Fengxian District

Again to Fengxian (奉贤区) today. It’s part of Shanghai, but maybe the fact it doesn’t feel that way is the best part about it. So in love with this place. I know my obsession won’t last, but there’s so much to explore.

The museum bundles a lot of places we’ve already visited.

There’s an exhibition on the sea dikes of Shanghai, including a story on the Huating sea wall.

Article: The Great Wall of Shanghai

It also mentions how these sea walls were built, not just to keep the water out, but to fend off pirates.

Article: Words waiting to be spoken

It also mentions the many towns, such as Qingxi or Fengjing (technically in Jinshan District).

And there’s a segment about wars. Fengxian went through four battles, during The Taiping Rebellion, the Civil War (both phases), and the war with Japan.

Article: The Old Japanese Fortress

So many people in Shanghai are missing out by not going here. You can literally just visit by metro (line 5).

From the museum, I got some inspiration for new places to visit, and will be back to this area.

 

Latest

Secret Listening #6

Secret Listening #6

This series is called ‘Secret Listening’, from the Chinese word 偷听Tōutīng. I know this can be — and should probably be — translated as ‘eavesdropping’, but secret listening captures it better and adds a bit of jest. These little stories or remarks stood out to me, and show a more personal side of China away […]
December 27, 2025
Chosen Streets

Chosen Streets

A week ago, I saw a nearby old lane (小湾老街) on Xiaohongshu — but when I wanted to take a look there, I found it was already demolished and turned into some kind of factory. I checked back on Xiaohongshu and saw that indeed, the last posts were from early 2024. There was a feeling […]
December 21, 2025
Thirty kilometers out

Thirty kilometers out

When I moved out of Shanghai’s city center, the differences were obvious to me, but now three years later I start to see the similarities again. The area in Shanghai that we live in now — the border of Heqing (合庆) and Tangzhen (唐镇) — is full of non-Shanghainese people. Many come from lower-tier cities in […]
December 15, 2025
Ways to harmony

Ways to harmony

In Shanghai, cars, scooters, or bicycles in public are exposed to the impulses of opportunistic advertisers. So while you’re asleep or at work, they may place cards or stickers — fancy designs promoting services ranging from fake diplomas to ladies of not-so-virtuous nature, as well as housing funds. I’ve been annoyed dozens of times by […]
December 8, 2025