On the train to Shanghai we passed many of this style of apartment complex surrounding cultivated farmland.

"Summer," our Shanghai guide, told us that they were built by the farmers, which seemed unlikely to us. Most seemed totally empty.

I don't know how farmers could afford these apartments. The land was being worked, but it's hard to say where these people really live.

The Grand Canal (we think...we crossed a few of these outside of Hangzhou...one is the Grand Canal)

The Grand Canal was built by up to 5 1/2 million slave laborers overseen by a huge police force. It was begun in the first century and much was done under Emperor Yangdi. He wanted a water link between the fertile Yangtze River plain and Luoyang. It is 1,000 miles long stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou. Many parts are now unnavigable.

As it got dark on our bus ride to the hotel, Shanghai reminded me of a scene from "Blade Runner!" Very futuristic and spooky.

Shanghai Radisson

More GM vehicles here

The Pudong (financial district of China)
15 years ago this was farmland.

Most taxis are VWs.