• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Join PGM
Pepperdine Graphic

Pepperdine Graphic

  • News
    • Good News
  • Sports
    • Hot Shots
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
    • Advice Column
    • Waves Comic
  • GNews
    • Staff Spotlights
    • First and Foremost
    • Allgood Food
    • Pepp in Your Step
    • DunnCensored
    • Beyond the Statistics
  • Special Publications
    • 5 Years In
    • L.A. County Fires
    • Change in Sports
    • Solutions Journalism: Climate Anxiety
    • Common Threads
    • Art Edition
    • Peace Through Music
    • Climate Change
    • Everybody Has One
    • If It Bleeds
    • By the Numbers
    • LGBTQ+ Edition: We Are All Human
    • Where We Stand: One Year Later
    • In the Midst of Tragedy
  • Currents
    • Currents Spring 2025
    • Currents Fall 2024
    • Currents Spring 2024
    • Currents Winter 2024
    • Currents Spring 2023
    • Currents Fall 2022
    • Spring 2022: Moments
    • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
    • Spring 2021: Beauty From Ashes
    • Fall 2020: Humans of Pepperdine
    • Spring 2020: Everyday Feminism
    • Fall 2019: Challenging Perceptions of Light & Dark
  • Podcasts
    • On the Other Hand
    • RE: Connect
    • Small Studio Sessions
    • SportsWaves
    • The Graph
    • The Melanated Muckraker
  • Print Editions
  • NewsWaves
  • Sponsored Content
  • Digital Deliveries
  • DPS Crime Logs

Huan ying nimen laidao Shanghai! (Welcome to Shanghai)

September 19, 2012 by Kali Jelen Photos by Justin Woo

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Photo by Justin Woo

When we first landed at Pudong airport in Shanghai I was struck by the greenery and beauty of the land. I had expected flashing lights and the gray scale of concrete to characterize the most populous city in the world, but instead I was greeted by a wonderland of green plants the bright colors of traditional architecture.

Before I begin to describe my experiences I want to pass on some basic facts about the city and it’s history. Shanghai is located on the Eastern Coast of mainland China. It encompasses roughly 6340 square kilometers and it clocks in as the most populous city in the world with slightly more than 17 million people. Shanghai is widely accepted as one of China’s most diverse and cosmopolitan cities. Throughout history various European nations have colonized sections of Shanghai. Though the land has been completely returned to Chinese rule, foreign influence has remained strong. It’s common to see a French style manor next to a traditional Buddhist temple next to a modern skyscraper.

Pudong from the Huangpu River (Photo by Justin Woo)

In addition to being a cultural melting pot, Shanghai is a unique combination of the old and new world architecture. The city is bisected by the Huangpu River, which serves as a natural division for the districts. The Eastern side is called Puxi. It is the historic side of the river. Puxi encompasses many of the old European colonies, such as the French concession. Meanwhile the western side of the Huangpu is called Pudong. Up until the 1990’s it was just fields and homes but now it has one of the most impressive cityscapes in the world. The Oriental Pearl Tower is probably the most iconic part of this skyline. At 1535 feet, the space age Eiffel tower is difficult to miss. I have yet to decide which side of the city is my favorite. They each represent a unique part of Chinese culture and history.

“Our Program in front of the dragon boat. We went on a dinner cruise to see the city” (Photo by Justin Woo)

It seems like we’ve been here for far longer than a week. Already the city is beginning to feel more like home. As I mentioned before, my first impression of the city was how beautiful it is. I expected to find more concrete, grime, and decay. Yet instead the warm, damp weather allows for the city to be ensconced by greenery. I don’t know whether or not it will remain this way in to the cold winter months, but for now it’s lovely.

I have also become fascinated by the diverse architecture. Each section of the city has something unique to offer. I’ve become somewhat obsessed with the Jing’ an temple. It’s a traditional Buddhist temple, built in 1216, complete with ornate red and gold scrollwork. I have yet to go inside, but I’ve gotten a glimpse through the oversized wooden doors as monks and tourists scurried in. There are massive statues and places to burn incense. Everything is painted a lavish red and trimmed in ornate gold. Probably the most notable feature of the temple is it’s massive scale. I can’t wait to tour the temple with my humanities 251 class (Enriching the International Experience). It’s also worth noting that a massive modern shopping mall has been built around the majority of the temple and a major subway station is right underneath. Just another example of how the new and the old combine in Shanghai.

Well that’s all for now. More from Shanghai soon! Zai jian!

Jing’ an Temple at night (Photo by Justin Woo)
The plaque at the entrance to the Jia (Photo by Justin Woo)

Filed Under: Perspectives

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Featured
  • News
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
  • Sports
  • Podcasts
  • G News
  • COVID-19
  • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
  • Everybody Has One
  • Newsletters

Footer

Pepperdine Graphic Media
Copyright © 2025 · Pepperdine Graphic

Contact Us

Advertising
(310) 506-4318
peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
(310) 506-4311
peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
Student Publications
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube