Work from Home Thursday

On Thursday, I didn’t feel too great, so I decided to work from home. The office was cool with this. As everyone works so hard in China, I think they don’t really mind where you do the work, as long as it gets done. For example, in some offices, they offer staff free massages any time they feel like one – in exchange for a couple of hours extra work. The French lady, who is interning with my house mate was offered a driver to and from work – in exchange for her working Saturdays! I think it is curious how different compensation packages are appreciated in different countries and cultures.

It was really sunny on Thursday, so I sat on the balcony whilst I completed my work, thought I might as well make the most of the majorly unpredictable weather here! Afterwards, I decided to get a late lunch (at 4pm!) and thought I would check out some recommendations that my CEO gave to me.

Tianzifang art street was amongst the places he had told me to go. After doing some research and reading that it is dubbed the ‘Soho of Shanghai’ I realized that it is actually just behind the tube station near where I live and that the bazaar that I went to on one of my first days is part of it! The map shows that this however is just one small part, so I walked there in search of some lunch!

Tianzifang is similar to XinTianDi in that it has many bars, cafes, craft shops, studios, galleries and boutiques. However, whereas XinTianDi is very touristy, full of expats and very commercialized, in Tianzifang, there is a much more authentic feeling, with many locals wondering around. Tianzifang developed from a local residents area into an area where local artists gather in downtown Shanghai.

I love Tianzifang because there is a bamboo pole structure above you with locals’ washing hanging out, traditional Chinese architecture around you but then young, fashionable, metropolitan individuals surround you. From this I can see why it is dubbed the Soho of Shanghai. I decided to play it safe as I wasn’t feeling so good and go to an Italian bistro. The food was unfortunately pretty overpriced, however the atmosphere made up for it. There were glamorous old 1920/1930s advertisements on the wall of Xie Xing Long in dark brown wooden frames with matching furniture. This paired with deep red tablecloths and cushions gave the place a real opulent vibe. I particularly loved the chandeliers hung from the ceiling placed inside old lampshades. I might have to copy this when I get home!

(There are more photos of here to come but they are on my phone.)

Later on in the day, I met up with a friend of a friend who works in finance in Shanghai. Her name is Lucy and we went to a lovely little area called Si Nan Mansion, which is quite close to where I live, ‘at the junction of Si Nan Lu and Fu Xin Lu’. (I definitely google translated all of this to give to the taxi driver!)

Sinan mansions is a big development in Shanghai which has transformed 49 colonial mansions from the 1920s and 1930s into four projects: the Hotel Massenet; a commercial stretch of cafes, restaurants and retail; luxury condos; and corporate villas.

Lucy and I got on really well and had a lovely meal together. She was telling me that she usually works in Hong Kong and prefers it much more there. She was also telling me about the 100% tax on luxury goods in China. She luckily escapes this by Internet shopping at net-a-porter and having it shipped to HK. Clever kitten!