Shanghai: The World of Tomorrow

Shanghai is a city of contradictions. Ostentatious new skyscrapers compete with time-warped street scenes where peasant traditions still flourish. The scary pace of development threatens all the old ways, but charm abounds. Above is a shot of the Pudong, a slice of land that was nothing but rice paddies a few years ago. Today it's home to Shanghai's most striking landmark, the futuristic Oriental Pearl Tower.

Mao-era uniforms still making a fashion statement.

No, it's not the West Side Highway, it's the famous Bund, a reminder of Shanghai's cosmopolitan past.

A tea maker dries the goods.

A word on suits: There are lots of them in Shanghai and lots of snazzy dressing men. Gap-style leisure wear has apparently not penetrated the metropolis. Note to the retail barrons of the West: this is a good thing.

Green slimy things can be soooooooo tiresome.

OK, there are over 20 MILLION people in Shanghai, but who do I run into...lovely Beijing-based Betsy! She just happened to be visiting Shanghai the same weekend I was, just happened to stop off for a drink in a bar in the French Concession the same night I was...just happened to be there at the same hour...minute... Surreal.

Make it Suntory time.

Bill and Hillary made a visit to a tea house in Shanghai a while back, and they're still being served dinner. A fresh offering arrives before their blow-up photos daily. (Ah, remember the days when people from other countries actually liked our president!)

We were out of the loop on this one...people drinking from dumplings with a straw.

Psycho mannequins. What with the hair? Very Mrs. Brady.

The endless lights on Nanjing Xilu from our high rise room.

Look away! As I said the old ways still dominate the street, as this baby holds back her slit pants to take a poop!