Write it at the beginning:

I was on a business trip to Mordor for the first time, so I finished my work ahead of schedule and arranged to catch up with my girlfriend, while also getting to know the charming city of Mordor. Unfortunately, she is about to fly to South Korea, otherwise she could take me on a good tour of this' magic 'city. To make up for her, she asked her new perspective L to accompany me on a stroll through this city.

Hello, Magic City! I want to know you

Hey, welcome to Magic City. Please fasten your seat belt. I will accompany you on your trip for the next few days. Are you ready?

On a brilliant and bustling night in the Magic City, standing on the Bund, looking at the Lujiazui Financial Center in Pudong on the other side of the Huangpu River, and then looking back at the international architectural complex in Puxi, standing in the middle feels like crossing the past and the future.

What comes to mind when you mention old Shanghai? Is it an old record from a phonograph, or a rickshaw or a shikumen?

Here, you can achieve the dream of climbing the tower in the magic city, summon cats, and capture the pink sky city of Monument Valley.

Escape from the cold magic city of Steel Forest, head towards the end of the world on the Big Island Highway, the third largest island in China, and embrace nature to release oneself.

There is a small town with a European style and architecture that makes it feel like walking on the streets of England. Experience a British style town with exotic charm.

The 'Skyscraper Dream' of Old Shanghai - Shanghai Tower

By the Suzhou River and the Huangpu River, there is an old bronze building, which is just one road away from the Garden Bridge of Shanghai! There is a passage describing it as follows: Shanghai Tower sits on the Suzhou River, overlooking the Huangpu River. It is the Broadway Building that rose from the ground in 1934, carrying the "skyscraper dream" of old Shanghai and witnessing that precious golden age.

The building was built by British businessmen and has hosted over a hundred heads of state and government from around the world in its more than 80 year history of operation. Half a century has passed, and now the Shanghai Tower has internalized the changes and vicissitudes of history into its own bones, slowly settling and depositing them! Pushing open the heavy door of the Shanghai Tower, opening it? A modern journey through old Shanghai!

The hotel lobby is not large, and the front desk is located in the left corner of the entrance, which also has a strong sense of the times. The photo walls hanging on both sides of the hotel lobby showcase the history and heritage of this city.

Is there still a piano in the front of the lobby that was just dropped off and sent to the UK? This is a treasure of Shanghai Tower.

The overall style of the hotel is nostalgic and retro, and so are the guest rooms. The river view room faces the core area of the Bund, and the area of the room is not large and the decoration is not very luxurious, but it has a strong sense of historical significance! This actually has its own characteristics, with old cabinets of the same age as the building placed in the room.

Night Shanghai, night Shanghai, you are a city that never sleeps

In addition to its own charm, modernity, fashion and other attractive features, Shanghai also exudes a historical and retro atmosphere that cannot be compared to other cities. When you come to Shanghai, you have to go to the Bund. The Bund is a must visit place for tourists to Shanghai, but many people are unaware of the century old steel structure bridge located at the northern end of the Bund on the Suzhou River. It is the junction of the Huangpu River and Suzhou River in Shanghai and the starting point of the British Concession - Garden Bridge of Shanghai.

Her steel frame structure was built in 1908 and she is now 110 years old. At the beginning of construction, it can let vehicles and pedestrians pass freely, so it is named Garden Bridge of Shanghai (formerly known as "Wells Bridge", a wooden bridge). The magical steel structure bridge, after a hundred years, still maintains its grandeur. During this period, it has witnessed the rise and rapid development of Shanghai. No matter how many storms and storms Shanghai may face, what remains unchanged is her unwavering protection and gaze. She connects not only the banks of the river, but also the past and future of Shanghai!

How many old Shanghai movies do you know about Waibaidu Bridge? Television? Many old Shanghai beach lovers fall in love and spies exchange information will choose Garden Bridge of Shanghai. The most impressive scene is the scene of Yiping jumping off the bridge in Deep Rain. When we first stepped on the Waibaidu Bridge, there were also film and television staff taking pictures here.

But I still like Garden Bridge of Shanghai best at night. The lights hanging on the bridge are very rich. It will change with the colors of red, yellow, blue, orange and white, which puts a very bright dress on Garden Bridge of Shanghai at night! The Garden Bridge of Shanghai at night echoes the Lujiazui Financial Center on the other side. The scenery is wonderful, so many people will take wedding photos and portraits here!

Walk along the Garden Bridge of Shanghai and you will pass the Monument to the People's Heroes, Chen Yi Square and come to the main site of the Bund. Along the Huangpu River, you can look across at the Lujiazui Financial Center in Pudong on the other side of the river. Looking back, you can see the international architectural complex in Puxi, and standing in the middle feels like crossing time and space. The old and new buildings on both sides of the Huangpu River, along with the stunning Bund style, will always be the most iconic business card of Shanghai. Memories of Shanghai begin here.

The Bund, also known as the Outer Huangpu Beach, was divided into the British Concession in 1844 and served as the starting point for the old Shanghai Concession and the entire modern city of Shanghai.

The Bund can be said to be a microcosm of Shanghai's city. The international architectural complex in Puxi, also known as the Ten Mile Market, symbolizes the bustling Shanghai style culture. Nearly 20 magnificent century old classical buildings are arranged together in a spectacular manner, representing Shanghai's past; Lujiazui skyscrapers in Pudong: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai International Convention Center, etc. form the most beautiful skyline, lighting up the night of the Magic City at night, and more representative of the modern and future of Shanghai. Pudong and Puxi face each other across the river, and the Bund, which blends old and new, is a microcosm of Shanghai.

Walking along the Bund, you will find the Nanjing Road Walkway. When you arrive in Shanghai, even if you don't want to buy anything, you will have a look at the pedestrian street scenery of the first street in China. In the street, I saw a dark red marble screen with six characters "Nanjing Road Walkway" written by President Jiang Zemin. This road has a history of over 100 years, and its predecessor was "Pike Lane". It was officially named Nanjing Road in 1865.

The buildings in the photo have a history of over 100 years, have gone through vicissitudes, witnessed the prosperity of Shanghai, and are still playing their role to this day!

The Overseas Chinese Building has witnessed the important history of China's information age, because the first pager station in China, Guomai Station, was established here. Parents' generation would know: 'Motorola pager, which can transmit information anytime and anywhere, started here.'.

Yong'an Department Store is a Shanghai fashion store and the pioneer of China's department store industry.

Time travel! 1192 Shanghai Retro Style Street GO

I have always wanted to find the imprint of old Shanghai. Although there are many small streets and alleys in Shanghai with a Shanghai flavor, for a tourist, Shanghai Film and Television Park is definitely a good place. But unfortunately, it happened to rain all over the world. Is it raining in Shanghai?? The winter is particularly cold, and the clothes brought to Guangzhou are not enough to keep warm, so a friend recommended a niche old Shanghai style street -1192 Lane Shanghai Retro Style Street.

What comes to mind when you mention old Shanghai? Is it an old record from a phonograph, or a rickshaw or a shikumen? Although time never returns, we cannot go back to the past. But! 1192 Shanghai Retro Style Street can satisfy all your imagination of old Shanghai! Let you travel back to old Shanghai in one second.

The story starts from Lane 1192, from the 16 Pu to the warehouse of the foreign firm, from the glittering ten mile ocean market to the old and mottled Shikumen, as well as the rickshaws running through the streets. Slowly stepping into the 1192 themed dining district, memories of old Shanghai that have been sealed for many years flood in like a tide, and those frozen moments gradually become vivid! There is a model ship docked at the riverbank pier, with a rail car box and human powered tricycles and 28 bicycles parked everywhere. There are also some bamboo chairs leaning against the wall, old-fashioned burlap bags, cargo boxes, etc. These are really rare to see nowadays.

In order to match the space situation of "modern, retro and nostalgic" in this old Shanghai theme street, the brand new Chinese time-honored brands came on the scene here, gathering Shen Dacheng, Taikang Food, Cong you bing, Lao Dafang, Dahuchun Dim sum familiar to old Shanghainese

Of course, there are also various old Shanghai city buildings such as alleys, warehouses, street markets, dance halls, docks, etc., which restore the bustling scene and urban style of "Shanghai Beach". This place is full of old Shanghai style, with the Fuxing ship, old-fashioned trams, various old shop signs, which look particularly dated under the tungsten filament lights. Colorful flower umbrellas hang above, neon lights crisscross, and many old ladies wearing cheongsams are taking photos? What about it.

06 Magic City Climbing Tower Can Summon Cat God Beasts

In the photography industry of Magic City, there is a group of people who enjoy climbing stairs. For a photography fan, of course, they cannot miss the part about climbing stairs in Magic City But is there a suitable climbing platform for a photography enthusiast who is afraid of heights? In the Magic City, there is indeed a rooftop park that has been very popular recently - it is located in Gaodeng Park in Changfeng Joy City. Here, you can not only achieve the dream of climbing the building in the magic city, but also summon cats!

The roof of Changfeng Joy City features a pink sky running track, integrating sports and fitness, trendy fashion, art appreciation, children's play, and endless space. The most eye-catching thing here is this cat sculpture. This cat is called Ship's Cat, which was tailor-made by Japanese contemporary art master Kenji Yayanagi for Gordon Park. The 4-meter-tall cat is dressed in a space themed outfit, which is very stylish, and its big blue eyes have the magic to suck people in. Get a summoning cat divine beast!

The entire roof is pierced by this pink runway, with some parts built in mid air. The large area of pink gives off a girlish feeling,

This pink arch looks great in photos, as long as there is a blue sky, it looks good no matter how you take it. Pink can complement the skin tone and make it particularly soft and beautiful. This is already the pink Monument Valley that has been ruined!

Rabbit lawn and rooftop scenery, this lawn is an artificial lawn, very clean, and the color brightness is particularly high. There are cute little rabbits on the lawn.

From a high altitude in the Climbing Park, you can also see the Changfeng Park across from you, where trees and tall buildings complement each other. Just like the same model as Central Park in the United States.

07 Chongming Island - Find the nearest place to Guo Dao

I believe many young people born in the 1980s will be addicted to Guo Jingming's novels, and I am no exception, from 'Sadness Flows Back into a River' to 'Tiny Times'. Come to Shanghai to pursue an unfinished dream from your youth. The distant place of this dream is at Dingba on Chongming Island, where sadness flows back into the river and it is easy to jump into the sea from afar! Of course, if you have followed Korean dramas, this is still the same version as the Korean drama 'Ghost'. In the textbooks of my student days, there was an introduction to Chongming Island, which is the third largest island in China. The entire island of Chongming Island is a national geological park of China, and from the map, it appears to be an island separated from Shanghai. If you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the crowds, then this place will completely empty your mind.

Traveling all the way through the Yangtze River Tunnel and the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge. This is over 70 kilometers away from the city center, with a toll of 50 Arrived in an hour and a half. On the way to Chongming Island, he will pass by the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge, which seems to have magical power. Under clear skies or deep nights, he always has a way to pose and make passersby stop and take a glimpse of him.

After getting off the highway, the road became slightly narrower, but the sky turned bluer and clearer. For the first time on Chongming Island, follow the Chenhai Highway to Dongtan Wetland Park. Although the road is not winding, it is very straight, but the scenery along the roadside is very enticing. It's already winter on Chongming Island, and there will still be lush green trees that suddenly transform into scattered small flowers as they bloom further ahead. The color of that tree is also magical, either blood red like maple leaves or orange yellow like fallen leaves, making it hard to fathom.

On this endless road, I always roll down the car window and let the island wind gently brush my face, gently sucking on the scent of freedom that permeates the sky above the road. Sometimes people can't help but bend into the small paths hidden at the crossroads of the road, and every path is worth recording. I can only say it's a mess of beauty.

Looking out into the wilderness, I was the only one around the empty scenic area. The rows of wind turbines here were very impressive, and upon closer inspection, they were larger than I had imagined. Standing at its feet, it was as huge as coming to the side of the "EVA First Machine".

The biggest feature of Dongtan is the presence of patches of reeds. When the wind blows by, you can see golden waves swaying, as if in the blink of an eye, they will roll people into the gentle countryside of the reeds. The wind stirred the reeds, and the sound of Sasha's rustling could be heard in my ears. I looked around at the deserted wetland, and my thoughts drifted with the wind towards the other side of the reeds.

I arrived at Dingba around 3pm in the afternoon. The river is connected to a reed marshes, and I have seen countless reed marshes on Chongming Island. However, this place is connected to the river bank, and in the gray sky, the distance is like an endless sea (in fact, this is the mouth of the river that flows into the sea). Is it cloudy in Shanghai?? It's almost dark around 4 o'clock. The river slowly began to rise, the sound of the river surging, the reeds swaying, accompanied by small raindrops, and the cold sea breeze blowing in waves, but it could not stop the footsteps rushing towards this scenery.

The extension of Dingba will give you a feeling of walking at the end of the world, which is particularly shocking and can soothe your inner restlessness. Here, mixed with the sediment brought by the Yangtze River, embracing the sea, there is turbid and rolling river water, accompanied by strong sea winds and passing ships. Worries will settle here, turning into land and becoming part of the island.

The Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge at Night

08 Foreign style British style Town

In Songjiang District, Shanghai, there is a small town that is mainly characterized by European style and architecture. Being here feels like walking on a British street. This is the most beautiful bookstore in Shanghai and was once the filming location for the movie "Tiny Times". This is Thames Town. There are no skyscrapers in the city, nor the crowds of people rushing shoulder to shoulder on the Bund. There are Gothic churches, British style buildings, Victorian style terraces, ancient castles, squares, fountains, and small bourgeois coffee shops here. The winding stone roads, colorful tree lined avenues, and the most beautiful bookstore in Shanghai, "Zhongshuge," are also here. This is a beautiful and dreamy English style town, walking on the streets feels like being in England. It is said that compared to the Thames town in England, this place has a high degree of restoration, and even the black stone brick roads are the same as those in England.

The most distinctive feature of the town is this Gothic church, which can be seen from the main entrance. Because it is tall, it can be seen from any corner of the town and has become the central symbol of the town. Going ahead are various characteristic streets, as well as municipal squares, especially the Thames River, which is full of oil painting colors and a warm and romantic bourgeois atmosphere against the reflection.

I have heard before that the most beautiful bookstore in Shanghai is here. As a book lover, I always go to local specialty bookstores in every city to take a look. This time I am in Shanghai, I cannot miss the "Zhongshu Pavilion" here.

The traditional Chinese characters "Zhongshu Ge" above the entrance are very eye-catching. Stepping into the door, it is like entering a sea of books. The walls, floors, and roof are all covered with books, and even the transparent glass on the ground is filled with books. The use of a large amount of glass is a design feature of Zhongshu Ge, and through the large glass windows, bookshelves and decorations can be seen. And there are also books hidden behind the stairs leading to the second floor. There are quite a few people on both the upper and lower floors of the bookstore. Some are reading books, while more are shuttling through various spaces of the bookstore taking photos. They are probably all here to check in for the reputation of Shanghai's "most beautiful bookstore". Each reading area is uniquely designed, full of humanistic creativity, complementing the exquisite atmosphere and British style of the town.

The starry sky in the VIP reading area on the second floor is dotted with stars, and the overall color tone is dark, with a charm of reading at night by candlelight.

The space with a church style spire is my favorite, with a semi arched high roof design and white bookshelves on both sides curved against the wall, seamlessly integrated with the spire. The white desk paired with black armchairs makes the overall look very dignified and elegant. There will be a sacred feeling.

The four sided curved bookshelf on another large glass roof, with mirror columns on the top and middle sides, creates a spacious reflection space.

When you're tired of walking, sit down and look at the vines on the railing of the wall, or at the passersby walking. Everything is so casual, be a quiet beauty, and slowly savor the slow pace of British style life.

You can also find a quiet corner to take some portraits.

Afterword to 09

Self driving route planning:

Day 1: Depart from Guangzhou to check in hotel in Shanghai - Garden Bridge of Shanghai - The Bund - Nanjing Road

Day 2:1192 Shanghai Retro Style Street Changfeng Joy City

Day 3: Chongming Island

Day 4: Thames Town - Trip ends and flies back to Greater Guangzhou

In four days, I walked through the brightly lit and bustling night of the Magic City, the cultural imprint of old Shanghai, the freshness of the Magic City, and even escaped from the cold steel forest of the Magic City to embrace nature and release myself, experiencing the exotic British style town.

At the end of each trip, I always think that I must bring my child with me next time and explore the Thousand Faced City of Magic with my whole family.

See you next time, Magic City