MyPlain

Category: Exploring Shanghai

  • The Willow Pattern Mystery | Yu Garden | Ep.3

    I’ve been digging into Yu Garden lately.

    And today, I stumbled across something fascinating — the tea house here was once called ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House’ by foreigners.

    Why? Because it looks just like a beloved English ceramic pattern.

    So, I dove deeper.

    First, the inspiration.

    In the 17th and 18th centuries, fine blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen was highly prized in Europe.

    But it was expensive and hard to get — so it stayed a luxury for the elite.

    Then came the British “copy.”

    Around 1780, British potters adapted and combined Chinese motifs — willows, pavilions, and birds.

    With new transfer-printing technology, they mass-produced affordable ‘Chinoiserie’ ceramics.

    And the iconic Willow Pattern was born.

    But wait, there’s a catch.

    In the 1840s, to boost sales, the British came up with a tragic love story — star-crossed lovers fleeing across a zigzag bridge, only to be turned into swallows.

    By the way, Pure marketing. Not a real Chinese legend.

    Then came the déjà vu.

    When British merchants arrived in Shanghai and saw the Huxinting Tea House — and the Nine-zigzag Bridge right beside it — they were stunned.

    The landscape looked exactly like the scene on their plates and teacups.

    So, they called it ‘The Willow Pattern Tea House.’

    In my eyes, the Willow Pattern isn’t only a fascinating historical artifact, but also a cultural loop.

    It’s like a cross-cultural puzzle that took centuries to complete.

    Pretty cool, right?

    (This is the transcript from this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/FKW98xocZ18. I’d appreciate any feedback or pronunciation corrections. )

  • China High-Speed Railway Security Check – What You Need to Know as a Foreigner

    As you may know, I was browsing a forum to learn English and conduct market research. Maybe because it’s a unique and interesting transportation system in China, high-speed railway questions have been asked quite often. So, I wanted to write this post to help out our foreign friends!

    First, something special for foreign travelers:
    Passport  Check: Most stations require manual verification of passports. However, some upgraded stations (e.g., some on the Hainan Ring Railway and Guangshen High-Speed Railway) support direct passport scanning at the gates. If you’re unsure, just follow the signs or ask staff for the manual channel.

    Then, a couple of special reminders:
    · Arrive at the station at least 45–60 minutes before departure. If you are fluent in Chinese and familiar with the process, 30 minutes will be enough.
    · Your passport will be checked both at the station entrance and at the boarding gate. (We Chinese citizens use our ID cards for the same process).

    Finally, here is the main part: the official rules from 12306.

    🚫 What You CANNOT Bring at All (Not in your bag, not in checked luggage)
    · Guns, ammo, or anything that looks like a real gun.
    · Knives, daggers, crossbows, or any blade/weapon controlled by law.
    · Fireworks, firecrackers, gasoline, diesel, or any fuel.
    · Alcohol stronger than 70% by volume.
    · Self-heating food (the kind with a heat pack – they react with moisture and can catch fire).
    · Poisons, strong acids (like sulfuric acid), strong alkalis (like lye), or radioactive materials.
    · Infectious stuff – like dangerous germs or viruses.
    · Live animals (except guide dogs). Small pets can be checked as luggage if you have a health certificate and a proper carrier.
    · Anything that smells really bad (even if sealed – yes, durian and sticky tofu count), or anything that might scare other passengers.
    · Any item that security can’t figure out but looks risky.

    🧳 What You CANNOT Carry On, But CAN Check as Luggage
    Note: I haven’t used this service myself, so please allow extra time and budget just in case.
    · Kitchen knives, scissors, or blades longer than 60mm (about 2.4 inches).
    · Professional knives (like scalpels).
    · Sports gear like bats or clubs.
    · Tools like drills, axes, or farm tools.
    · Bows, slingshots, or similar items.
    · Small pets (as above – with papers and carrier).

    ⚠️ What You CAN Bring, But With Limits
    · Alcohol – Only if it’s sealed, clearly labeled, and between 24% and 70% alcohol. Max total: 3 liters (about 100 fl oz). To be clearer, alcohol under 24% is allowed without special volume limits, as long as it complies with standard baggage rules. And anything over 70% is banned. And alcohol must be in its original, labeled, sealed container.
    · Sprays (aerosols) – Like hairspray or sunscreen. Each can ≤150 ml (5 fl oz), one per type, total ≤600 ml (20 fl oz).
    · Flammable liquids (non-spray) – Like perfume or bug repellent. Each bottle ≤100 ml (3.4 fl oz), one per type.
    · Power banks – Must have clear labeling—each ≤100Wh (about 27,000 mAh). No limit on how many, but must be for personal use. No damaged or unlabeled ones.
    · Lighters – Max 2 (no kerosene lighters). Matches – Max 2 small boxes.
    · Nail polish & remover – Total ≤50ml (1.7 fl oz).
    · Small seafood – Like fish, shrimp, or crabs – OK if in sealed containers.


    📏 Baggage Size & Weight
    · Weight: Adults ≤20 kg (44 lbs), children ≤10 kg (22 lbs).
    · Size:
    1) On high-speed trains (D, G, C): length + width + height ≤ 130cm (51 inches).
    2) On regular trains (K, T, Z, etc.): ≤ 160cm (63 inches); pole-shaped items ≤ 200cm (79 inches).

    🔍 At the Security Check
    · Every bag goes through the X-ray machine.
    · Liquids, power banks, and some other items may need to be taken out or opened for checking. (Tip: Pack these items in an easily accessible place so you can grab them quickly.)
    · If you refuse the check, you won’t be allowed in.

    🚨 What Happens If You Break the Rules
    · Banned items – Confiscated, and police may be called.
    · Over-limit items – You have a few choices:
    Check them as luggage (if allowed).
    1) Hand them to someone seeing you off.
    2) Store them at the station (free for up to 3 days).
    3) Send them via express delivery.
    4) Throw them away.

    🚜 A Special Note for “Slow” Trains
    Some slower, public-service trains in rural areas have different rules – they may allow small farm tools and a few live birds/animals. This only applies to those specific trains.

    Disclaimer: The official information above was collected on July 31, 2026. Please refer to the latest official updates from 12306 for specific details.

    Traveler’s Note:

    Navigating China’s railways can be tricky—if you’d like us to handle the details for you, check out our travel services.

  • Shanghai Disney Resort Guide

    I was searching for a guide for a friend and thought it was a good topic for English writing practice.

    Essentials
    • ID/Passport: Bring the original ID or passport you used to book your ticket.
    • Non-glass Water Bottle: Free water is available throughout the park (room temperature at fountains, hot water at some restaurants).
    • Power Bank: Rentals inside the park are expensive and sometimes unavailable.
    • Snacks: Allowed, but alcohol, strong-smelling foods, and items that need reheating are not permitted.
    • Shanghai Disney Resort App: Essential for checking wait times, booking passes, and viewing the daily schedule.
    • Other: Camera, wet/dry wipes, mini fan, folding umbrella, raincoat.

    Prohibited Items
    • Photography Gear: Selfie sticks, light reflectors, extendable poles, and tripods.
    • Special Containers: Glass containers, aerosol sprays, and pressurized cans.
    • Recreation Gear: Roller skates, skate shoes, tents, hoverboards, and drones.
    • Weapons: Knives, toy guns, and other weapons.
    • Oversized Items: Luggage larger than 56x36x23cm, folding chairs/stools, and strollers larger than 110x85cm.
    • Pets: Strictly prohibited, except for service dogs.

    Dress Code
    Guests 16 and older cannot wear character costumes, floor-length gowns, full-face masks (except medical masks), or full-face character makeup.

    Final Tips
    • Check the official guidelines — rules may change. Always review the latest version on the official website or app.
    • Wear comfortable shoes — expect to walk about 20,000 steps a day.
    • Travel light — it makes security faster and your day much smoother.

    帮朋友整理上海迪士尼的游览注意事项，顺便练习下英文。

    基本事项

    • 身份证/护照：得携带预订门票时使用的原始身份证或护照。
    • 无玻璃水瓶：园区内提供免费饮用水（饮水处是冷水，部分餐厅提供热水）。
    • 充电宝：园区内租赁费用较高，有时还借不到。
    • 零食：允许携带，但禁止携带酒精饮料、气味浓重的食物以及需要加热的物品。
    • 上海迪士尼度假区App：用于查询等待时间、预订门票及查看每日活动安排。
    • 其他：相机、干湿巾、迷你风扇、折叠伞、雨衣等。

    禁止携带

    • 摄影器材：自拍杆、反光灯、可伸缩杆和三脚架。
    • 特殊容器：玻璃容器、喷雾罐和加压罐。
    • 娱乐设备：轮滑鞋、滑板鞋、帐篷、悬浮滑板和无人机。
    • 武器：刀具、玩具枪及其他武器。
    • 过大物品：尺寸超过56×36×23厘米的行李、折叠椅/凳子以及尺寸超过110×85厘米的婴儿推车。
    • 宠物：严禁携带，导盲犬除外。

    着装要求：16岁及以上宾客不得穿着角色服装、长裙、全脸口罩（医疗用口罩除外）或全脸角色妆容。

    小提醒：

    轻装出行——有助于加快安检流程，让行程更加顺畅。

    穿着舒适的鞋子——每天步行约20,000步是常事。

    查看官方指南——规定可能随时变更，务必在官方网站或应用程序上查阅最新版本。

  • One of My Favorite Small Gardens

    This is the Merchant Guild Hall. Built in 1715 during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, it tells the story of Shanghai’s shipping development before the Opium War. It’s just 3 kilometers from the Bund, and only 642 meters from the tailor market, which is popular with foreigners. Yet, it remains largely unknown.

    However, today, the main character isn’t the building itself, but rather the small garden right beside it.

    In Chinese gardens, three things are essential: vitality, Yi Jing, and Feng Shui.

    Vitality is obvious to the naked eye, so I won’t dwell on it. Yi Jing is a poetic state of mind, an artistic conception that is hard to convey, so I’ll let the words on the screen do the talking. As for Feng Shui, it’s a bit complex. But in short, it’s about letting nature flow through the air, or arranging the space to live comfortably with nature.

    All of this revolves around one core idea: “Though created by human hands, it looks as if it was formed by nature itself.”

    I’ve traveled all across the Jiangnan region, the heartland of Chinese gardens, and this corner is one of the finest examples I’ve ever seen, even if it’s a reconstruction or a newly built one.

  • Another Reason Why Chinese People Visit Temples

    A few days ago, I told a friend from New Jersey about an experience I had at the Jade Buddha Temple. He thought I was a Buddhist.

    I explained that I went there just for the vibes and the lotus flowers. He didn’t question further, but I could see the confusion on his face.

    Well, for many Chinese people, visiting a temple is just like an architecture student visiting St. Peter’s Basilica.

    Buddhism and Taoism, blended with Confucianism, are deeply woven into our language and history, so we’ve been learning about and influenced by them since we were kids.

    That’s why many people go to temples for cultural reasons, not religious reasons.