Crowds and Fireworks

It seems we entered the week of Chinese New Year with a few incorrect assumptions.


Assumption #1:
That the best place to watch the crazy New Year's Eve fireworks would be from a high-rise hotel in a tourist part of town.

WRONG

Our room on the 24th floor of the Hyatt on the Bund looked out over the river and onto the bright lights of Lujiazui. We had a lovely view of the Pearl Tower, but a horrible view of the fireworks. Although every single family seems to set off gigantic fireworks for the Spring Festival, everyone does this near their home. The city does not organize anything, and no one travels to the Pearl Tower to set anything off. Our view did not change all night, and we had to crane our necks to see the fireworks around the edges of the building.




Assumption #2:
The Shanghai South train station would be a zoo on Sunday. We would be stepping into the largest movement of people in the world, and may lose a child.

WRONG

Everyone in China wants to reach their home by New Year's Eve, for a big feast and loads of fireworks. The train stations were absurdly full on the last few days of the week. But on Sunday, the place was a ghost town. We had no trouble reaching our train, and we even had a spare seat next to ours for the girls to enjoy and wiggle all over.

On our return, the train and train station were busier. The train had sold Standing Room seats, and Dave stood up the entire ride while the girls shared his seat. The train station was busy, but no busier than on an average day. Train stations in China are busy places. And still no busier than Ikea on an average Saturday afternoon.

the train station during Chinese New Year

Ikea on any Saturday afternoon

Assumption #3:
Everything would be closed during the holiday, and we'd risk running out of money and food.

WRONG

We were in no danger of starving this week, as most restaurants and grocery stores carried their normal hours. Everything closed on Saturday, except the exceptionally tasty buffet at the Hyatt, but food was readily accessible the rest of the week. However, it is not entirely wrong. The streets have been empty of cars and most shops have remained shuttered all week. This is certainly not a consumer holiday. We've enjoyed wide sidewalks and empty streets on many pleasant walks this week, especially as we've had a taste of spring weather.