I slept for most of the train ride to Shanghai. My sleeper was similar to the bunks on a tour bus and after a couple hours of reading, doing crosswords (thanks Courtney!) and listening to music, I was out like a light. Shanghai was on my “maybe, maybe not” list. I had heard that it was very western and there wasn’t much of Chinese culture left. Nothing could be further from the truth. True, it is very westernized - in fact it makes New York City look like Mayberry. But peel back the layers, walk only a few blocks off the beaten path, away from the Bund and People’s Square (Shanghai answer to Time Square) and you will find that heart of the city is still pumping truly Asian blood through its veins. Upon arrival, I
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