Biking through a Village in Tangzhen

At last; my first video! Perhaps only of interest to those who have biked this short route, it's located in the town where I live (Tangzhen, or Tangtown). The large church near the end was built by a French Jesuit in 1898, closed during the Cultural Revolution (served as a warehouse for agricultural machinery), and completely restored about three years ago. Services are still being held and the church has become a popular backdrop for wedding pictures.
Unlike the church, the village i biked through probably won't be around in a few years. Tangtown is undergoing major development; old homes are being demolished everywhere, making space for new apartment buildings, shops, and a subway station.

Shanghai Spring

Doing the rounds: eatable grass, scrap metal, and highway poles

Saturday was a beautiful day (about 15 C) and at last I got to bike around Tangtown to re familiarize myself again and see what changes could be detected in the last 2 months. Nothing out of the ordinary; stopped by the usual bike repairman to add some air to my tires; "Long time no see," he said in Mandarin with a strong accent. I then came upon a field where they were harvesting a grass type that goes into certain dumplings, they explained to me. Sells for RMB 1 per jin (500 g) on the market. Soon after I can across an older man with a metal detector on a pile of rubble. The scrap metal also goes for about RMB 1 per jin. But perhaps the most remarkable was the new highway that had been paved, but the electricity poles were still right in the middle of it. While not officially open, I witnessed some confused drivers trying to maneuver through them...And now you know the latest of the Tangtown neighbourhood...

Tao, Croquet, and Steamed Buns

First the flu, then incessant rain, and now add a sprained ankle to that. January has turned out to be a disastrous month for biking, and I probably won't hop into the saddle again until after Chinese New Year (mid-Feb). So here a few more pics of last month's rides:
The Tao Hotel is in the middle of nowhere (an industrial area in Pudong), which according to its website "is the classical architecture Tao with a 100 year history. It covers an area of 1600 square meters. It was elected by the United Nations UNESCO Asia/Pacific Region as an applicant for cultural heritage protection." It's located right next to a modern business hotel, and the receptionist gave me a tour of the ancient and serene place. Well decorated but the old wood made it a bit too musty.

And pictures of a shy lady selling steamed buns (took this while biking past;spot the lady) and some village folks playing croquet...

Tangtown

Tangtown in Pudong is undergoing rapid development; about half of the town is being demolished and new buildings are springing up everywhere. According to the town's website, there are ambitious plans to turn this region into a major transportation hub and one of Shanghai's five designated areas for foreigners. Not that foreigners are limited to where they can live nowadays, but big villas are in an abundance. What is supposed to really transform this town is the new subway station (line #2), which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009 (give or take a year or two, is my experience).
Apart from that, it's been a frustrating month for biking; I either had a cold or it was pouring rain. Knock on wood for this coming weekend...

Vistas of Tangzhen

Tangzhen (or "Tang Town") where I live is undergoing rapid changes; they're building a subway station, expanding the main road Tanglu Rd, and new apartment buildings. Away from all the demolition, here a few views to give you a feel for the place.

Yan Village Update

It's gone.
(See Sept 1, 2007 blog)

The End of Yan Village

Yan Village, named after the Yan family that has lived there for centuries, or at least as long the remaining few residents can remember, will soon be completely vanished. Some of the buildings are over a 100 years old. Most of the village was demolished a few years ago, but now the 40 or so homes left standing will soon be a memory only, as the area is making space for new apartment buildings and villas.



Work is well under way now. Some residents are still holding out, hoping to negotiate a better compensation deal with the local authorities. One hold-out told me that he's not happy with the RMB 3000 (about US$400) per m2. Another elderly resident complained about all the different fees from the various government departments. Another person even claimed that she was being threatened by local gangs, and firmly believed that they had been hired by the authorities. A taxi driver friend confirmed that this is very possible.

After the Rain

Today's 24 km ride:
A. An old forgotten Catholic church
B. The old Chuangsha train, now an outdoor museum piece
C. Chuangsha Pagoda
D. Old farm house or temple on Chengfeng Rd.


It didn't look I was going to get out today, but after two major downpours it stayed dry. About 24 km zapped all my energy in high humidity and about 32 C, but familiar and new routes made it worthwhile. It's hard to explain, but those couple hours of being among the common people, the local culture, and the lush countryside give me the weekly lift and injection of energy I need before I go back to the office and go on business travel.

Winter Ride

Even though winter has basically decided to skip Shanghai this year, it was still pretty brisky (about 5 C), as two neighbours and I set off at 9 in the morning last Saturday. We biked about 25 km through villages and stopped by the newly renovated Catholic church in Tangzhen.
First built in 1898 by a French jesuit missionary, it was reduced to a warehouse and factory during the cultural revolution. Weekly masses have been held for over a decade now, but it's finally being restored to its former glory now.


(Thanks to AvG for these last 2 pics)