
I live in a recently renovated, but by no means posh, building in north Jing An. A twenty-minute stroll through the hood leads to the main train station, with some sharply contrasting scenery along the way.
It’s really one of my favorite parts of Shanghai. If I walk ten minutes south on my block, I’m peepin’ fine and oh-so-untouchable girls in the Marc Jacobs store, but ten minutes the other direction and the streetscape blatantly fades into “developing country.”

I use that term endearingly.

With so much urban renewal underway for the 2010 World Expo, I love wandering around places filled with what some would call blight. These dilapidated alleys have history, stronger community, and more smiles than the newer skyscrapers filled with silent elevators carrying large-breed dogs and their owners.

As Shanghai modernizes, this will disappear from the central city, as those residents move out to anonymous high-rises past the outer ring.
For now though, it makes for a perfect morning stroll.

Is there ever a bad time for Curtis Mayfield?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Curtis Mayfield - Right On For The Darkness












 (Large).jpg)



