Conclusion
Similar to Los Angeles in many ways, Shanghai impressed me overall as a city. The sheer size can be daunting but as I've said in other blog posts, it can be overcome. The longer I stayed here the more I appreciated the culture, the more I appreciated the food and most importantly, the more I appreciated the dynamic of Chinese society.
I won't lie to you, I am most easily frustrated by Chinese people. To Chinese readers, please take no offense, I'm just being sincere. As much as I love the cultures of the world and to experience all of them in my short time on this earth, the Chinese culture was not one I was necessarily excited to return to. It took several weeks, but in all honesty, I began to see the charm in their demeanor, a humor in their abuse of personal space, and a character to their impolite behavior. Of course, not all Chinese people were this way. Many were totally white-washed and acted just like us weird foreign people. But the reality of the matter is that in the context of the world's population, Chinese people dominate the numbers and are overwhelmingly representative of our race. It's a rather mundane and simple thought, but in a weird way it made me appreciate the culture in a more engaging way. Before my month in Shanghai, I felt so superior to Chinese people because I thought that since I lived in America and the Chinese people did not follow the same set of rules then I must be better. Shanghai changed that rhetoric.
A sprawling city, Shanghai does not disappoint its visitors. Realistically, three days is the most time you will need to explore the city and see the main areas such as the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Yuan Gardens, and a few museums here and there. But definitely take an extra few days to allocate time to use the incredible transportation system China has to offer and explore the nearby cities.
Thriving here is relatively easy, thanks in large part to how cheap everything. Spend $1 on breakfast, $1.50 on lunch and leave yourself a solid amount of money for a great meal, maybe at Jin Xuan if you're lucky. Roam the bar streets of the French concessions, have a drink with a view at Bar Rouge or Flair Rooftop, and be sure that when you come to Shanghai you do not limit yourself. Let your mind be open to new experiences on all ends of the spectrum, otherwise you will not achieve the maximum experience that this city provides. Work out in the streets and then go to your rooftop yoga. Have street food then go to a five star restaurant. Talk with the old men playing cards by the street and interact with esteemed businessmen outside the world's second tallest tower. If you do that, you will certainly thrive.