Two temples
(Left – Jing’An Temple, right – shopping centre: Shanghai)
The image is pretty clear; the ancient temple on the left is besieged by pub umbrellas, high rises and to the right, an enormous shopping centre. I found the situation rather jarring as the sweeping curves and plastic sheen of the mall undulate in contrast to the stark, elegant, intersecting lines of the temple. You can see a lot of glass and floodlights, ‘sale’ banners in English and a man carrying red panels to an outdoor display. It is a highly manicured, characterless commercial cityscape, shimmied up to something with definite élan that seems slightly cheapened by the trade surrounding it. However, we were smart enough to sidle into the mall toilets, favouring them and bypassing those of the temple.
I’m due to return to China in a couple of weeks and I’m much more excited about it and less apprehensive than the last time. Here in the UK, friends and family have warmed to the idea of me being away and now that I feel like I have a couple of friends to go back to (and Ying, of course), my China seems more quantifiable. I’m a bit concerned about longer-term visa applications and things, but I will hopefully find gainful employment shortly after my return.
I am glad the Chinese treasure their historic building. Though at this
photo, as the old building is under restoration, it does not look harmonious, at least it is preserved.