This is especially true when you have to share it with 20,000,000 people, most of whom seem to possess either a car horn or extra-sharp elbows. Needless to say, sometimes, it is nice to get away. Unfortunately, due to the vagaries of contracted corporate life, I was not allowed to fulfill my dream of simply taking off for weeks to explore the wilds of Southeast Asia. As such, I had to find an alternative respite to city life. I found it in Century Park:

Amongst other attractions, Century Park features an amphitheater, tandem bicycle and paddle boat rentals, and some of the only publicly owned grass you can actually approach/breathe on/sit on in Shanghai. As such, it serves as marvelous setting for anything from a picnic to an ultimate Frisbee game. However, there is much more than grass to appreciate in Century Park. There are also numerous jogging paths and intricately plotted gardens. In grand Shanghai style, there’s a man-made lake that is rumored to hold over 300,000 fish (even the lakes are densely populated):

Of course, there are always reminders that you haven’t really escaped from the megalopolis, but rather, are just temporarily hiding from it.

It’s so tall that it becomes a literal pain in the neck to photograph. As far as supertall skyscrapers (yes, that’s an actual qualification – apparently “really really really tall” wasn’t as catchy) its a fairly impressive.

Among other things, it features the world’s highest observation deck, the world’s highest hotel, and a somewhat surreal lighting scheme. Of course, tipplers can also appreciate it as the world’s largest bottle opener:

The first few floors of the tower are open to the public in the form of boutiques and western-themed restaurants. Some stretch the imagination more than others: even as a New Englander who has savored poutine and Labatt Blue many times, I was surprised to find an entire restaurant dedicated to Canadian cuisine. However, culinary wizardry is not the only treat that awaits a visitor to the SWFC; it also features the nicest public toilets I have ever encountered:

Upon first glance, it may not appear much different than the commode you have in your backyard, or, if you’re lucky, the water closet you had newly installed in the small room next to the kitchen. However, when one takes a closer look, it becomes apparent that this magnificent throne has more in common with the space shuttle than a regular cistern:

Keep in mind, this technology is not protected by any velvet ropes, it is being freely offered to anyone who wanders into the building. To paraphrase Deng Xiaoping, one of the fathers of modern China: “To have bathroom technology previously available only to the rich is glorious.”

Photos by Chris Eckel

This comes with its own set of highs and lows. Dealing with clueless tourists and honking horns at all hours of the night may make for longer days, but at least my commute is easy and I can always impress people when they ask my address. Little do they know my apartment consists of a stove and toilet balanced precariously above my pillow.

But tonight, I had another reason to celebrate my apartment’s location: A parade!

For a few hours, the entire street was shut down, which doesn’t necessarily help my commute, but did provide a great bird’s eye view of the festivities. Sitting on my makeshift balcony, I was able to soak up all the action and manged to take some photos of some of the more colorful floats:

The occasion was the kickoff extravaganza for the Shanghai Tourism Festival, which as far as I can tell is a massive marketing blitz to drum up tourism; as if the World Expo and the October National Day didn’t do anything.

However, oddly enough, in addition to all the Chinese cities and regions advertising, there were numerous other countries represented as well, including some Brazilian samba dancers that gave my right index finger a workout as I took about 200 pictures in 30 seconds:

And then a hometown tour de force: An American marching band — an Americana parade staple, but unheard of in China.

I was tremendously disappointed when they weren’t followed by a rolling pep rally and the big game against Shanghai University’s arch-rivals, but I guess you can’t have it all.

However, for one night at least, the street was filled with joyous noise, rather than the chorus of easily exasperated cab drivers. I guess that’s progress.

All photos by Chris Eckel

Would you want to spend a couple of weeks in here?

hitting the open road.

The problem is: China can build cars a lot faster than it can build roads. Now it has created the mother of all snarls: A never ending traffic jam.

According to CNN, the traffic jam started on Aug. 14 along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway — expressway taking on more of a propaganda meaning than literal meaning. The traffic jam now stretches more than 60 miles with very little end in sight. (Had this been the former Soviet Union, the line would now be 200 miles, as people were trained to jump into any line forming, just in case someone was going to give out something good.)

The Associated Press reported that the traffic jam could last for weeks, by then Chinese authorities can start picking up bodies and never admit any traffic jam ever existed.

Actually, that’s an understatement. The electric motorcycles which are starting to fill the streets in China zip around without sound leaving every predestrian looking over his shoulder in fear of being run down at any moment.

I might be more understanding if these bikes of death were taking out people jaywalking but these bikes can sneak up on you anywhere even when doing everything right, such as crossing the street at a crosswalk when the little green man tells you to go.

I cannot emphasize enough the absolute lack of noise these mechanical contraptions produce, or how recklessly even the oldest of Shanghai residents operate their wheeled killing machines. I hope to survive long enough to file another dispatch; in the meantime, I’ll make sure to keep my head on a swivel and enjoy the world’s largest city!

That appears to be the motto for some tour guides in Hong Kong, according to the China’s National Tourism Adminstration.

An undated video of Chinese tourists being forced to buy things in Hong Kong shops has ignited outrage on the mainland, according to media reports. Now the NTA in China has issued a very stern letter of disapproval to Hong Kong, warning it to stop such bad behavior or, or, or it might issue another letter.

Actually, the NTA issued a travel advisory after hearing of the video and following up on the rumor that a 65 year old Chinese man died of a heart attack in Hong Kong after being forced to shop, according to Xinhu News.

Shopping could be the price some tourists pay for such good deals to Hong Kong, Xinhu points out. The trips are subsidized by the travel agency, which then collects a percentage of sales dollars from shops that it takes the tourists to. It’s an ancient scam first done by Egyptians when Phoenician tourists would sale in to Alexandria for papyrus.

Since then, it’s been modernized.

We’re unsure if some Chinese tourists are asking: How much for that freedom in the window? Which, since Hong Kong now belongs to China again, has gotten quite expensive.

"Tickle me, I'm full of lead."

It only took one month for 1 million people to visit the USA Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Of course, in China, that’s really not that difficult of a goal to reach — as a million people randomly looking for the restroom walk into a single gas station every month as well.

But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton doesn’t just walk into any loo, and USA Pavilion isn’t just any stage at the the world expo. The pavilion is expected to have more than six million people visit it during the six month expo — roughly 35,000 people

Yeah, we're not sure who this is either but he's singing up a storm at the USA Pavilion.

every day — none of who are allowed to search the Internet on Google.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished in the past month,” said Ambassador Jose H. Villarreal, U.S. Commissioner General in a news release sent to HTG. “In the span of just 30 days, we have greeted visitors and dignitaries from across China and around the world, including President Hu Jintao and Secretary Clinton. And today we mark our one millionth visitor, an exciting and momentous occasion for myself, the USA Pavilion staff and the United States of America. We will continue to work hard to ensure visitors feel welcomed and at home at the USA Pavilion.”

Basically, the Expo is like a giant Epcot Center — but for real. And one happy family, designated as the 1 millionth visitors were steeped in gifts from America including “teddy bears, traditional Texas cowboy hats and other USA Pavilion memorabilia” much of it made by the very Chinese visitors at the USA Pavilion.

Photos by MieGuoGuan on Flickr under Creative Commons License.

Today, he will officially kick open the doors of the Encore at Wynn Macau, China.

“The loveliest hotel in the world is not in London, Paris, Tokyo, New York or San Francisco,” Wynn said in a news release. “It is here in Macau.”

The hotel includes 414 boutique suites and villas, as well as high end restaurants and shops, such as Cartier, Chanel and Piaget.

Wynn had originally planned to kick off today’s opening ceremonies with a bang, Macau style with a massive fireworks display, but the recent earthquake in China and the rising death toll there has taken a little party of out the staff, well at least for 24 hours.

Today’s fireworks have been pushed back until tomorrow. Encore suite reservations may be made by calling (853) 8986 9966.

Check out these other photos of the new hotel.