TIL I'm not the only one who hates Lujiazui – apparently there are LOTS of us!
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Hello, everyone! In one of my posts, I complained about feeling extremely suffocated while working in Lujiazui, and surprisingly, many people liked my post. It looks like quite a few friends who've been there share the same feelings with me!
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Speaking of which, I once read a book by W. Somerset Maugham (a British author), and one metaphor never left my mind: he compares a cloudless sky to an upside-down bowl, covering everything beneath it. Out of all the sentences describing the sky, that one felt particularly suffocating.
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I worked at a law firm in Lujiazui (Shanghai's bustling financial district with its towering skyscrapers) during a previous period. I often stayed late, leaving only after midnight, and noticed more office lights burning brightly in buildings than mine when I was packing up.
- The sharp peaks of tightly-packed buildings and the crisscrossing overhead bridges seemed to squeeze in from all directions. While looking at these peaks through the sky, the usual relaxing feeling after work never came; all it brought was a sense of being squeezed until suffocation. That's when Maugham's "upside-down bowl" metaphor sprung into my mind.
- Perhaps because the buildings were filled with so many people who had extra time to stay long, the "bowl" image appeared extremely clear. As if all my energy was being sucked up into the peaks of the buildings that formed this giant bowl, consuming my hours along with them.
- In the middle of the day, wanting some fresh air by walking around in Lujiazui just meant moving from one office building to another. The looks on everyone's faces were much like mine as we hurriedly relaxed breath for afternoon's work.
- There are no residential neighborhoods or those cozy, yet warm little shops here. I even feel like Lujiazui is only friendly towards drivers; pedestrians have to detour a lot and find crossing the road very difficult.
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WARNING/COMPLAINT ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IN LUIJAZUI:
- PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLINESS: Be mindful when visiting Lujiazui, because the place is mostly designed for vehicles. Walking around would not be a direct journey, but have many bridges, overwalks and tunnels, making crossing roads somewhat inconvenient.
- LUNCH TIME OPTIONS: The lunch options are limited, aside from those exquisite environments where you might need to queue. Mostly, it all boils down to takeout services or buying food at Citysuper, a grocery store that sells plenty of imports.
- TAKEOUT EXPERIENCE: When I used to work in IFC (International Finance Center), a famous mall in Lujiazui, my takeout would often be left at the Lujiazui metro station. With the pollution and exhausts blowing right onto these lunch bags, it made me feel even more suffocated whenever I went there to claim my lunch.
- OVERALL FEELINGS: Lujiazui feels like a place that doesn't care about nor pretend to understand the emotions of us people working there. Visitors may exclaim a sense of modernity, but lack what we call "the warmth of life." （that's what it means when I say "smog and heat")
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Now that I'm working in Nanjing Xi Lu, things have improved significantly!
- At lunchtime, I can waltz towards Wujinglu Food Street nearby, which is bustling and full of that comfortable “life vibes.” Even though Lujiazui’s restaurants are fancy, I still prefer warming my hands in the freezing days with steaming hot sweet potatoes in the Food Street. Taking a stroll around Zhang Garden (a newly renovated historical buildings complex with many trendy stores and exhibition space) just a few steps away offers some fleeting relaxation out of the work routine.
- Xian Nansouth Road provides a kindred feeling as well, brimming with lively senses of life.
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Someone replied to my post and said that all these environmental impacts are just immaterial. What really matters is making money. Yet I do not agree with this notion. A true break needs "disconnection." Even if I can only leave my desk for ten minutes, that ten minutes allows me to completely immerse myself into life’s warmth and make an excellent buffer. Not being able to disengage and stop could result in feeling like "a tool,” where the only meaning of life is work and its troubles are overemphasized instead of being diluted by such a buffer.
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Perhaps my dislike towards Lujiazui is due to my sensitivity, but I believe it’s not a negative thing.
#Lujiazui #LivingWell #LawyerDaily #Shanghai #WorkingLife #WorkingPeople
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But I still love this place; it's where my dreams began, hahaha! It's one thing to visit, but working here is a whole different experience. As a child, I'd just take photos, a mere visitor. Back then, I really admired the 'elites' in their sharp suits – let's call them that for now. So, when I finally became one of them after a lot of hard work, I have to admit, it was thrilling. This place has a certain magic; it draws you in, and you end up dedicating your best years to it. I used to see the 'Big Three' (iconic Lujiazui skyscrapers) as towering and impersonal. But once you're inside, on a clear day, the view is absolutely stunning. The sunlight reflecting off the buildings casts shadows on the river right below, and the interplay of different colored blocks of light seems to warm up the architecture, bringing small joys to ordinary days. Of course, payday is the best part! Honestly, the compensation here is quite good, allowing you to gradually enrich yourself both materially and spiritually. Perhaps I haven't been working long enough for the initial passion to fade, but doing what you love truly brings joy.
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Such powerful words! You probably need that kind of energy to make your mark in Lujiazui.
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'Anyone who's worked at IFC knows that food deliveries often end up at the Lujiazui metro station.' So true.
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This really backs up the authenticity of my work experience.
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It's amazing how many companies in London aren't located in such a dense cluster of skyscrapers.
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Exactly!
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South Shaanxi Road is also really nice. In autumn, a short walk takes you to streets lined with beautiful plane trees, and it's an easy walk to the Shanghai Grand Theatre for a show.
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The Grand Theatre is a big plus.
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Problem solved if you don't go into the office (lol).
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Hahahaha, well, that's not wrong either.
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Having worked in the Jing'an Temple area, I'll never forget the little shops on West Beijing Road and Wanhangdu Road.
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Yes, yes, I go there on weekends.
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True. I'm not a big fan of the super wide, straight avenues in Lujiazui either. Puxi is still better.
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You always have to use an overpass just to cross the street.
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The three giants.
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Very fitting description!
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Lujiazui is truly a food desert.
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Seriously!
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It's really suffocating. Lunch breaks are so crowded, there's absolutely no personal space.