Taste

The adventurous palate in Shanghai, can be exposed to an enormous array of tastes and textures. It seems that no animal, vegetable or fruit (or part of) is spared the chopping block knife before it makes its way into one meal or another. I have opted out of many of China’s culinary offerings, not for the total lack of an adventurous spirit, but more as a result of my complete inability at deciphering menus written entirely in characters. (Yeah, I’m hiding behind that explanation just a little!). Despite, exercising some cautious hesitation, I have made a few discoveries by pointing with one hand (fingers crossed with the other) that whatever was sizzling up street side, would do me right. In one such ‘wok the heck’ moment, I received something that was truly notable, the famous Shanghai Dumpling.

Shanghai dumplings!

These simple pork-filled (I think) balls of joy are awesome - not only for the fact that they taste great, but for their astonishing ability to shoot hot broth directly up your nostrils. They have impeccable aim, consider yourself warned!

Sound

With over 17 million inhabitants, Shanghai can be described in any number of ways, except perhaps quiet. The din arises from the ubiquitous blaring of horns, squealing brakes, traffic attendants whistling pedestrians and motorists into their proper place. Then there are stereos blasting out the latest Sino-pop hit, the chatter of people going about their daily mindings, and the pushy vendors clamouring for your attention “hey lady, look-ee, look-ee here. You wanna buy a purse? Watch? DVD-ee?”

My favourite sounds are those I've heard in one of Shanghai’s few green spaces. The shuffling of card decks as old friends compete for honours, the soft flute music used to accompany women practicing traditional fan dances and the best of them all – the sound of children playing.

Children playing in Renmin Square

When I look at this picture I can still hear the happy shrieks and laughter.

The only sound that seems to be missing from Shanghai's soundscape are barking dogs - curious isn't it?

Shanghai-ed!

Xiujiahui Intersection - French Concession

Some say that New York was so good that it was named twice. Shanghai was apparently so bad that it became a verb. The term to ‘Shanghai’, or ‘render insensible by drugs, and ship on a vessel wanting hands’, dates from the habit of press-ganging sailors. Men, found in opiated states, were forced onto ships, which then set sail, leaving the comatose sailors no choice but to make up the deficient crew when they sobered up.

While becoming a crew member of an errant ship is unlikely these days, modern day Shanghai is anything but bad and certainly lives up to its ‘verb’age. From the incessant blaring of horns, the clickety-click of Mah Jong tiles, dazzling neon, shocking humidity, to the china five spice laced dumplings, Shanghai uniquely captivates all of your senses.