Shanghai is as close to the west as you will get in China (HK aside.) It was evident in the dress and demeanour of the chinese people-more refined, more fashionable, less uncouth. Even walking around the city centre-many of the streets are polished and well presented. When you do come across a traditional hutong-like chinese street you feel like you have walked into another world. If I was to to live in China, it would probabaly be Shanghai I would gravitate towards since it caters for the expat but Beijing wins hands down for places of interest, historical sites, colour, the strange and the unexpected. The Bund (it's named after an old Anglo-Indian term, bunding-the embanking of a muddy foreshore) is great for a walk at night time - the dazzling lights of the skyscrapers over
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