A few days ago, I guided a tour on a very foggy afternoon in Shanghai. I could tell my guests were a little disappointed because the famous skyline was a little bit hidden by the mist. It was a bit of a bummer, but it actually sparked a new idea for me.
Instead of just apologizing for the weather, I decided to turn it into a cultural sharing. Here is the exact script I now use for my tours on misty days.
If you ever find yourself in Shanghai on a foggy day, here is how to enjoy it:
I know you might feel a bit disappointed about the fog today. But actually, in traditional Chinese culture, this kind of weather is considered one of the best times to enjoy the scenery!
Look at the river. The buildings far away are faint, and the ones nearby are clear. This looks exactly like a traditional Chinese ink-wash painting (水墨画).
These are famous paintings from the Shanghai Museum (see attached pictures). See how they paint the mountains and trees? In Chinese art, we have a rule: ‘Distant objects are light, near objects are dark.’ This is exactly what we are seeing right now in real life. In ancient China, poets and artists would specifically wait for rainy or foggy days to travel, because only in this weather can you see this misty, poetic view.
The reason is that, in Chinese traditional aesthetics, blank space (留白) is very important. The fog creates that blank space. It leaves room for your imagination. So today, we don’t need to see every detail clearly.
Simply feel the mystery and peace of the mist.