Go with Henry: Exploring Shanghai by bicycle

Sunday 24 September 2006

Exploring Shanghai by bicycle

English Teacher in China

Shanghai

June 2006

Background

In 2006, I taught ESL (English as a Second language) at a college in Shanghai for a 4 month period. This was my last little ‘project’ of a period that spanned a period of more than 3 years. I left South Africa in June of 2003 to go and teach ESL in Taiwan.

I stayed for 18 months in Taiwan and then decided to experience mainland China too. I stayed a period of 19 months in China, mainly working for one company called Delter-Telford International Business Institute.

I was fortunate to move around China with them, staying and teaching in 4 different provinces: Nanjing, Wuhu (Anhui), Liuzhou (Guangxi) and lastly Shanghai.

Shanghai is a huge city, both with regards to surface area and population. The public transport system is excellent and cheap, and I used every spare moment to explore the city. I also took my bicycle at times to explore and take photos. I had colleagues at the college who shared my passion for travel.

Shanghai is a city of contrast; Modern versus old and rich versus poor. It is a city that rarely sleeps.

Cycling for exercise and adventure in Shanghai.
Behind me a barge on the Huangpu river.

About Shanghai

Shanghai is a Chinese city located on the eastern coast of China, where the Yangtze River flows into the East China Sea. It is the most populous city proper in the world, with a population of more than 24 million as of 2014.

As one of the four direct-controlled municipalities of China, it is a global financial center and transport hub, with the world's busiest container port. Located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China, Shanghai sits on the south edge of the mouth of the Yangtze in the middle portion of the eastern Chinese coast.

As a major administrative, shipping and trading city, Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th century due to trade and recognition of its favorable port location and economic potential. The city was one of five treaty ports forced open to foreign trade following the British victory over China in the First Opium War.

In the 1990s, the economic reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping, resulted in an intense re-development of the city, aiding the return of finance and foreign investment to the city.

Shanghai has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming economy of mainland China; renowned for its Lujiazui skyline, and museums and historic buildings, such as those along The Bund (Wikipedia).