As I mentioned yesterday my husband, Andrew, recently traveled to China. Many people asked "why didn't you go with him?" Well, mainly because I'd already planned a trip to Phoenix to visit my brother and his family that same week, and the China trip came out of the blue. Maybe if he returns I'll go, maybe...to be honest China has never been on my list of places to visit.
When asked what I wanted him to bring back for me, I said just photos — I wanted to see what green there was in an area that has a reputation for pollution and rampant urban development. Here's a view from Andrew's hotel room — just a small portion of the Shanghai skyline — photo taken toward Nanjing Road. Evidently there is an extensive park system in Shanghai.
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Here's another image of the Shanghai skyline, this photo taken from the Jinmao Tower looking west toward the Huangpu River. Those tall buildings appear to go on forever don't they?
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A Greenwall on the Bund. The Bund is an area of European colonial architecture along the Huangpu River (more info here).
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Poster spotted in the Fairmont Peace Hotel. One of the men shown in the poster was performing at the hotel..."they are not the best band in the world, but they are the oldest"...
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Another photo from Andrew's hotel room in Old Town, Shanghai.
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Close up of the balcony shown above, with plants and laundry.
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Laundry poles, another Old Town street scene.
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Shoe repair on Fangbang Road. This photo is the Chinese counterpart to one I took of a cobbler's shop in Florence, Italy, when we visited in 2006.
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Bicycle repair, also on Fangbang Road.
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Tiny turtles at the Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market. "If you want old school — really old school — China, this is where to go." (read more)
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Crickets, some for fighting, some for singing...
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Tillandsia at the market.
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There were many individual stalls, all selling their unique blend of wares.
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Outside the market, Andrew spotted this Agave.
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There was no price that he could see, he thought it might be part of someone's collection and thus not for sale. I think it's A. 'Kissho Kan'?
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Bonsai and other plants for sale on Xizang Road.
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Cactus and succulents in the window at the Volunteer Center (meaning of "volunteer center" was unclear — but it looks like they're still celebrating the New Year).
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Originally Andrew wanted to photograph this mass of grafted Euphorbia outside a fancy shopping district, but when this couple decided it was worthy of a portrait session, well his photo got even better.
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Palms at Huai Hai Park
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This scene in Jing'an Park shows just what a social center the parks are for people living in the many urban high-rise buildings.
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Band playing in Jing'an Park
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Andrew did have the opportunity to visit a traditional Chinese Garden, Yu Garden.
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"Yu Garden. Pan Yundan, the governor of Sichuan, created this Garden of Joy (Yu Yuan) for his father in the 16th century. The land was later sold to guilds of merchants. All the elements expected from the garden of a prominent social figure are found here: streams, lotus ponds, bonsais, bizarrely shaped rocks conjuring up images of mountains, a pool evoking seas and lakes — all designed to create reproductions of famous natural settings on a reduced scale." (from his Lonely Planet pocket guide book)
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This scene reminds me very much of the "Knowing the Fish Pavilion" in our Lan Su Chinese Garden here in Portland.
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(I wonder if that bucket on the right was part of someone tidying up?)
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A sign in the garden.
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Switching gears! (just a little) This graphic was one Andrew saw a couple of times during his travels. We decided that's "hot boy" on the left and "cold boy" on the right, they appeared on heating and air-conditioning units. Doing a little "Google" research I discovered these are the Haier brothers and they have a cartoon series in China, they also appear on Haier electrical appliances (hence the HVAC). Evidently they've have become underground gay icons too (gee, ya think?)...
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Here's a gigantic forge at a Hardware factory in Shanghai. Note the person (dwarfed by the machine) on the left.
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Plants outside a glass factory near Wuxi
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And a lonely plant, cheering someone's workspace in a stamping and spinning factory.
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An orchard as seen through a window at a threaded parts factory in the Wuxi area.
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And finally, just so you know photos aren't the only thing I got, Andrew purchased this cashmere scarf at the Yu Yuan Garden bazaar (market area near the garden). The salesperson was happy to model it for him...
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All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
When asked what I wanted him to bring back for me, I said just photos — I wanted to see what green there was in an area that has a reputation for pollution and rampant urban development. Here's a view from Andrew's hotel room — just a small portion of the Shanghai skyline — photo taken toward Nanjing Road. Evidently there is an extensive park system in Shanghai.
Here's another image of the Shanghai skyline, this photo taken from the Jinmao Tower looking west toward the Huangpu River. Those tall buildings appear to go on forever don't they?
A Greenwall on the Bund. The Bund is an area of European colonial architecture along the Huangpu River (more info here).
Poster spotted in the Fairmont Peace Hotel. One of the men shown in the poster was performing at the hotel..."they are not the best band in the world, but they are the oldest"...
Another photo from Andrew's hotel room in Old Town, Shanghai.
Close up of the balcony shown above, with plants and laundry.
Laundry poles, another Old Town street scene.
Shoe repair on Fangbang Road. This photo is the Chinese counterpart to one I took of a cobbler's shop in Florence, Italy, when we visited in 2006.
Bicycle repair, also on Fangbang Road.
Tiny turtles at the Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market. "If you want old school — really old school — China, this is where to go." (read more)
Crickets, some for fighting, some for singing...
Tillandsia at the market.
There were many individual stalls, all selling their unique blend of wares.
Outside the market, Andrew spotted this Agave.
There was no price that he could see, he thought it might be part of someone's collection and thus not for sale. I think it's A. 'Kissho Kan'?
Bonsai and other plants for sale on Xizang Road.
Cactus and succulents in the window at the Volunteer Center (meaning of "volunteer center" was unclear — but it looks like they're still celebrating the New Year).
Originally Andrew wanted to photograph this mass of grafted Euphorbia outside a fancy shopping district, but when this couple decided it was worthy of a portrait session, well his photo got even better.
Palms at Huai Hai Park
This scene in Jing'an Park shows just what a social center the parks are for people living in the many urban high-rise buildings.
Band playing in Jing'an Park
Andrew did have the opportunity to visit a traditional Chinese Garden, Yu Garden.
"Yu Garden. Pan Yundan, the governor of Sichuan, created this Garden of Joy (Yu Yuan) for his father in the 16th century. The land was later sold to guilds of merchants. All the elements expected from the garden of a prominent social figure are found here: streams, lotus ponds, bonsais, bizarrely shaped rocks conjuring up images of mountains, a pool evoking seas and lakes — all designed to create reproductions of famous natural settings on a reduced scale." (from his Lonely Planet pocket guide book)
This scene reminds me very much of the "Knowing the Fish Pavilion" in our Lan Su Chinese Garden here in Portland.
(I wonder if that bucket on the right was part of someone tidying up?)
A sign in the garden.
Switching gears! (just a little) This graphic was one Andrew saw a couple of times during his travels. We decided that's "hot boy" on the left and "cold boy" on the right, they appeared on heating and air-conditioning units. Doing a little "Google" research I discovered these are the Haier brothers and they have a cartoon series in China, they also appear on Haier electrical appliances (hence the HVAC). Evidently they've have become underground gay icons too (gee, ya think?)...
Here's a gigantic forge at a Hardware factory in Shanghai. Note the person (dwarfed by the machine) on the left.
Plants outside a glass factory near Wuxi
And a lonely plant, cheering someone's workspace in a stamping and spinning factory.
An orchard as seen through a window at a threaded parts factory in the Wuxi area.
And finally, just so you know photos aren't the only thing I got, Andrew purchased this cashmere scarf at the Yu Yuan Garden bazaar (market area near the garden). The salesperson was happy to model it for him...
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.