.: A Music Letter From Shanghai To California n Singapore: Henri Gann

Henry Gan writes from a Chinese city...

'A Morning Walk In Shanghai'

YouTube Video by this blog's contributing

writer Henri Gann since it started in 2009.

Thanks very much, Henri.

Shanghai, an exotic city reflecting both its colonial past and its role as a modern metropolis tackling the climate crisis, felt to me like a society striving towards the same freedoms as the rest of the world. From the moment I stepped onto the Maglev train, which whisked me from the airport to the city in a mere eight minutes, I felt the contrast of old and new. We sped past lines of cars on the highway, while electric cars, motorcycles, and bicycles purred quietly through the streets, the only sound being the shrill whistles of policemen, which cut through the air like screeching birds.

In the early morning, I wandered through parks where older adults danced and sang joyfully, or played instruments like the flute, saxophone, and clarinet. The street food vendors in their small shops sold $1 meals to loyal regulars, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. I walked through the old city streets at the Bund, Huang Pu Road, and the French Concession, savoring each step.

Every day, I indulged in the incredible street food—the delicate xiao long bao became a staple for me. I discovered the unique flavors of Shanghai’s lo mien, the stringy noodles, sesame buns, scallion pastry bread, egg and scallion buns, pickled vegetables with braised pork, crab soup buns, and an array of rice cakes. Best of all was a burrito-like wrap of youtiao (fried dough) and scallions, dipped in mint sauce.

This, I realized, is the inner soul of Shanghai—where tradition and progress blend effortlessly, and the flavors, sights, and sounds linger long after you leave.