The first stop of my trip back to China in 2024: Shanghai

When I took Metro Line 2 from Pudong Airport to Lujiazui Exit, I saw the towering Oriental Pearl Tower at a glance. It was like seeing an old friend who had been waiting for me for a long time. It felt particularly cordial. I found the hotel, put down my luggage, and couldn't wait to see the charming scenery on both sides of the Huangpu River. Pudong is now full of high-rise buildings. The Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower in Lujiazui lead the height of Shanghai. The bright lights after nightfall illuminate the magnificent banks of the Huangpu River. The old Shanghainese’s saying in the early years, “I would rather have a bed in Puxi than a house in Pudong” is long gone. Whether I am strolling on Nanjing Road or leaning against the railing of the Bund, like the Chinese people around me who speak with different accents and many foreign tourists who are from unknown countries, my heart is filled with a deep love for this magical metropolis. It was already chilly in Shanghai in mid-December, but the cold could not stop people's enthusiasm for visiting Shanghai. The bustling Nanjing Road was still crowded, and the Bund was still bustling with people. Those who haven't been to Shanghai for many years are amazed at the tremendous changes in China, those who come frequently are impressed by the rapid changes in Shanghai, and I love every place I have set foot in. I love the young people on the Bund who check in and pose under the lights on both sides of the Huangpu River. I love the elderly who greedily bask in the sun in Jing'an Park, where the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. I was intoxicated by the bustling crowds coming and going under the flashing neon lights on Nanjing Road, and from time to time I would explore the delicious food from street restaurants and food stores. I followed the navigation and found the ferry terminal on the Huangpu River. It reminded me of the helplessness of being separated by a river back then and made me sigh at the convenience of transportation on both sides of the Huangpu River today. I also like the tray of hot dumplings served to me by the waiter in the small restaurant opposite the twin towers in Nanxiang Ancient Town. I was even moved by the affordable price of 15 yuan for a haircut for men in a regular roadside barber shop. In the shop, I didn't even notice "Tony" whispering mysteriously into the headset. I know that my two-day stay in Shanghai made me feel that I had fallen under the spell of Shanghai, so much so that for many years I have always regarded it as my preferred port of entry and exit when returning to China. I believe Shanghai is the place where I can best feel the pulse of China's modernization process. Perhaps this is the real magic of this city. I love Shanghai, I love this magical city that is loved by Chinese people! ❤️