Le Printemps Arrive!
The current ugly smog Shanghai is experiencing right now might have fooled us into thinking the past two days of brilliant weather was a dream. It wasn’t. I hope you…
Shanghai
A Dash of Color in a Dying Neighborhood
[imagebrowser id=27] My brain rattled from the thundering of the driller which was breaking apart the concrete walls of a shikumen. Looming above was a beautiful arc of…
The Roving Exhibit: Travelling and An Ode to the City
Carrying my photo boards, I trudged across the barren land of a long-demolished Dongjiadu (董家渡）on my way to Wangjiamatou Lu (王家码头路). Amongst rubble and weeds, I didn’t feel…
Say it loud, but say what?
When someone writes anything ugly or inflammatory on public walls, it doesn’t take long for the authorities or the local committee to come along with a paintbrush to…
26 FEB: Amy Sommer’s talk and my photography for Royal Asiatic Society
This coming Saturday, Amy Sommers will be giving a talk about the state of Shanghai’s pre-War residential housing market, the entangled and complex problems relating to ownership and…
“You’re only has good as your last haircut.”
I thought this perfectly captured how it is like to peer into the lives of others on a cold and windy day. In this case, the lives of…
And it’s back to business!
The whole country went back to work today. Well, officially that is. Major retail shops began opening as early as the 3rd and 4th day of Chinese New…
Another year goes by … 春节快乐! (and links)
I realize that I fled Shanghai without wishing all my readers a very Happy New Year, pardon my lack of manners. But as far as the Chinese calendar…
Why aren’t you coming home?
If you’re still in the big cities, you may have noticed a slow exodus of people as the holidays near. Your ayis (domestic helpers) have taken leave, as…
The Roving Exhibit: Dongjiadu
“Oei, boy!” The uncle motioned for the boy of about 10 who had the attention span of a gnat. “Didn’t you go to school with this kid?” The boy…