MyPlain

Category: Exploring Shanghai

  • On the Bund, No. 3 is No. 4

    If you’ve been to Shanghai, you must know the Bund. But did you know that what is now known as No. 3 The Bund was actually No. 4 before?

    That’s a long story. Let me tell you from the beginning.

    It was completed in 1916, designed by George Wilson — his first project in Shanghai. Not a bad start, right? He went on to design some of the Bund’s biggest names, including No. 12, No. 13, and No. 20.

    The building is in the Free Renaissance style, and it was Shanghai’s first steel-frame structure. The Far Eastern Review called it “one of the most noteworthy architectural advances of the time.”

    This site goes back to 1860, when Adamson, Bell & Co. built a three-story brick house there. Then, two insurance companies bought it. In 1914, they tore it down and hired Palmer & Turner to build this one. When it opened in 1916, it was called the Union Building — named after the insurance companies that jointly funded it.

    In 1937, the Mercantile Bank (known in Chinese as 有利银行) bought the building and renamed it — which is why people started calling it the “Youli Building” (有利大楼).

    Now here’s the twist: the actual address is No. 4 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road. But in the early 2000s, Michael Graves led a restoration, and when it reopened in 2004, it was rebranded as “Three on the Bund” — or No. 3. The new name signaled a shift from bank to lifestyle hub — art, dining, fashion.

    Call it No. 3 or No. 4 — either way, it’s a Bund highlight. And if you get a chance, check out the terrace bar — great views, great vibe.

  • To Bless Is to Be Blessed

    This evening, I talked myself into going for a jog again, even though I had a few things to finish.

    Right now, I’m so glad I did — because a stranger gave me an entire bouquet of flowers.

    Here’s the story.

    When I finished jogging, I took off my AirPods, slowed down, and headed toward my neighborhood. Suddenly, I noticed a man standing by the road with several bouquets of fresh flowers at his feet. He looked a bit awkward. I walked up and asked if he was selling them.

    He smiled and said no — he had just left a yacht, and the flowers had been used for an event. Then he asked, “Would you like a bouquet?”

    Of course! Why not?

    So he gave me a big bouquet and a glass vase. I split the flowers into three vases, as you can see in the photos.

    Over 2,200 years ago, Jia Yi, a Han Dynasty philosopher, said: “福往者福来Fú wǎng zhě fú lái” — meaning, “To bless is to be blessed.”

    Maybe this bouquet is a blessing in return, because while jogging, I’ve helped quite a few lost people find their way. (If you’re standing on the east bank of the Huangpu River, near Lujiazui, looking confused and helpless, and a Chinese woman comes over to offer help — that might be me.)

    I hope the young man receives his blessing soon.

  • Three Things I Love Most in Zhujiajiao

    I visited Zhujiajiao a few days ago. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been there. I know it’s famous, and I know it’s often listed as one of the top destinations in Shanghai for foreign tourists, but my favorite part is far from the crowded streets.

    One of my absolute favorites is the ancient stone bridges at sunrise and sunset. Luckily, that bridge is rarely crowded at those hours.

    Beyond the bridges, I thoroughly enjoy the small garden in Hexinyuan, whether on sunny or rainy days. I know it’s essentially a museum showcasing various antiques, reconstructed from an old residence, but its quiet atmosphere always transports me into a poetic state of mind.

    Yet, the most captivating aspect is the locals living in their traditional homes. They live beyond the tourist zones, yet they have a vibrant vitality that I can feel the moment I step into the town. Flowers bloom all year round, with different varieties appearing in different seasons. Fruit trees bear fruit from summer to autumn, and the pets—including cats, dogs, and birds—are far livelier than those in downtown.

    I recorded some short videos of the first and second things. You can see them here:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/w7T95hgfhwA

    and here:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/5O5i6wmOlQA

    As for the last one, well, I chatted with several local aunties and uncles, and they showed me many beautiful things from their homes: flowers, old decorations, and smart changes for a more convenient life, and so on. But I didn’t film that part out of politeness. You really need to see them for yourself.

  • 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 for Foreigners

    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.