Getting Shanghai-ed, 4/8

Shanghai is probably a lovely city if it is not rainy and cold, but I may never know for sure. Our last day in China was spent wandering around the pedestrian mall and Renmin Park (‘The Peoples’ Park’). We went to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and saw two enormous models of the present and future Shanghais: in both there are tall, stately buildings, inviting waterfront, orderly neighborhoods. Shanghai will host the World Expo in 2010 and it seems as big an event as hosting the Olympics. They have their own mascot and everything. Those of you who have seen my father’s artwork will be struck by the similarities with Land of Oz and his many other works that incorporated themes of architecture, technology, and symmetry.

We also spent a delightful afternoon in the Shanghai Museum, also in Renmin Park. The paintings, bronze, and sculptures were exquisite! We bought a book about the museum and its holdings and took many photos (on flickr). Wish we’d had more time there. By the time we left the museum it was raining, so our plans to catch a cab back to the ship were dashed (everyone else wanted a cab, too). We walked all the way back, squishing and grumbling, but made it in time for dinner and perhaps more importantly, in time for the departure from port.