Information about Hongkou Fire House

http://officemei.exblog.jp/9533288/

and nice wide angle lens picture

see what Ma has to say (about architecture, shanghai, and preservation)

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez4-2008aug04,0,526825.column

I feel that his ideas are conflicting to themselves.

Re: Parks in Hongkou District

While looking at a map of the district, I discovered two large-ish parks to the north of our boundary along the creek. The one to the east seems to be called the Guomao Garden, and the one to the west is a branch of the Hongkou Park system.

Creative zones in Shanghai

About creative zones and their challenges during economic downturn:

http://www.china.org.cn/travel/events_festivals/2009-02/23/content_17319619_2.htm

1933

1933 was named as one of the hottest places in Asia. September 2008 article:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/north-asia/asias-hottest-new-spaces/2008/09/30/1222651036761.html?page=fullpage

virtual shanghai

i just stumbled across this fantastic repository of images documenting old shanghai. a vast number of buildings are represented here, and quickly thumbing through them i've already come accross a few landmarks from our conservation area. (i think i found that modern police station from helen's group).

if you get a chance, scroll through these thumbnails to see if you recognize any of the buildings from your area - maybe some of these images could be of use for our final report? 

rise and fall of Pingyao

may be of interest to the whole class, but in particular Melissa.
(a nice Tongji University reference, too).

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/world/asia/18pingyao.html?ref=world

In China, Despair Mounting Among Migrant Workers

similar to the nyt article Randy posted but more dire after Chinese New Year.

In China, Despair Mounting Among Migrant Workers
Millions Are Without Jobs, Options

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/03/AR2009030303287.html?hpid=artslot

shanghainese word of the day

Okay, now that you've mastered five Mandarin Chinese words, it's time to learn some Shanghainese before takeoff in t-40+ hours!

Here's a fun, interactive primer with audio. Click on the blue character to hear Mandarin, the red character 上 for 上海 -- Shang Hai ("up, on, or above" and "sea").

http://www.sinosplice.com/chinese/dialects/

Since Mandarin is the official language of China, over 90% of Chinese you encounter in Shanghai are Mandarin conversant, albeit many with their own regional twangs. For those who viewed "Nostalgia," the very elderly Shanghainese are the predominant, native group who either don't/ or prefer not to speak Mandarin.

For a bit of background on Shanghainese vis a vis Mandarin, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghainese_dialect

people, not buildings

not sure i agree with the approach taken in this photo-series, but nonetheless, i was certainly amused. 

let's discuss/criticize it when we get there.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2005/03/20/travel/20050320_SHANGHAI_SLIDESHOW_1.html

from the NYT today

shopping for the elite in Shanghai's historically elite villas.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/travel/01surfacingcol.html?ref=travel

A movie more for film study than preservation

Suzhou River

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2002 Filmcritic.com

Extremely strange and unique Chinese film, Suzhou River tells the story of a motorcycle courier who befriends and later falls in love with a drug dealer's 16-year-old daughter, only to eventually go to jail after he kidnaps her for ransom, resulting in her leaping to her death in the titular river, a grungy waterway through Shanghai. Years later, after a jail stint, our antihero finds himself drawn to a lounge dancer/swimmer who uncannily looks like his old flame (and is played smashingly by the same actress, Xun Zhou). Voyeuristic (including a nearly four-minute, unbroken scene as the messenger watches the singer get dressed for the night) and dark, the film isn't for everyone, but its poetry is uncommon. Imagine Blade Runner set in the recent past and in a much less interesting locale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_River_(film)

http://www.franklin.library.upenn.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?bbid=3871493&DB=local

Shanghai Primary Source Documents

Hello everyone, I know this website has been mentioned before for the photographs; but, it has a great collection of primary source documents such as guidebooks for Shanghai from 1904, 1920, 1934 as well as a few other primary source materials.

Here is the link for those documents:
http://virtualshanghai.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/Original_Text.php

United church in Bund, Shanghai is demolished

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abbs.com.cn%2Fbbs%2Fpost%2Fview%3Fbid%3D1%26id%3D337204052%26sty%3D1%26tpg%3D1%26ppg%3D1%26age%3D0%23337204052&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&history_state0=

mandarin pronunciation tools

Instead of a new word today, here are some online tools for pronunciation.

1) I came across this site that seems helpful, albeit somewhat technical and maybe more than you need to know.

http://www.sinosplice.com/lang/pronunciation/
The "Background" and "How To" chapters look useful

2) For your evening lullaby, acqusition by osmosis, international flight, you can download lessons here:
http://chinesepod.com/

Happy Pronouncing!
Bessie

shanghainese word of the day

Okay, now that you've mastered five Mandarin Chinese words, it's time to learn some Shanghainese!

Here's a fun, interactive primer with audio. Click on the blue character to hear Mandarin, the red character 上 for 上海 -- Shang Hai ("up, on, or above" and "sea").

http://www.sinosplice.com/chinese/dialects/

Since Mandarin is the official language of China, over 90% of Chinese you encounter in Shanghai are Mandarin conversant, albeit many with their own regional twangs. For those who viewed "Nostalgia," the very elderly Shanghainese are the predominant, native group who either don't/ or prefer not to speak Mandarin.

For a bit of background on Shanghainese vis a vis Mandarin, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghainese_dialect

Travel Logistics-Getting to the airport

Getting to the airport at 4:50 (2 hours prior to takeoff for int'l flights) can be tricky as most public transit options are not running. Here are a few options I am considering:

1. If we can get half a dozen folks together we can order a shuttle; it may be ~$15 per person. This is a flat fee

2. Alternatively, a cab from 30th St station costs between $35 and $40 with tip (it will be more if we take the cab around to pick people up at different locations). If we request one of those mini SUV cabs we can probably get 5-6 people in it with luggage, this would split the cost to approx. $6 per person.

I'm probably going to go with the cab option. I'll take care of the extra amount I will need to pay due to the distance I live from campus, and can pick folks up if any one is interested. I can also hold the cab at 30th St Station if folks would prefer meeting there.

I'm planning on making my arrangements soon--who's in?

Katie

maybe we should talk to jackie?

Someone just told me today that Hong Kong native Jackie Chan had recently donated ancient Chinese homes that he had bought to preserve, to the fourth university being created in Singapore.

Lo and behold I found an article on it.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_337855.html

chinese word of the day freebie #2

story about the two words: Lao and Jia

Lao Jia is the registered mark for Lao Jia Pizza. In Chinese, the two characters: 老家(pronounced Lao and Jia )means hometown. You may have heard that Chinese word has four tones:

　　1st tone: ―, 2nd tone: ↗ 3rd tone: ∨ 4th tone: ↘

　　For the pronunciation: Lao Jia, if you speak Lao in 3rd tone, and Jia in 1st tone, it means hometown, but if you speak Lao in 2nd tone and Jia in 4th tone, it means "excuse me".

From http://www.laojia.com.cn/en.htm

I would extend their definition to say patriarchal ancestral home. In my case, my dad's family is from Anxi, Fujian (the province across the straits from Taiwan) so I that is my lao jia. My mom is from Shanghai but despite Mao's efforts to foster gender equity, China is still a patriarchal society.

Bessie

chinese word of the day freebie #1

gao ding /gow ding,/ Mandarin. gao carry on, be engaged in + dìng fixed, settled, established. Achieved, completed, finished.

In other words, TCB -- take care of business.

If there was a city motto, it would be "In Shanghai, we can always gao ding."

You'll often hear "Gao ding le*!" and hopefully find situations to use it yourself...

*Verb + le is the past tense construction of an action.

Bessie

chinese word of the day

sorry i've been remiss! to compensate, i'll throw in 2 freebies today.

Hukou

pronounciation:
http://www.mandarintools.com/worddict.html

definition:
refers to the system of residency permits which dates back to ancient China, where household registration is required by law in People's Republic of China and Republic of China (Taiwan).

In 1958, the Chinese government began using the family register system to control the movement of people between urban and rural areas. Individuals were broadly categorised as a "rural" or "urban" worker.[4] A worker seeking to move from the country to urban areas to take up non-agricultural work would have to apply through the relevant bureaucracies. The number of workers allowed to make such moves was tightly controlled. Migrant workers would require six passes to work in provinces other than their own.[5] People who worked outside their authorized domain or geographical area would not qualify for grain rations, employer-provided housing, or health care.[6] There were controls over education, employment, marriage and so on.[4]

Although an individual is technically required to live in the area designated on his/her permit, in practice the system has largely broken down. After Chinese market reforms, it became possible for some to unofficially migrate and get a job without a valid permit. Economic reforms also created pressures to encourage migration from the interior to the coast.

Excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hukou_system

NYT story... and new maps from Tongji...

Hi Everyone--
Interesting article in this morning's New York Times about impending migration away from coastal cities in the Pearl River Delta (and Shanghai) back to the countryside... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/world/asia/23migrants.html.
Also, I received more maps from Liu Gang over the weekend, which have been posted to the course folder. They include the local plan for the Hongkou District--working on getting the plan for the Tianzifang District, too.
More soon, Randy

American Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai article on Preservation

Short article targeted towards members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/NR/rdonlyres/4928D331-2AC8-4BB8-8AB7-B3A27FDEB64C/6244/02_shanghai_spotlight.pdf

1933

1933 is an adaptive reuse project in Shanghai. It was at one time the largest abattoir (aka slaughterhouse) in East Asia and has been reconstructed into a new recreational destination for locals and expats.

Paul Liu, a Chinese American friend in Shanghai and developer for this project, has agreed to meet us and give us a tour. I'll coordinate with Randy on date/time.

Here are some links
http://www.1933-shanghai.com/index_en.html
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2086
http://shanghaiist.com/2008/02/25/1933_wheres_the.php

Paul was previously CFO and then General Manager of the high-end Three on the Bund building (http://www.threeonthebund.com/#), another adaptive reuse project backed by the Singaporean/Malaysian family who owns the Shangri-la empire.

chinese word of the day

Today's word is Tong Zhan 统战, pronounced / təʊ̇ŋ 'jan/

Well it's a bit challenging for me to explain that word. I did not find proper definition on web, and if you have better luck, please let me know. I learnt that the word is listed in the censored words in Chinese cyberspace, maybe that's the reason for difficulty in finding the word.

What I can offer you is the context of the word: There is a department in the Chinese central government called Tong Zhan Bu (Bu means department), which is officially translated as The United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee.

Below are my person translation of the department's responsibility since there is no official version...
(the original chinese version: http://www.zytzb.org.cn/zytzbwz/introduce/zhineng.htm. It is a part of the introduction of the Tong Zhan Bu which consists of introduction of the officials, the responsibilities, the organization system and the history. Other parts are also helpful in understanding the whole dimention of Tong Zhan)

1, Investigating and researching of the united front theory, major principles and policies, organizing and implementing the the principles and policies of the CPC Central Committee about the united front ; Reporting to the Central Committee about the situation and making comments and suggestions on the principles and policies united front work.

2, are responsible for liaising the various democratic parties and representative personages without party affiliation and timely report, stating their views and recommendations; researching, implementing the Communist Party-led multi-party cooperation and political consultation system and the democratic principles and policies; implementing the idea the central government has on the role of supervision work that democratic parties, personages without party affiliation in politics should play; support to all democratic parties to do self-construction.

3, is responsible for researching, coordinationing and inspecting of the major principles and policy on ethnic and religious groups; and contacting the representatives of the minorities and religious groups; assisting relevant departments to do a good job in training and job referrals in minority groups; and working with relevent departments to fight against the Dalai Lama Group and other domestic and foreign hostile forces which are carrying out activities to split the motherland China.

4, responsible for the united front work overseas focusing on the reunification of the motherland; responsible for contacting overseas societies and representatives; do a good job in Taiwan, and take good care of Taiwanese.

5, Take in charge of the arrangements for non-Conmmunist Party personages, do a good job intraining, selecting, recommending the non-party workers together with relevant departments.

6, is responsible for contacting the National Federation of Industry and industrial and commercial associations and representatives in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas. is responsible for investigating, researching and reporting the situation of Chinese non-public economy representative, coordinating relationships with them, and putting forward policy recommendations.

7, is responsible for investigating and studing the situation of intellectuals outside the party, reflecting their views and coordinate relations, making policy recommendations; contacting representatives of non-party intellectuals.

8, is responsible for carrying out propaganda of the united front at home and abroad.

9, responsible for directing the work of local party committees and the United Front Work Department of the united front door of the person; responsible for training, coordination of relevant government departments for united front work; escrow ACFTC, Whampoa Alumni Association, Western Returned Scholars Association, Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification and other relevant social groups.

10, completing other tasks entrusted by the CPC Central Committee.

Hope that I did not spread confusion...

chinese word of the day

i'll try to post these daily in our 2 week countdown.
Fon, Melissa and Xi, please add your suggestions too!

"dan wei"

definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_wei

pronounciation (as i posted earlier)
http://www.mandarintools.com/worddict.html

History of the Fortune Cookie!

Wikipedia saves the day yet again...

The fortune cookie has a bunch of muddled history, but generally, it is understood that it originated in California in the early 20th century. As a fusion between Chinese mooncakes with concealed rice messages (part of a festival celebration) and a similar-type of Japanese cracker, the fortune cookie was born as a new concept that was generated in the United States (fortune cookies made their debut in China by a Brooklyn-based company in 1992).

They originally contained biblical excerpts, or had a tone of spiritual guidance and wisdom to their quotes...they hit the big time after WWII, and became more gimmicky. Because Chinese cuisine does not typically feature dessert, the fortune cookie was a way to help quinch the American need for sweets at the end of a meal.

So, that's all you never wanted to know about the fortune cookie.

NPR story about destruction of historic Shanghai

Listen to this morning's NPR report on destruction of historic buildings in Shanghai--very near (if not actually part of) our Hongkou Creek site! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100522156

Louisa Lim has done a number of stories on history and Shanghai over the past few years... you can search them on the NPR web site: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6610882

Randy

how do i pronounce that?

here's the website i mentioned:

http://www.mandarintools.com/worddict.html

to lookup pronunciation or Chinese translation:
1. enter the word (e.g. "Zhao")
2. select "Pinyin" for pronunciation or "Chinese" for translation.
3. make sure you check "Include pronunciation links"
4. because there are so many homonyms in Mandarin, you'll probably have to select one of the many entries. (Select surname for Zhao, the author of last week's journal article).

to overcome homonymobia -- here's another resource:
Mandarin Practice Handbook Series: Chinese Homonyms Without Tears MA Yanhua & ZHUANG Ying

New Building from a Business Perspective

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/is-shanghai-turning-pro-or-just-building-high-a-guest-post/?scp=2&sq=shanghai&st=cse

I found this to be really informative...giving an idea of how Shanghai fits into global business. Great photos and anecdotes!

Carry-on

If you are traveling with United, here are the guidelines for carry-on luggage. As some of us were talking about not checking in any bags, it may be a good idea to keep the carry-on dimensions in mind.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1032,00.html

affordable housing @ design museum (ny)

this is the exhibition i mentioned in class:

http://www/cooperhewitt.org/EXHIBITIONS/solos/tolou.asp

preservation on a local level

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090208/article_390246.htm

Dinner on Wednesday

The Shanghai Studio dinner (otherwise known as the chopstick proficiency test) will take place at:

Sang Kee
238 N. 9th Street
between Race and Vine (closer to Vine)
215-925-7532
cash only

Wednesday February 11th at 7:00pm
the reservation (listed under Fon) is for 14 people

Additionaly, if you have any questions/ concerns about this trip, dinner, preservation, or life you can find me here fonwang@gmail.com

-Fon

New Museum exhibit

perhaps this was the exhibit someone was thinking of this morning?
my wife just happened to see it and forwarded it to me...

http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/409/new_commissions_urban_chinainformal_cities

books

hey everyone-
i've set aside part of the bookshelf just inside the door of 115 Meyerson for "HSPV 621" books... i've also recovered the other lost book: the "Changing Shanghai" picture book (it resurfaced in Fisher, somehow). and i got a new, color copy of "Explosive Growth"--also on the shelf.
more soon, randy

Hi everyone
A handful of us purchased our tickets today after class. The information is on the excel sheet, including the seat choices. We noticed that the seats, especially coming back from Shanghai on United, are filling up very quickly.... so I recommend buying your tickets ASAP!
YAY!!! 1 MONTH AWAY!
Lindsey

Visa application via Bessie

Sorry for the delayed post. Here's what I need from everyone according to the Business Visa page (http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84247.htm).

Is this Thu doable for everyone? That way, I can bring the passports back on Thu, Feb 19 -- 2 weeks before departure.

1. Passport: Must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it.

2. Signed and completed visa application form. See the course folder for the form. Check "Business Visa."

3. Photo: one photo of 2x2 squre inch (black & white or color) glued or stapled on the application form.

4. Hard copy of invitation letter from Tongi Univ.

5. Personal check to "Bessie Lee" OR money order/cashier check to"Chinese Embassy" for $130. The Visa section accepts only money order/cashier check/credit card. I'd prefer everyone give me a personal check so I can charge everyone's fees in one transaction. That'd be the easiest for me.

Please note http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84247.htm stipulates:
"Any person suffering from a mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculosis or other such infectious diseases shall not be permitted to enter China."

Questions? Feel free to call me @ 202.415.3508.
Bessie

Displacing residents from historic area -- case study jianyeli

Jianyeli is a lilong: a residential district, built between 1930 and 1938, at the heart of the former French Concession in Shanghai.

http://chinaperspectives.revues.org/document459.html

The article above was written in 2005, and there is an update version of what is happening and will happen to jianyeli

http://shanghaiscrap.com/?p=864

oh and my apt. is the at 34 and chestnut The apt. building with the huge bells out front. my number is 703 967 7586. Just come in the front entrance and I'll meet you.

Tuesday night

Hi guys,

There have been some requests for Chinese food take out on Tuesday (tomorrow) night. Any takers? email me at johnsonh@design.upenn.edu and let me know! As for the movie time tomorrow, the room is reserved from 6-midnight so come between 6 and 6:30 and we can order the food and figure out how to set up the DVD player...

Nail House

"Demolition ends China house row."  (April 3, 2007)

http://news.bbc.co/uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6520317.stm

Chinese Activist Loses Battle Over Her Home

This is the story that we had mentioned in class with a little more detail.  I know some people wanted to see photos, so I've attached links.

"China woman loses Fight for Home" (November 21, 2008)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7741226.stm

"House of Leading Chinese rights Activist Demolished" (November 20, 2008)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqMSgFDutrnQXcsSFlxP3g9uyQgxIU-g

In December, 2008, Ni Yulan was sentenced to 2 years in prison for "obstructing public business."

Case Study of Xintiandi

Here is a great overview of the redevelopment project in Xintiandi, Shanghai, giving depth to the re-use of shikumen housing.

Enjoy!

Building Responsive Cities: Technology, Design, and Development

An interesting video on Chinese development. Portion about China/Shanghai is starting around 1:07.

http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/580

Even China's young monuments have short lives

Interesting update on the state of Beijin's 'Bird's Nest'" (Olylmpic) staudium. It costs $8.8m in yearly maintenance and it has had no events planned since. The government is going to develop it as a shopping mall.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-birdsnestfuture&prov=ap&type=lgns

Movies

Two award winning films on the Cultural Revolution I've seen and recommend:

1) Farewell My Concubine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farewell_My_Concubine_(film)

2) To Live
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Live_(film)

Other films on the topic (and a database of other Chinese films):
http://www.dianying.com/en/genre/culturalrev

Although I haven't seen it, The Blue Kite is supposed to be excellent. I've seen alot of other Chinese films and would be happy to make more recommendations.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Hello, I have posted an excel file called "flightinformation" in the logistics folder for you to enter your flight information.

Alex

A good blog on Shanghai - a lot on tear downs and preservation efforts. He's an American living and writing in Shanghai

http://shanghaiscrap.com/

american preservationist in shanghai

interesting article:

"He's a community activist in a country that has no community activism, in a city with a general populous that couldn't care less about his cause."

http://new.danwashburn.com/2008/10/07/build-me-up-tear-me-down/

Shanghai Photo Archive link

This is an interesting online archive of old B&W photos taken in and around Shanghai--could be useful in determining what our sites would have looked like during the last century.


http://virtualshanghai.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/Image.php?ID=2408&

Travel Logistics

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to leave Phila on Friday March 6 at approx 10am, arriving the next day in Beijing at 3:30 pm. Stay in Beijing for two nights, then leave on the first flight out on Monday. I'll leave Shanghai Sun March 15.

I'm probably going to go on a day tour Sunday (to be able to see as much as possible/ visit sports outside the city, etc) and hit up the Silk Market, Tienamen Sq and Forbidden City on my own (or with some of you hopefully).

Katie

Here is my tentative itinerary, kayak.com:
Phil to Beijing to Shanghai to Phila

PHL to PEK to PVG to PHL Fri 6 Mar 2009 – Sun 15 Mar
PHL 10:08a PEK 3:30p 1 United /
PEK 8:10p PVG 10:20p 0 Air China /
PVG 1:20p PHL 10:10p 2 Multiple Airlines
*($1171), I can kick in the diff between the subsidized amount and the cost.

visa application

do we need to fill in the information for "application form by another person" if someone else turning in the form???

Westernized China

Hi all-

If you want to get a closer look at Shanghai, check out this Youtube video I found. Pay attention to the music and see how it goes from being "Global" to "Traditional". I hope it brings up some good discussions on tourism!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmr1KvBHlwE

Movie Night

Hi guys,

I sent an email out saying this too but just make sure the word is out...we will not be watching a movie at my apt. this weekend. I spoke to people at my apt. complex and the best time for us to reserve the movie room to watch The Last Emperor is on a weekday night. I proposed this Monday (1/26) or Tuesday (1/27). Let me know what works for you asap! thanks!
(email address is johnsonh@design.upenn.edu)

Hey everyone-
Look forward to seeing your posts...
To report for now: the list of seminar topics and assignments is posted in the course folder... and a pdf of the Invitation Letter from Tongji is now posted in the "logistics" subfolder.
Here are some recent articles on preservation of vernacular housing in Beijing, from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/world/asia/19beijing.html?scp=1&sq=beijing&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24beijing.html?scp=2&sq=beijing%20preservation&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/arts/design/27ouro.html?scp=1&sq=beijing%20preservation&st=cse

Cheers, Randy