Shanghai: Confirmed, I'm just a potato here. #WTFtravel
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I understand! Each time I step into Shanghai, that overwhelming feeling of "wow, the city residents sure know how to have a good time" hits me!
- Especially when just exiting the train station or airport, it's incredible!
- Surrounded by towering buildings, bustling traffic and waves of people, one instantly feels overwhelmed and small, as if lost in this metropolis.
- The people on the streets, my goodness!
- Speaking all sorts of languages, whether comprehensible or not, it feels like the whole world has gathered here. Also, everyone dresses so stylishly and fashionably!
- And those creatively designed buildings and abundant shops leave your eyes longing for more.
- Really, at that moment, I felt I was missing something in my hand—yes, just a humble and down-to-earth woven bag more earthy would fit just right with me!
Friendly tip for friends visiting Shanghai for the first time:
- Prepare mentally for being "lost"!
- Shanghai is massive with metro lines like spiderwebs. It's very easy to get confused at stations or while switching trains.
- How should one deal with it? Download maps in advance, or seek help from staff and volunteers who are all friendly and kind.
- Crowds abound – take it in stride!
- Crowds are common at attractions, malls, or metro stations, particularly during holidays.
- How should one deal with it? If you dislike crowds, try avoiding peak hours. Relax, this is part of the charm of a big city too!
- Variety of consumption options abound – keep an eye on your wallet!
- Shanghai has top-notch, upscale restaurants and shops as well as down-to-earth, inexpensive food and places of business.
- How should one deal with it? Plan ahead according to budget. Don't let the dazzling prosperity cloud your judgment!
In summary, Shanghai is a charming city but can also be bewildering at times; enjoy this unique experience!
- Especially when just exiting the train station or airport, it's incredible!
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As a Shanghai local, I still get this feeling of being a bit of a 'country bumpkin' whenever I go downtown.
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When you say 'downtown Shanghai,' which area are you referring to?
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It's this particular building (Portman). It gives off such an intense, almost overwhelming vibe. Other places are generally fine.
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'Overwhelming'? I watched it being built and I've been there countless times, but I've never felt that way about it.
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Haha, you're welcome to come to Yangpu District to get your confidence back!
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Hahahahaha
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My feeling of inadequacy compared to Beijing and Shanghai will probably last a lifetime.
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Hahaha, I actually find Beijing pretty down-to-earth.
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You're just being too self-conscious.
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Actually, if you visit more major cities in developed countries and then experience Shanghai, you probably won't have that kind of feeling anymore.
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I've also been to international metropolises like Tokyo, Paris, Amsterdam, and Singapore. But none of them gave me the same 'vast' or 'imposing' feeling Shanghai does. Shanghai makes me feel a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity. When I made that post, it was just a sudden, somewhat abstract thought I wanted to share.
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Don't worry about it. Most people are just 'country bumpkins' (土狗 - tu gou), or 'country bumpkins' trying clumsily to imitate the elite. Real elites are rare. It's perfectly fine to just be an authentic 'country bumpkin'.
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Hahahaha, 'an authentic country bumpkin'!
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150 years ago, it was just a county town.
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It was already opened as a treaty port 150 years ago. Saying that sounds a bit like sour grapes.
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It feels like no one on the street really notices me, which is actually quite nice. Except for some older Shanghai 'aunties' (阿姨 - ayi) who give you this look that just screams, 'I'm a local, and I'm a pretty big deal, you know!'
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I wonder, if these Shanghai 'aunties' went to Hong Kong and encountered the famously aloof service staff there, would they still feel so superior? Or, would they still think they're somehow 'better' than Hongkongers?
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Actually, Shanghai is the place that can cure your appearance anxiety, because nobody really cares what you wear. Anything goes, and it's all considered perfectly fine.
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I even saw a man wearing a qipao (cheongsam) today! Anyway, I respect all kinds of fashion choices. What I really admire are elderly ladies who dress elegantly and have such amazing poise and style.