Today Kevin and I arrived in Shanghai to have a mid project review session with Hermann, our coach. The weather was very hot since the temperature reached 40ºC, the hottest day in Shanghai for the past several decades. It was very crowded in the airport and it took 30 minute queuing for a taxi.
Lying on the banks of the Huanpu River, close to the mouth of the mighty Yanzi on China’s eastern seaboard, Shanghai is China’s largest and most dynamic city, with population of more than 13 million people. It is an autonomous municipality, and the recent explosion of economic and 
industrial development has med it one of the fastest growing cities in the world. By Chinese standards, the development of Shanghai (literally means “above the sea”) is a recent phenomenon. In the 13th century it became a minor county seat and so it remained until the mid-19th century when British commercial ambitions led to war with China. The ensuing Treaty of Nanking allowed the British to trade freely from certain ports, including Shanghai. The city soon became an outpost of glamour, high living and ultimately decadence. It was divided into “concessions”, where foreign nationals lived in miniature versions of first Britain, then France, 
the US and Japan. The Bund or quay along the Huangpu is still linked with colonial buildings, evidence of a time when Shanghai was the third largest financial center in the world. In 1949, the Communist took over and the city was stripped of its grandeur. In 1990, the Pudong area across the river from the Bund was declared a Special Economic Zone, and a revival started for the city. Investments poured in at a frenetic pace; flyovers, malls, hotels sprang up and clusters of shining metal and glass skyscrapers towered above the Huangpu. Today Shanghai is once more at the forefront of business and fashion trends, and has a pulsating nightlife, with many 
clubs and bars. Some places are forever associated with a single landmark and in the case of Shanghai it is surely the Bund. Also known as Zhongshan Lu, the Bund was at the heart of colonial Shanghai flanked on one side by the Huangpu River and on the other by the hotels, banks, offices and clubs that were grandiose symbols of western commercial power. Most of the old buildings are still in place and a walk along here can easily absorb a couple of pleasant hours. There are many other places in Shanghai which are worth to be visited such as People's Park & Square, Shanghai Museum, Yu Gardens, Fuxing Park, Jade Buddha Temple, etc. However, due to time constrain, after discussing our progress on the project and the leadership development with 
Hermann, Kevin and I need to fly back to Hefei to continue our project there.
industrial development has med it one of the fastest growing cities in the world. By Chinese standards, the development of Shanghai (literally means “above the sea”) is a recent phenomenon. In the 13th century it became a minor county seat and so it remained until the mid-19th century when British commercial ambitions led to war with China. The ensuing Treaty of Nanking allowed the British to trade freely from certain ports, including Shanghai. The city soon became an outpost of glamour, high living and ultimately decadence. It was divided into “concessions”, where foreign nationals lived in miniature versions of first Britain, then France, 
the US and Japan. The Bund or quay along the Huangpu is still linked with colonial buildings, evidence of a time when Shanghai was the third largest financial center in the world. In 1949, the Communist took over and the city was stripped of its grandeur. In 1990, the Pudong area across the river from the Bund was declared a Special Economic Zone, and a revival started for the city. Investments poured in at a frenetic pace; flyovers, malls, hotels sprang up and clusters of shining metal and glass skyscrapers towered above the Huangpu. Today Shanghai is once more at the forefront of business and fashion trends, and has a pulsating nightlife, with many 
Hermann, Kevin and I need to fly back to Hefei to continue our project there. (Source: DK – China)
Note on the pictures:
(1) View of Pudong at night
(2) View from the Bund at night
(1) View of Pudong at night
(2) View from the Bund at night
(3) View from the Bund at night
(4) Hongkong & Shanghai Bank. Built in 1921, it was vaunted to be the most beautiful building in Asia. Inside there are some delightful restored murals. Customs House. The entrance hall is decorated with some handsome marine mosaics.
(4) Hongkong & Shanghai Bank. Built in 1921, it was vaunted to be the most beautiful building in Asia. Inside there are some delightful restored murals. Customs House. The entrance hall is decorated with some handsome marine mosaics.
(5) Other view from the Bund.
(6) Me in the Bond with Pudong background.
(7) Me in the Bond with building background.
(8) Me in the Bond with Pudong background taken on the cruise.
(9) The bronze statue looking down the Bund is not Chairman Mao but Chen Yi, revolutionary commander and first mayor of Shanghai after 1949.
(10) Kevin and me in the hotel.(6) Me in the Bond with Pudong background.
(7) Me in the Bond with building background.
(8) Me in the Bond with Pudong background taken on the cruise.
(9) The bronze statue looking down the Bund is not Chairman Mao but Chen Yi, revolutionary commander and first mayor of Shanghai after 1949.
(11), (12), (13) View of Shanghai from the hotel.
(14) Queing for taxi
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