Though shops are heavy influenced by the west the areas outside and around the corner aren. Shanghai is full of striking contrasts and none were as obvious as the poverty striken neighborhoods directly next to Porch dealerships, Armani stores, or brand-new towering skyscrapers. In these neighborhoods there is only one sink with running water and one toilet for everyone. The homes are small concrete boxes. Some have AC, most don't. Walking around, more stumbling into on accident, these areas was an amazing experience. If there was the Chinese experience it was this. Your looking into someone's kitchen, most kitchens in these areas are outside in the ally, and directly behind their house is a brand new luxury condo. In Shanghai the contrast between old and new lives directly on top of each other. I'm glad I got to see these two sides, I get the sense that's what Shanghai is.
