These tiny three-wheeled cars have become increasingly common in the last few years in Shanghai, but they also receive scorn. People in our xiaoqu complain they park in stupid places and block the road, or occupy parking spots for cars while they’re not paying any parking fees. They’re named 残疾车 (vehicle for people with disabilities) […]

Another trip to Laoximen today. The area of old Shanghai is under demolishment, and although it’s been a slow process of already five years now, some parts are already gone, others vacated, while other parts still have people living in them. The longer the demolition goes on, the less meaning Laoximen has — apart from […]

Yesterday on foot, today on wheels (still in Ninghai 宁海). First time using an electric sharing scooter. Works perfectly (but I think a ‘sharing helmet’ is a bit dirty). 10 RMB for an hour. It actually suddenly stopped. The scooter started speaking, and I got an automated call on my phone as well: “You’ve driven […]

I’m reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time and today in Ninghai (宁海) I felt much like Frodo (I’m even wearing a khotan jade ring (田玉) from Xi’an, albeit with a different purpose. Ninghai (宁海) is a small city in Zhejiang (not to be confused by Haining (海宁) in the same province), […]

Yeah covid dominates all the conversations in Shanghai, so I wanted to share about a park near where I live that re-opened after a long renovation. It’s beautiful and packed with happy people, but when I was about to leave all the gates were suddenly closed and nobody allowed in. 10:30 (AM) on a Thursday. […]

Downtown gets the wanghongs but my heart is in Yangpu. Why I love this district of Shanghai so much, all from a ~2 hour walk today. Living rooms extend onto the streets… and so do shops… It feels more relaxed, too. HEMA (盒马) delivery drivers having a lunch or waiting for their next ride. The […]

Dongbei stewed meal 东北炖饭. The experience is fun but the taste is a bit meh; it’s just throwing everything into a broth. (The things on the side are corn cookies.)   My favorite and maybe the best thing I ever ate in China: Huaiyang steamed fish with pork on the top (淮扬菜鱼), extremely tender and […]

We stayed at Nanbei Lake (南北湖) which is a nice (yet a bit touristic) lake on the edge of the Zhejiang province. It’s all new roads and bridges, and newly planted trees and flowerbeds. Plus 美女 being photographed. Hellobike (哈啰单车) is also expanding to these sites. Family bikes and even electric ones you can simply […]

My first time on a green train, the famous (infamous?) 绿皮火车. I didn’t even realize it when buying the ticket, I should’ve bought a hard seat because I read so much about that in books about China. The old lady only spoke about her Shanghai house and how much it’s worth per square meter, and […]

Friend lived in this neighborhood 30 years ago, and we go back to everyone’s favorite wonton store. Someone recognizes her and yells: “Hey! Going to eat wonton?!” The store is +50 years old, has no logo, yet you need to queue to get your dish. Plus 15RMB for a bowl of pork wonton isn’t super […]