A preview of Shanghai

In some case, Shanghai is another labyrinth like Tokyo in western world, where you also can get lost because of the modernized city plan and the saturated international smell; however, the scenes from inside out are totally different, citizens living in old houses are getting stressed for this fast pace.

On the first day of winter, 22nd of Dec. is a big day in Chinese Luna Calendar: as a forecasting, if it’s rainy on this date, the Spring Festival Day would be sunny, or the other way around. This year, it’s a cold sunny day, let’s take a bet to the SFD. On the way to my office, there is an old Shanghai compound, residents are preparing food and small ceremonies for this big day, busy but peacefully.

But for Shanghai city, it’s not a peaceful day, because the Line1 Metro got a big accident, the whole metro system in Shanghai trapped in a mess. Starting from a problem to get acquaint with Shanghai, not a bad choice, at least not be blinded by the resplendent neon lights.

Shanghainese have complex feelings of the inner-city rail system, arguments are always accompanied with new lines’ construction. Shanghai is one of the earliest cities develop metros, now in central circle and internal circle, the metro lines have been combined as a condensed network. But because of the Expo, it’s still not enough, municipal government plans more lines extending to a wider territory, the latest 11st line is supposed to connect Shanghai and Jiangsu Province in 2010. I don't know how it would look like in 2010, until now, we have experienced the leap-frog estate price, ravaged city roads, the slowly moving construction has troubled the citizen’s daily life, which is already being irrevocable hurt to the old ordered life. As expected, it’s not that serious, next year, Shanghainese will forget this hurt, but praise for all achievements.

One question need to be approved: What’s the purpose of the metro construction while is costing so much? For more convenient transportations, or expanding city, or environment protection, or just dragging industrial profit? It’s not sure yet, but everyone probably is thinking about this, where is the right going? Recent years, real estate grew fast, the other facilities are serving for this foam-looking industry. It doesn’t matter if there’s innovation, the fast made people vertiginous to consider. Waiting for the history’s verifying.

The familiar point between Shanghai and Tokyo, is the abandoning traditions, then the transplanted multi-concepts cause confusing and losing of outsiders. In another word, Shanghai is unique for its dynamic moving, not sink into the ample heritages. This momentum is ordinary in current China, to Shanghai’s base, it’s a unsettled question even if it’s creeping, but now it’s jumping. How to assure the huge machine do not suddenly stagnate?

A 40 year-old guy were burning some symbolized money for the passed relatives along the riverbank, saying something to the fire. As the elders say, the souls are listening to this whistles, and give bless to their families. The tradition of cleaning the tomb and burning symbolized money represents permanent remembering, that even means more comforts to the very old people: it’s the extension of the life while people don’t forget them, matching to the conception of Buddhism. Then you find young Chinese are still respecting this ancient habit in modern days, this awe makes this day especially quiet.

Back to the accident of metro, in the TV news, lots of Shanghainese trip to tomb gardens in outside of the city have been delayed, which was easily seen from their face, scared but still nervous for the trip. Continued news is the incident of Euro Star Train, lots of Europeans cannot go back home for Christmas Eve. At this moment, the two side of the continent are telling the same story, about regretting, penetrating some warm breath.

• Creative Garden @ Shanghai
• EXPO Shanghai - The beginning or the end of change?
• A small business calculation beneath the Expo
• Expo pavilions give birth to green

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上海预览

新客迷失上海的那阵儿，上海一如东京般璀璨；殊不知，挂竹竿的阳台里煎熬百态，总是另一番光景。

通往公司的路上正好经过一片老石库门，时值冬至，节气里的大日子，居民们正在平静而忙碌着过节。古历说冬至大雨则正月晴，反之亦有效。今年冬至风寒日丽，是悲是喜暂且不语。

于上海，这一天不太平，因为地铁一号线出了撞车事故。从问题里开始上海之旅，可能更能做足准备，理性对待。

对 于市内轨道交通，我们有太多复杂的体会。上海是全国轨道交通发展较早的城市之一，目前已经在内环、中环构建了比较密集的网络系统。但是为了世博会，上海还 需要完善完善更完善。我不确定世博会最终会是什么样子，至少目前来说，它炒热了房价，破坏了一定的旧有生活秩序，还是给大家造成了一些困扰。那些迟迟不能 竣工的工程已经成了揭不掉的疮疤。也许我们都是好了伤疤忘了疼的人，等来年，也许我们都开始赞叹这轨道网的丰硕成果，却不知道这污染伤害已经不可撤消。

一个问题可能至今都还没有论证清楚：上海的轨交是为什么而建？交通便捷、城市扩张、环境需求还是产业效益？也许整个上海的产业都在思索这个问题，什么样才是更好的发展方向？这几年的城市发展，总是跟房地产紧紧挂钩，有没有创意不见得，有没有经典不见得，快得令人眩目……会不会是一场东成西就，自然有后来人检验。

上 海像东京，讲的是他们都对本源的抛弃，重新植入的多元形态另局外人迷失；但上海又仅仅是上海，虽然它的历史赋予了它足够多傲炫的资本，它却一直在谋求改 变。这样的动量在现在的中国很常见，但是放在已经根基庞大的上海，匍匐前进尚且会让人感觉到悬在空中的担忧，何况它在跳跃：这样庞大的机器应该以何种方式 才能保持运转而不嘎然而止。

顺 着河边的小路上，一位年长的男子低头默默点火，喃喃自语。老人说，那些灵魂会听到这些祷告，给现世的人祝福。这是冬至这天，中国人的传统风俗：给故去的家 人扫墓、烧去纸钱，代表一种思念与固本。这一份形式上的孝心更多的时候成了耄耋老人们最大的欣慰，死后能被惦念是精神上的永生，这与佛教里的注重来世是契 合的。所以你看到在高耸的商业写字楼间，还可以见到这样古老传统的习惯，人们对此的敬畏，亘古不灭。

地 铁的故障导致许多要到乡下墓地扫墓的人耽误了行程。电视里播送的节目看到了他们的惊慌和未能祭奠的惴惴不安，紧接着是新闻关于欧洲之星的故障导致很多欧洲 人不能回家过圣诞节，这一刻，欧亚大陆的两边在诉说着相似的故事。也是因为这些遗憾，我们感受到许多或被淡化或被遗忘的细微人情冷暖。

未尝不是一件好事。