How french is Shanghai?

Before I went to Shanghai for the first time I expected a chinese metropolis - packed, loud, different to any european city you have visited before. And I found it. Shanghai, indeed, is different. Culture, food, politics, habits, manners - for sure China is far east from us. But a little piece of Europe with local delis close by little coffee shops, and well-mixed architecture of a traditional chinese style on the one hand but also european lookalike one on the other, you find in the european districts - called "Concessions" originally in the time of colonialism starting mid of the19th and ending mid of the 20th century - like the french district. Charming!

You find little boutiques with incredibly well copied european designer fashion - Hermès or Diane von Furstenberg, even the latest collection just shown on the runaways across Europe, not a problem for the talented tailors - but also some own creations that find a creative link between the different trends and tastes. Feels like being in Amsterdam sometimes, then again Berlin or Paris while seeing dresses with little round collars or funny prints...

The british district is much more business-oriented, posh, clean and offers the spectacular view on the fancy television tower on the other side of Huangpu River - like shown above on the first picture. I couldn't say, Shanghai is beautiful like one says Paris is beautiful, but a travel will be always a "beautiful thing".