The Wormhole in Shanghai

The Wormhole by Stuck in Customs via Flickr and Creative Commons Atribution, Non Commercial, Share Alike Liciense

The Tourist Tunnel is part of Shanghai's subway network which links the old west side with the new east side of the city. Running under the Huangpu River between Pudong and Puxi districts, the Tourist Tunnel is a unique experience. The line uses specially modified trains with bubble windows allowing travelers to see the varied illuminations on the tunnel walls as they pass though.

Shanghai Urban Urban Urban

Shanghai Rollercoaster by Jakob Montrasio via Flickr and Creative Commons Attribution License.

The new Lupu bridge in Shanghai is the worlds longest arched bridged. While most traffic travels along the bottom, level, part of the bridge, there is a walk way that goes over the top of the arch and is open to tourists. This affords some excellent views of the Shanghai city, the Huang Pu river and the myriad of skyscrapers surround this location. The soon to close Shanghai Expo site can be seen from here, though not in this shot. To make this image, Jakob Montrasio has used a HDR technique. While many people over do HDR and create photo disasters, on this shot is has worked perfectly. The HDR has emphasized the texture of the city creating the perfect urban jungle look.

Shanghai Moon

As soon as I saw this picture, I know I had to include it in my blog. I've seen so many night pics of Shanghai's Bund and Huang Pu river. I've even taken a fair few of them myself. However, it is rare to see one that includes the moon as the focus of the photo.

The Bund, Shanghai

The Bund was the original heart of Shanghai. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Shanghai was a major international city in China. Each of the major trading powers of that time had 'concessions' - areas under foreign control - within Shanghai. The Bund was the main river side road that connected all these areas together. Along the waterfront, they built banks and hotels in the western, colonial, styles. Many of these old buildings can still be seen on the Bund today, however, they are now set amongst an array of modern skyscrapers and neon lights.

浦西 Puxi (上海 Shanghai) by Jakob Montrasio

The centre of Shanghai has changed radically since the opening up of China. It has now become the centre of Chinese development. Down town Shanghai was originally developed by foreign traders who set up in the city during the 19th Century. Today Shanghai remains a major key in China's economy. The centre of the city has filled up with new sky scrapers. This picture shows the Puxi area of Shanghai. This is the old down town area.

Sunrise on Pudong, Shanghai, China

Sunrise on pudong by le niners.

I remember when there was nothing here but fields. No really it's true, and I'm not that old. Pudong is the new part of Shanghai that has burgeoned into modernity in an extremely short time. Where just 20 years hence, there was just farms, now stand some of the worlds tallest skyscrapers and other really expensive real estate. I've visited Shanghai 4 times over the last five years. Abet once was just a 6 hour stop over at the airport. And I am always in awe of this highly developed city. 


I selected this photo today because it is a little different form the normal tourist shot of Shanghai's Pudong district. Most photographers go a little bit further up stream, to the right of shot, to the famous Bund riverside. But this photograph is shifted downstream. In doing so, we turn the corner and get a view, 90 degrees rotated from the norm.