for a foot massage before realizing that I am now staying in hotel with one of the best spas in the city. After a short internal debate, I opted for a spa at the hotel. Is this a sign that I now value quality more than cheap prices? Absolutely.

One afternoon, I rode the metro to The Bund and looked out at the beautiful views of the skyscrapers on the other side of the river. In 2010, my hotel was the tallest building in sight, but it is now being eclipsed by another, even taller tower still under construction. The rate of growth in China is still unmatched by any developed country.

I walked down Nanjing Road where I used to shop, and it was even busier than I had remembered. So many people trying to sell me copy watches, massages, and other overpriced junk I didn’t need. I considered going back to my favorite Shanghai-style dumpling stand, but my more mature self realized that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to eat the mystery meat when I can now afford so much better. 

At one point, someone walked past (who I can only assume is a celebrity), and suddenly a swarm of people were running behind like maniacs with their cameras out to capture the moment. I’m sure some of them didn’t even realize whom they were chasing after, but the mob mentality was too strong to avoid. Moments such as those always bring a smile to my face because they remind me that the locals act so differently than people in the developed world.

Another day, I  went to the Yuyuan Market. Even though I know it is a complete tourist trap, I still enjoyed the ambiance when I lived in Shanghai before. It turns out the rest of China must have also learned about this place because it was absolutely packed this time. After shuffling through and getting pushed more times than I could count, I made my exit as quickly as possible.

The insanely busy Yuyuan Market

Western conveniences everywhere - even in this "historic" market

In the middle of my trip, I moved to another hotel in Xintiandi – one of the most fashionable areas of the city. Even though it is also very touristy, the architecture is so unique and there are more sophisticated shops and restaurants to explore. Pudong is amazing for views, but nothing beats Xintiandi for style.

Lobby of my hotel in Xintiandi

My trendy hotel room in Xintiandi District

Beautiful buildings in the French Concession

The final thing on my wish list was getting some custom tailored clothes. I couldn’t find the name of my tailor from 2010, so I asked a local teammate if he had any suggestions. Without even hesitating, he called someone for a private fitting in my hotel room. I picked out the material for my suit and some dress shirts and felt like I had gotten away with robbery when they told me the price. A few days later, the garments arrived and I was really satisfied with the results. I may be biased, but Shanghai is still the place to go for custom tailored clothing. 

Plenty of luxury shopping in Shanghai, but nothing beats custom tailoring

Much of my trip to Shanghai was spent reliving my study abroad days, yet on an elevated level. It was such a fascinating place to live as an MBA student, and it’s equally as amazing to visit as a professional. With something for everyone, I’m sure this will be far from my last trip to the Pearl of the Orient.  

Pearl Tower - an architectural icon of Shanghai