The first thing one really notices about Shanghai is that big yellow arches seem to outnumber little red books. In fact, I've seen none of the latter. I did see a massive statue of Mao last night, but he was somewhat dwarfed by the gaudy massiveness of the shiny new Oriental Pearl Tower sitting just over the river. I also saw a red star on a building today, but there have been far more Pokemon and Little Kitty symbols than hammers, sickles or blocky sculptures of proud proletarians leading the mighty Chinese people into the brave Marxist future. No, Shanghai is pure, unadulterated, good old-fashioned capitalism. Maccas, Coke, Sony, and Volkswagen all vie with small-time entrepreneurs for the hard-earned yuan of the city's 14 million people. Money, and the making and spending of it, is everywhere. ... read more