Shanghai: Why It Struck Me as Less 'Spectacular' Than Hyped.
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You arrived on the equivalent of an old, slow train; what kind of glitz and glamour were you hoping for?
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This is a classic case of 'the blind men and the elephant'.
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No true Shanghainese would bother with gimmicky stuff like 'intricately carved rice.' That market exists mainly because outsiders are willing to be taken for a ride. Besides, most locals have been relocated to the suburbs; there are hardly any of us left in the city center proper.
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Forget all this talk about 'bustling' or 'not bustling' – we're just trying to live our everyday lives here.
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Alright, whatever you say.
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Hang on, which part of Shanghai are you actually talking about? If you mean the outer rings, then sure, it's not as bustling – probably on par with the downtown area of a second or third-tier city.
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If you don't like it, then just go somewhere else. No one's forcing you to stay, right?
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Sounds like you're just short on cash.
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After all, prosperity isn't free. The level of 'bustle' you experience usually matches the contribution you've made.
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Is it because there aren't as many pretty girls here as there are back in your hometown?