Where does the name Shanghai (上海) come from? The simple answer is that it means “Above the sea”, but a better theory points to this place. There used to be two rivers, both tributaries of the Wusong River: Shanghai Pu (上海浦) and Xiahai Pu (下海浦), basically meaning Up the Sea River and Down the Sea River. People would refer to Shang上 and Xia下 for directions. The part that is speculation is that the village related to Shanghai Pu grew and grew into the metropolis that is today. Fact is though that both rivers disappeared over a century ago, but one trace that remains today is the Xiahai Temple (下海庙).
Everything looks brand new, so I ask the baoan if any old building still exist, because this temple is supposed to be over 250 years old. The baoan said it has all been renovated, but later I read online it was rebuilt after the Japanese-Sino war in 1941, and heavily renovated again in 1990. I would have loved to see some old structures or even just a stone from when the rivers used to be here, but it’s ok. I’m here in the place that may have given rise to a name that is used by millions of people across the world to refer to this city I have called home for nearly seven years.
On my way out, a lady holds up a phone with a QR code, and asks if I want a fortune telling session: “No thanks”, I tell her: “I already know where I am.”
