Mastodon
Alo Japan
Travel

I Never Thought I’d Go Back To China (#155)



Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more: https://www.masterworks.art/sabbatical

Shanghai. China. I lived here for almost 7 years, and likely would have stayed for many more if the pandemic never happened. In early 2020, I left China to visit family back home — and soon after the borders were shut, and it became impossible to go back. And so I stopped waiting.

But Shanghai was a special place for me, it was my home for the better part of a decade. It’s a truly developed, cosmopolitan city that was caught in the middle of a political storm. I missed it. And when events led to the borders finally reopening in 2023, I knew I had to go back, even if it was just a visit.

——–
Instagram: tommyelforastero
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sabbaticaltommy

See important Reg A disclosures: https://www.masterworks.com/about/disclaimer?utm_source=sabbatical&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=8-10-23&utm_term=Viewer+of+Sabbatical *“net returns” refers to the annualized internal rate of return net of all fees and costs, calculated from the offering closing date to the sale date. IRR may not be indicative of Masterworks paintings not yet sold and past performance is not indicative of future results.

#sabbatical #china #shanghai

46 Comments

  2. Retro

    Your lack of environmental awareness just straight cutting off those two ladies at 15:33 cracks me up.

  3. H Shar

    Brings back memories. I had my office on FenYang lu. It used to have restaurants in that corner where it was boarded now in the video.

  5. CMAN195CM

    I worked there for eleven years and loved it. Three months working there, then one month back in San Diego, California , then back to China, three on, one off, for eleven years. They flew me out in December 2019 never to return. I worked in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Chengdu. I have probably been to thirty different cities in China and countless small towns. I do miss the people and the beautiful country of China and of course the three girlfriends I had to say goodbye too with no end in sight of the lockdowns in 2021. I'm jealous, have fun!

  9. marzbite

    15:30 "…were the americans, the british and the most annoyingly of all… the japanese each had their own concessions in the city" lol

  11. Nemo Wei

    I lived in the province Guangdong for more than 4 years. Beautiful country with lovely people and amazing delicious food.

  13. Jinling Liang

    你不要介意那个女人的话（婚姻介绍对象）每一个国家都有好人和坏人，现在美国同中国有予盾，如果在中国守法的话（包括任何国家）中国政府对以往一样，在中国一样受欢迎的，中国是没有种族问题的，人民懂得分析（是同非的）人民是友善和热情的人，助于帮助人的，特别喜欢在中国生活，了解中国文化的人，懂得分析问题的人，正能量的人，加油，我们永远支持你哦，祝福你生活愉快，身体健康，❤

  14. Itis qh

    The price of haircut in Shanghai is about RMB 60(~$8), normal level, not expensive nowdays.

  15. Spencer

    There are a lot of electric bikes there. I have no idea why foreign vloggers don't use them.

  16. Sudhindra Kopalle

    At this point, I'd be surprised if Sabbatical does not speak the local language of any damn country he is thrown into. Totally in awe of your linguistic skills. And your unmissable swag!

  18. Joe

    Dude got ripped off by that hairdresser.
    Here's a free tip for ya, Tommy: if you don't physically see the prices, the price depends on the customer, lol.

    Also funny how you romanticize Shanghai and yet as soon as the police told you to go away, you ran like a scared, little girl lol.

  20. Tynan Draper

    To that lady in the park saying they don't want Americans. At least in America nobody is going to ban you from carrying a parasol in the park! (probably banned because the Hong Kong protesters carried umbrellas).

  21. 雪客

    很喜欢你的视频，很真实的中国，申明一下那个小姐姐是开玩笑的，欢迎回到中国

  22. 愛燕 鄭

    China 😘🏗️🧱🏢🏙️🌃🌆🌇🌉🌁🛣️🚛🚚🚙🚗🚕🛤️🚆🚅🚄🚢🛫🛬🧳👨‍👩‍👧‍👧🎠🎡🎢🏟️🏖️🏝️🏕️🏞️⛰️🏔️🏜️

  25. Untangled Knots

    Planned to go for 1 year. Stayed for 5. Amazing time. Wouldn’t do it again 😆 but I’ll visit my friends, they rock

  32. Fanny Fang

    Thank you so much, it is great that you can show us the difference between now and before, I love Shanghai as well!

  33. CIA BUSTER

    dont ever come to China – if you are a fan of guns,drugs or LGBTQ+ !!!
    the Chinese People will kick your ass if you spread those shit around

  36. Viccy H

    I have to say, the Chinese do a very well job in maintaining the old foreign buildings. And the streets look so clean, I wish we cared this much in the US.

  37. Nico Zhang

    ` ·Yo Tommy (or Sab), u still in Shanghai? Come to join the parties, there are parties almost every night. Come this weekend, check out a place called System, they're throwing A BIG party with 44KW,· CHECK IT OUUUT!!!iii!!`·i!

  40. Kai Chen

    As a native Shanghainess, I can tell you that the lady who told you she's from Shanghai is not true. Because her accent is apprently from northern part of China.

  41. Robert Hamilton

    I just got back Home from visiting Family in Shanghai.
    Love it,
    It was Very Hot & Very humid though.
    Still my favourite city to visit away from Home.
    Been there 10 times over the years will be back next year 🤞
    Thanks for the video Mate

  42. fairalways

    Hey Tommy again! I used WeChat to talk with my boy regularly when he was in school there. Of course, being a dad, I didn't get time to ask all my questions. Is it true that there are beggars who use their phone to get money from people?

    Btw, my son will finish his college there after time abroad. He'll get a degree, both from the Chinese government, and also his school in NYC. He has good feelings about Shanghai, even if it's changed from what you knew.

  44. DOGVIP

    Prefer old Shanghai. Its lost its mystic and charm. Not a fan of modernisation and the loss of cultural authenticity. 2003-2005 Nanjing-Lu / JW Marriott Hotel and DKD Xintiandi, nightclub was a blast. I ran Flo Brasserie Shanghai opposite the JW Marriott. When Kathy Huang and partner Julian opened dkd (decadence kills depression) in Shanghai in 1999, Maoming Lu was still filled with local eateries and clothing shops. "At that time, nobody thought Maoming would take off. Otherwise we would have bought every lot on it. We just wanted a new experience, to do something fun." Within two years they had helped launch Shanghai's hip-hop scene and were blazing the city's path for electronic music.

    Maoming Lu grew. From a nucleus of Judy's Too, dkd, and Manhattan, bars and clubs spread like tree roots. Potential customers became real customers, and a previously marginalized ex-pat bar scene became a Shanghai institution drawing people from all walks of life. Maoming's wide variety and moderate prices drew everything from CEO's to backpackers, office workers to artists. Closed to traffic on weekends, revelers had free reign, and on busy nights the street often resembled a block party. Of Shanghai's three major bar areas – Hengshan Lu, Xintiandi, and Maoming Lu – only Maoming lacked government sponsorship. Privately owned and run, Maoming nightspots were often direct expressions of owners' style and taste. It was this entrepreneurial spirit that brought people back, time after time. Never formally planned, its organic growth reflected a market-driven push in China for a place to party and blow off steam. China's embracing of nightlife was both fueled and fed by Maoming's fire.

    Real estate development may be the reason for the demise of South Street, but the problems facing Maoming are different: noise pollution is the ostensible reason for shutting down the road, and the official line is that constant all-night parties caused local residents to petition local authorities to subdue the street. One bar owner, who asked to remain nameless, responded to this idea with a derisive snort: "What local residents? This is a business district. There are no residents on this block." The more likely reason is the retired officials, waiting on the doorstep.

    One block north, foreign resident Chris Cottrell reminisces about pre-crackdown Maoming: "Actually, the music never bothered me. Most of the noise came from taxi drivers honking their horns." Nevertheless, music registering more than 50 decibels is forbidden. In addition, doors must close at 2am, and fines are levied on those who don't obey. Former hotspot M-Factory says their earnings are down 80 per cent. Six bars have already shut their doors. For Maoming Lu, May 14th was the day the music died.

    Violence, drugs, and prostitution are thought by many to be the real reason for the crackdown. However, a quick reconnaissance of Shanghai's other nightspots reveals that, rather than being dealt with, these antisocial elements have simply moved elsewhere.

    Others say the Maoming shakedown may be emblematic of a larger policy shift in regards to Shanghai's development and growth. After years of criticism for it's lack of parks and open space, Shanghai is striving to become a "green" city. Plans call for Maoming to be razed within two years and transformed into a cultural square. Cynics among the bar owners say that this move motivated by the hope that a loss of business will cause bars to slowly die through loss of revenue – alleviating the need for costly compensation payments when the wreckers do actually arrive.

    Maoming is not the only spot in Shanghai's former French Concession scheduled for redevelopment. Legendary Xiang Yang Market, a bastion of bootleg goods, the Sha'anxi Lu Flower Market, the French-colonial style residences named Bourbogne Street are on the docket to be razed within the year. Taking issue, one bar owner states, "Top Beijing leaders are retiring and returning to Shanghai. Around here are four homes for the most senior officials. They want to make this area their peaceful retirement ground."

    Some Maoming bars are soundproofing in the hope that, in the spirit of Hong Kong's largely successful Lan Kwai Fang, decreased noise will turn the tide of disapproval. Alago, former manager of Maoming's hip-hop hot spot Windows Roadside, comments, "Some people still hope Maoming will come back, that they can improve things and save the scene. But I think it's finished." Windows Roadside is now hemmed in on all sides by brick walls. "It's like being inside a bunker. Who wants nightlife like that?"

    With bars and clubs becoming increasingly popular among local Chinese – and ex-pat communities in Beijing and Shanghai experiencing exponential growth – demand for nightlife is unlikely to slacken. Though several bars have risen up on Maoming's demise, offering spring break style atmosphere and all-you-can-drink specials, the bar scene is yet to find a new home. According to Alago, "Now is the best time to open a bar in Shanghai. The only problem is, nobody knows where." Nearly five years ago, Julu Lu's bar scene was shut down and, though it now operates freely, never regained its crown as the city's hottest spot.

    With no word from Maoming's bar owners as to what may happen next if they clean up their acts, Sanlitun's owners have moved to greener pastures – or are at least in search of greener pastures. Jam House's Bing Bing runs the successful Yan Club in Dashanzi. Yuan Hai of Huxley's has launched his hutong bar Red Yard, at Kuan Jie. Yun Meng has moved in beside the CD Cafe. Black Sun migrated to the Chaoyang Park area in 2001. Durty Nellie's sister sits at Liangma River. The Hidden Tree says they are actively seeking out a new home. "It's just not the same at Chaoyang," says Black Sun owner Li, of the South Street Black Sun. "On South Street, people just drop in because they're here – but our bar at Chaoyang Park doesn't compare – nor is our clientele the same." End of an era forever Maoming nightspots of Shanghai.

Write A Comment