今日上海
上海的行走回忆 - 2023年08月13日
Walking into memories
City walker Gao Shan focuses in on landmarks on the Bund.
Tour guides share why exploring the city on foot is now one of the hottest trends despite the summer heat.
The summer weather may have been unbearably hot at times, but even this has not deterred many people from exploring the nooks and crannies of Shanghai through walking tours.
On lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, the hashtag "Shanghai city walk" had over 30 million views at the time of writing, and is still trending, especially among young people.
The term "city walk" is believed to have originated from London, where London Walks — the world's oldest urban walking tour company — was founded half a century ago by Keith Baverstock, an Australian.
Although there is no official definition of "city walk", it basically refers to a walking tour around the city that is usually themed around topics like history, culture, architecture, food and music.
According to a report released by DT Finance earlier this year, more than 80 percent of the 1,505 respondents surveyed indicated that they would like to try city walks.
The report also stated that the top five objectives of city walkers were to find the following: cultural scenes, food and restaurants, natural landscapes, outfits and local life.
As one of the first Chinese cities that was opened to the world in modern China, Shanghai is renowned for its unique blend of the East and the West.
Xu Anni, a professional guide, explains the fascinating history of the city during a Bund tour.
Besides being home to one of the most diverse collections of art deco architecture in the world, the city also has a comprehensive range of lifestyle amenities as well as cultural events.
One person who has braved the summer heat to tour Shanghai on foot is Gao Shan, a 25-year-old civil engineer based in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.
He says that summer is a good time for city walks because there are usually fewer crowds. The trick to staying cool, he adds, is walking under the foliage of the trees along the streets.
During a business trip in Shanghai late last month, Gao took a walk around Tongji University, his alma mater, and the Bund, with the aim of admiring the scenery and the architecture.
But not all city walks need to have an objective. The free walking tours conducted by Guo Feixiang, for example, are simply about roaming the streets with no goal in mind.
The 28-year-old has organized 16 walks in Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, since the start of June that were attended by a whopping 400 people.
The reason behind starting the tours, says Guo, a native of Fuyang, Anhui province, who has been working in Hangzhou for the past few years, was simply to meet new people.
"It isn't easy for non-locals like us to make friends outside of work. But through a platform like a city walk, we can do so and feel less lonely in an unfamiliar city. It could possibly also connect us with someone whom we can turn to should we need help," says Guo, who is an English teacher.
A canopy of trees provides Xinhua road with a natural cover.
Behind the boom
The reason behind the recent sudden surge in interest in city walks has been widely discussed on Chinese social media platforms. Many netizens attribute this trend to the "hangover caused by COVID-19".
"During the pandemic, it is not easy to travel like people used to. As such, they started to notice and value the beauty of what's in front of them," says Xu Anni, a 34-year-old tour guide in Shanghai.
Other reasons may include how city walking is an affordable way to relax while getting to see new places and meet new friends.
Xu points out that the government's continuous efforts in promoting cultural tourism and city governance have also been critical to making Shanghai a popular destination for city walks.
"Shanghai is a city with unique charms. It is safe, clean, open, friendly and international, and has easy access to all kinds of information," Xu adds.
One of the first professional guides for city walks in Shanghai, Xu first started her tour business on tourism website Qyer and Airbnb about a decade ago. She already knows the city like the back of her hand, and she enjoys her job.
"Compared with a decade ago, Shanghai is becoming better and more beautiful thanks to the government's urban renewal efforts," she explains.
"The heritage architecture has been well-preserved in the city. Old buildings like industrial plants are well renovated. Roads and transportation have become more convenient. Even the public restrooms have been upgraded and are well-maintained — this is something I personally regard as a very important factor in city walks."
Besides infrastructure upgrades, Shanghai authorities have also been introducing diverse cultural and lifestyle events that encourage people to explore the city on foot.
For instance, last month, the Music in the Summer Air festival took music to the streets of Shanghai's Xuhui district.
During the event, three musicians — a violinist, a saxophonist and a flutist — performed classical music in public spaces, such as Xiangyang Park, the Wukang Road tourist center, Zikawei library and in front of the ancient Longhua temple.
These roads and public spaces were chosen because they are among the most popular spots for leisure walking.
Earlier this month, Xiaohongshu launched a lifestyle festival in the city's Huangpu district that features light shows, food and sporting events, night markets and a host of activities related to music, art and photography. The festival is running until Sunday.
"Shanghai is always being refreshed. Even the local residents have to rediscover the city every now and then," says Xu.
Guo Feixiang's lens frames an unusual attraction.
More than a stroll
According to Guo, his walking tours have also been popular because many participants tend to use this opportunity to hone their language skills.
"Our walks provide an easy platform to practice English, and this is quite popular with our Chinese participants," says Guo.
During his tours, Guo hosts games in which the winning participant gets to choose which direction the tour group will take. Besides adding an element of fun and spontaneity into the tour, these games also embody a poignant message for his newfound friends: Everyone should follow their heart and stick to the decisions they make in life.
"Another beautiful aspect of walking tours is embracing surprises and new possibilities. Sometimes in life we need to learn to let go of certain obsessions and just be open to new things," he says.
Another key reason why city walks are becoming increasingly popular among young people is the need to scout potential places where one can settle down, says Xu.
"For young people like college students looking to move away from home and work somewhere else, city walks are a good way to learn about a city. The things you see in the media or in books pales in comparison to seeing things in person. A city walk allows someone to feel the energy of a city, experience the weather conditions and get a sense of how welcoming it is," she says.
"A city walk will allow you to better predict if you will enjoy living here. In a way, a city walk is far more than just a leisurely stroll. It's a valuable experience that connects you with the city, the people and even with your future."
Source: China Daily
