As this was my last photo walk with my photography club students, we decided to go back to a place we have already been to decide how much it has actually changed since we took our photo walk in October.

Laoximen like mentioned before is one of the older neighborhoods in Shanghai that is still trying to keep up its appearance despite the rapid urbanization and gentrification of Shanghai. Unfortunately as mentioned before, it is rapidly rapidly becoming just like the city around it but still trying to keep its old school charm. The once old looking buildings from eons past have been replaced with facades to make them look newer. I have seen a lot of change since I first went there this year but I am happy that it is still trying to not modernize with the skyscrapers around it. Lets hope that perhaps they can still keep their old school charm as this is a disappearing aspect of China….

[Show slideshow]

I decided to take them to Yu Gardens which I have been to once before which is a short walk from Laoximen, however I did not anticipate the weather being so nice, thus hundreds of people and busloads of tourists quickly descended upon the place. None of us decided to go in as people walking around was interesting enough for me to watch. It is amazing with all the nice structures around that people were just taking selfies the whole time no doubt feeding their narcissism. I watched two ladies for over 20 minutes getting different selfies of themselves. This was enough entertainment for me as the theme of this time at Yu Gardens was simply Shadows (people projected) and selfies…

[Show slideshow]

Goqui Island a part of the of the Shengsi which is an archipelago of islands (only 18 that are inhabited). Most of the islands are known for their fishing and tourism. But one island stands out above the rest and that is Goqui island. In the 1980s this village was a place where most fishermen called home. However with promise of a better life on the Chinese mainland which the boom of China’s economy, most people moved there. . This is still not a major tourist attraction in China which makes it nice, even though it has grown in the last couple of years. Small hotel/guesthouses dot this part of the island with most not being over 4 or 5 floors.

As this was my fourth time there, I knew pretty much where to go (or try to go), as many of the sections are forbidden because of unsafe structures. I still am amazed at the buildings and how they have somewhat been lost in time. As vines grow on the houses and old bottles lay around, you cant help but wonder, what did this place look like during its hay-day? What keeps drawing me to go back to this place over and over again? I believe it has not been overtaken by tourism and this abandoned village is not something you will find in other parts of the world. My fear is that it will be overtaken by tourism and lose the appeal and luster of its post apocalyptic scene look……

[Show slideshow]

Some people that lived in the village have relocated to the other side of the island that supports tourism with their seafood street which is composed of different restaurants that cater to groups of people. Other things to do on the island is go fishing, go to the beach or simply just enjoy the walk of life that no other place in the world has. As China is becoming a shopping culture and most place in the mainland have big malls or shopping streets, this place is still holding to its simplistic values of life, and lets hope it stays that way….

[Show slideshow]

As my time in China comes to an end, I am happy to have visited this place so many times on short three day holidays. I would definitely keep coming back over and over again over the years to see how much it has changed (or not changed). If the abandoned island part was not enough to see, the relaxation of just walking the streets would be a major selling point. I will truly miss coming here!!!!