发于环球时报英文版。http://life.globaltimes.cn/travel/2010-09/574212.html
My apartment is only blocks away from the Expo Park, or to be more exact, the China Pavilion. Because of that, I haven’t been able to sleep on my own bed for more than a week because my two nieces have occupied my apartment during their trip to the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
Actually, in the past four months since the Shanghai Expo opened its gates to visitors from around the world, I have hosted more than a dozen friends and family members in my tiny apartment. As their local guide, I have also taken them to tourist sites, local restaurants and other interesting places in town.
The groups that I hosted were different in age, profession and social background. So I tailored a tour for each group. For example, when my cousin, a university sophomore, asked me to take her to some “fun places,” I took her to Tianzifang, an old shikumen area that was transformed into a chic hangout by artists, including the famous late Chen Yifei. We had lunch at Jean Georges on the Bund. The Michelin star chef’s aura meant much more to her than the taste of food. But this itinerary would certainly not have worked for my uncle and his wife. In their 60s, they prefer places rich in culture and history but cheap in price. So we went to Chenghuang Temple, Yuyuan Garden and the Bund.
When a high-school classmate came to Shanghai, I simply took her to the shopping malls on Huaihai Road. There was one must visit site that I took everyone to – the Binjiang Avenue. There you can enjoy the fabulous view of the Bund from across the river. A drink at the Red Dot bar or a cappuccino at the Starbucks only costs 30 yuan ($4.44), but you will be rewarded with an unparalleled view.
When I rented my apartment a year and a half ago, I didn’t realize that the nearby construction would have such an impact on my life. I witnessed the first lights in the China Pavilion; I joined the crowd to celebrate the Expo Park’s grand opening; I signed up to be an Expo volunteer. Like millions of other Shanghai citizens, I am proud of the big event that put us in the spotlight.
It is not surprising that the number of tourists to the city soared, followed by hotel prices and air fares.
Motels that had cost less than 200 yuan before the World Expo now cost double, even if you book a month in advance, not to mention the five-star hotels downtown or near the Expo Park.
Most of my friends and family come from the southwestern China and earn relatively low incomes compared with residents of Shanghai or Beijing. For them, spending 1,000 yuan a day on a hotel room is impossible. Thus, a free bed at a friend’s place is their best option.
There is one more positive thing I got from this experience. I am now far more familiar with tourist sites, restaurants and public transportation. Maybe I can get a part-time job as a tour guide.
