Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2017 | Page 49

The Old City of Shanghai
Ying Wa College, Bao, Tianyi – 13
T
here has never been a city inside a city more intriguing than the old city of Shanghai. You
might say Vatican City is more majestic, but nothing can run against Shanghai for the most
bewildering place ever.
The old city of Shanghai is, like the Chinese interpretation of an onion, you keep
finding something more, and the more you find, the more you love it.
The city is ordinary from the outside, some bits and pieces of the once spectacular city walls that
defended the city from Japanese pirates a thousand years ago, there; we peel one layer off the onion.
Then, you will find yourself in a myriad of different souvenirs, handicrafts and counterfeits.
However, it is all about the different people, and the most interesting thing of all, the conversations
between the bargaining tourists and the shopkeepers. There is just no shortage of entertainment. Now,
the second layer is peeled..
The third layer comes out apparent, called the old city of Shanghai; the old buildings are just
fascinating. The Chenghuang Miao, The Jiuqu Qiao, The Yu Yuan, all of them are masterpieces that
our ancestors has left us with, and the mystique and glamour of the buildings are simply beyond words.
It is a beautiful young women will be the most glamorous women on Earth.
Then, you find yourself in front of the peach garden mosque, yes, you heard it right, an Islamic
mosque inside a old Chinese town, how amazing! It turns out that the mosque is celebrating its
Centennial in 2017, you must have been shocked. It is also the main mosque in Shanghai. The Islamic
architecture of the mosque sets it apart from other buildings on the old city of Shanghai, the stark walls,
the onion domes, they are bound to be different, but they all seem to be very well harmonized with the
meticulously crafted Chinese roof ornaments and the wooden decks. There is a strange synergy
between them that is simply beyond words. What a mystifying and intriguing fourth layer.
We are halfway through the core of the onion, for the other half, exploration is needed, so
quickly pack your bags and book a flight to Shanghai to find the other half of the onion.