Revisiting Shanghai Amidst the Pandemic: A Journey in 2020

The author visited the following places: The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Exhibition Center, People’s Square, Shanghai Concert Hall, Waibaidu Bridge, […]

The author visited the following places: The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Exhibition Center, People’s Square, Shanghai Concert Hall, Waibaidu Bridge, Shanghai Weihai Road, Jing’an Villas, China Art Palace, People’s Park, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Chen Yi Square, and the City God Temple. Published on 2020-03-23 18:01.

After visiting the Bund on January 29th, the author experienced throat discomfort, fearing pneumonia, and underwent four hospital checks, all of which showed good indicators but still felt unwell. Each time venturing out to buy food, the author noticed changes in the community’s policies, from pandemic propaganda to self-isolation, mask registration and purchase, issuing of entry permits to households, temperature checks, and even a banner in four languages one day.

The current pandemic control is acceptable, and as the weather warms, the author decided to walk along the Bund again to see what changes have occurred since the last visit. Departing at 10 AM from Hongqiao Town, primarily walking and taking the No. 71 bus, the author returned home at 5:30 PM from Yu Garden Station on the Metro Line 10, covering 15 kilometers in 7.5 hours (half an hour more than the last time).

The route on March 20, 2020: Hongqiao Town—Hongmei Road—Hongxu Road No. 71 bus stop—starting from Shanghai Exhibition Center Station on foot, passing through Shaanxi North Road—Nanjing West Road—People’s Square—Hong Kong Famous Shops Street—Dimei Shopping Center—Shanghai Concert Hall—Nanjing East Road—The Bund (Waibaidu Bridge—Shiliupu)—People’s Road—Danfeng Road—Wutong Road—Yu Garden.

The route on January 29, 2020: Hongqiao Town—Hongmei Road—Foreigners Street—Hongxu Road No. 71 bus stop—starting from Shanghai Exhibition Center Station on foot, passing through Shaanxi North Road—Nanjing West Road—Nanjing East Road—The Bund (Waibaidu Bridge—Shiliupu)—Outer Road—Old Pacific—Zhongshan South Road—East Gate Road—Zhonghua Road—Kangjia Alley—Sipailou Road—Fangbang Middle Road—Yu Garden.

The community is located in Hongqiao Town, 50 meters from the town government, and the houses are welfare housing for government employees, so there are mostly locals from Shanghai. As of December 31, 2019, there were 28,841 overseas personnel in Hongqiao Town, accounting for 16% of the total population, with many Koreans and Japanese, so it was necessary to put up a banner in four languages when the overseas pandemic became severe. Both mailboxes and building entrances were also posted with prevention tips and propaganda. The weather was good, and the elderly came out to bask in the sun! Banners were hung everywhere to remind people to pay attention to their behavior and habits at all times. There were staff at the community entrance, and temperature checks were required upon entry, with no entry for foreign vehicles!

Compared to the last time, there were more pedestrians and vehicles on the road, banks were open with reminders to wear masks to enter, small vegetable markets were open, hair salons were open with disinfectant at the entrance, and registration for haircuts. Old Shanghai snacks have been operating without a break, with a richer product range including wonton, large wonton, steamed buns, etc. Small shop entrances all posted notices on hygiene control during the epidemic, commitment letters, and warm reminders. Hotels were also open, previously only people wearing masks were seen dancing in the park, now children are also out for walks. Hongqiao Fund Town also required registration to enter, there were more couriers on Hongmei Road, small gatherings for coffee—real estate agencies also began to receive customers—Mihimih also started to prepare for business.

During this pandemic, every community in Shanghai set up tents at the entrance for contactless delivery—this pandemic, the contribution of couriers was also significant. Foreigners Street was also guarded by staff and required registration for entry, only store staff and those who made dinner reservations were allowed in. The No. 71 bus with ticket sellers (ha ha, the author’s childhood wish was to grow up like this) had few people on board, but they all wore masks. The New Longfa Chestnut Shop on Weihai Road near the Shanghai Exhibition Center has opened. Last time passing by Maxim’s, there were more people in line, probably because the epidemic has improved now, and the freedom is more relaxed. Perhaps because Qingtuan is on the market, there were long lines on bothTower calling do you copy. Shanghai Mu’en Church facing People’s Square, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, also known as ‘Mou Le Hall’. The building features an American Collegiate Revival Gothic exterior, constructed with brick and wood. Atop the tower stands a five-meter high neon cross. The ‘Mo En Hall’, meaning ‘bathed in the Lord’s grace’, was originally a监理会堂 established by the American church监理公会 in the 13th year of the Guangxu era (1887).

The People’s Park is now open. Registration to enter requires a follow-up code, ID card, and temperature check. Crossing the street through the tunnel to People’s Square, it suddenly occurred to me that it has been many years since I last visited.

When Master Bao’s pastries first became popular, there were long queues, and both the tunnel and subway entrances were crowded with scalpers. Hong Kong Famous Shops Street: In my memory, it was always bustling. A place I often visited on weekends to buy clothes and small goods. It dawned on me how quickly time has passed, and I haven’t been there for many years.

At mealtime, this restaurant is quite popular among young people and relatively crowded, while other shops have fewer patrons. Di Mei Shopping Center entrance and exit, near People’s Square. The weather is warm, and children are joyfully playing.

The Shanghai Municipal Government, with its round heaven and square earth design, houses the Shanghai Museum. Established in 1952, it features eleven special halls and three exhibition halls, with an exhibition area of 2,800 square meters. The museum houses nearly a million cultural relics, including 120,000 fine pieces. Particularly known for its collection of bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings, making it a large museum of ancient Chinese art. There are still many people visiting the exhibition. Everyone queues orderly for registration and temperature check before entering.

The Great World: An amusement center composed of ‘Amusement World’, ‘Exhibition World’, ‘Competition World’, and ‘Gourmet World’. It introduces eight series of entertainment projects. The ‘Competition World’ launched in the early 1990s with ‘Great World Challenge’ and ‘Guinness Record Challenge’ attracted masters from all over the country, creating numerous ‘unique’ and ‘first’ records both domestically and internationally. Its strong Shanghai-style cultural character and pursuit of contemporary entertainment facilities attract thousands of domestic and foreign guests. When I first arrived in Shanghai, the most impressive thing was the laughing mirror. Last year, I was fortunate to visit the renovated Great World with free tickets from a friend’s union. The modern Shanghai-style culture – the variety of laughing mirrors has increased, but I no longer have the joy, freshness, and passion I felt when I first came to Shanghai!

Shanghai Concert Hall: Originally known as the Nanjing Grand Theater, it was built in 1930 and opened on March 26th of that year. Renamed Beijing Cinema in 1950, and then changed to Shanghai Concert Hall in 1959, which it has been known as ever since. It has been moved from its original location in its entirety, perfectly preserving its original appearance. The European-style architecture is grand; the elegant and solemn decoration makes the Shanghai Concert Hall very elegant. It is currently undergoing overall renovation. The large-span dome restores the true sound color, coupled with excellent acoustic equipment, the sound is rich, the music is mellow, and the effect is astonishing. I have previously attended a Swiss symphony concert there and was deeply impressed! In previous springs, I would occasionally visit the Shanghai Concert Hall Square to see the cherry blossoms (isn’t it romantic to watch cherry blossoms fall in an artistic place?). This time, I also specially wanted to see the cherry blossoms, but the concert hall is under renovation, and I didn’t see the blooming cherry blossoms, which is a bit regrettable! There are also very few people on the tourist bus, and the handsome guy in the red hat didn’t forget to take a selfie and have a photo with the Shanghai Planning Exhibition Hall.

Before the internet, I often visited bookstores on Fuzhou Road. Now creative and distinctive bookstores are also found everywhere! Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is much more crowded than the last time I visited. In the past, when I went to Nanjing East Road, I would go to Shen Dacheng to eat a bowl of snacks, usually filled with people. This time, I ordered smoked fish noodles, with a generous amount of smoked fish and a bit less noodles.

The benches lining both sides of the pedestrian street were filled with people. Apple Store along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street displayed a series of promotional videos. Seeing basketball shots, one cannot help but think of Kobe Bryant! Envy of the talented, I recently watched the two

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**Living Well in the Midst of Change**

This year’s most practical phrase is to live well. The **Sino-Russian Commodity City**, filled with Russian specialities like chocolate and matryoshka dolls, evokes a sense of nostalgia for a small country with snow falling from the sky.

**The Bund Chen Yi Square** has become more crowded since my last visit, with fewer people around. This time, I observed a bustling scene: some taking wedding photos, others in cosplay, some pushing wheelchairs, and families with their children. Apart from wearing masks, everything seemed similar to usual. The last time, I saw many foreigners, but this time, there were hardly any.

The lanes that will soon disappear forever, I walked around and found that almost all the residents have moved away, with doors occasionally ajar, prompting me to secretly take a few pictures. “Honesty is not only a virtue but also a legal responsibility,” as the saying goes. The dogs left behind were basking in the sun. Seeing this barbershop, does it take you back to the eighties and nineties? Ice skating in the old lanes – walking dogs in the old lanes.

Wishing for health, happiness, and prosperity. The design of the **Anta flagship store** is noteworthy. The Mickey with the Chinese charm of Fulongshouxi has returned to the tranquil **Yu Garden**. Yu Garden, a corner of the city under construction, is a sight to behold. The entrance to Yu Garden (Yu Garden subway station) is always bustling. I noticed big dogs and little dogs in backpacks walking out of the Yu Garden subway station.

The **foreigner street** under the night sky is a vibrant scene. Since returning from the Bund, I had a severe sore throat on the evening of the 2nd, with symptoms similar to pneumonia. The next morning, I went to the nearby traditional Chinese medicine hospital, which had set up a special area for colds and fever. After a CT scan and blood test that day, pneumonia was ruled out, and I was given medicine to go home.

After a week, it still didn’t get better, so I went back, but the hospital had been notified not to accept patients and to go to a hospital with authorized qualifications. The next day, I went to the nearby Sixth Hospital, which had set up a small door, took my temperature upon entering, and wrote a commitment letter. The otorhinolaryngology department had been suspended (the doctor said all otorhinolaryngology departments in Shanghai had been suspended). I registered for the respiratory department and was given anti-inflammatory medicine.

After two weeks, it still didn’t get better. During this period, I also bought medicine from nearby pharmacies. Later, I was still worried, so I went back to the Sixth Hospital. At this time, an appointment was required, and then I entered by scanning my ID. The waiting area was also separated and seated. After getting the medicine, it still didn’t get better, and finally, I went to the **Longhua Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine** – four times to the hospital, but the problem still wasn’t solved! Later, I bought medicine nearby and then went for tuina massage, and now it has eased – this is to record the helplessness and torment of getting sick during the pandemic. Health is the most important! It is also necessary to strengthen the body, learn some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, and regulate the body with diet and exercise!

**Summary:** The last time I went was during the New Year, and the policy in Shanghai was only propaganda. Most residents were consciously staying at home, there were fewer pedestrians on the street, and they were also farther apart on the road, walking quickly, and looking tense and alert. With the intensification of the pandemic and the strict control of the policy, it has been relieved, and everyone has started to go out. Almost everyone is still wearing masks, but they are not as tense and relaxed. I hope to lift the ban as soon as possible and return to normal life!

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