Will this passerby pass me by? Here and there beginner entrepreneurs hawk their wares while glancing furtively over their shoulders. While the city booms many eke out a precarious existence selling items like phone cards and watches. Great oaks from little acorns grow. Many tycoons started out with only the shirt on their backs and in time amass a fortune that is the envy of those who come up via an MBA. In this land of unlimited possibilities you never can tell how far you can go, especially with lady luck by your side and guangxi on tap.

The helter-skelter exterior belies the hidden gems awaiting the discerning art hunter inside. Nestled off a busy street here and there all over the city are clusters of converted old buildings that house art galleries showcasing the creative side of Shanghai. This city of 23 million is a powerhouse of artistic pursuits. Here age old traditions like ink and brush are practised alongside contemporary explorations in oils and acrylics. Not forgetting those whose muse is sculpture or installations. The high level of sophistication achieved translates into tastefully designed shop fronts, restaurant interiors, print and electronic media, fashion and home decor. Art permeates all levels of society and daily living from humble papercuts in rural homes to exquisite collections by the new tycoons. Feeding this frenzy for art is an endless stream of exhibitions and master classes by debutante artists and old masters. And at a gallery here you might just be lucky to pick up something by a yet-

As the lights turn green a scramble for placings in the run  to the next signalled junction. While the nouveau riche get around in gleaming rides, the teeming masses still rely on their trusty bicycles, mopeds, scooters and motorcycles which rule the asphalt at rush hour. In this densely populated city, vehicles of all description and sizes jostle for road space even where there are bicycle lanes to help shepherd 2-wheelers safely along. Motorists are generally expected to give way to cyclists but here ego reigns. Big commands respect and small fries on two wheels, or three, press their rights at their own peril. Pedestrians at designated crossings too have to be mindful of this.

Beautifully tended flower beds line the broad walkways with the  Shanghai Grand Theatre in the background. A giant plaza that acts as the lung of the city. Wide walkways are lined with finely manicured lawns and colourful flower beds, providing a welcome respite for tired city dwellers and tourists alike. In this district are sited the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre, Concert Hall and Exhibition Centre. Adjacent is the People's Park, a sprawling botanical garden with a small lake lined with tea-houses and coffee joints. An excellent venue for an idyllic afternoon's communion with nature.

Boats ply the Tong Li "water town" as residents relax in the shade. Bustling sun-drenched landing site. A short drive from the city are several ancient water towns such as Tong Li where living on the banks of canals is still a way of life. These rustic villages some dating back to the Ming Dynasty are increasingly serving the tourist trade with quaint souvenir shops, restaurants and tea houses. Petrol driven or muscle-powered, boats that used to carry the village produce are switching to canal cruises for day trippers. One thing remains unchanged – mail still comes by boat for some residents located beside the canals. As boats laden with sightseers zip past each other on the busy waterways, villagers while away the hours watching the world go by, sipping tea and playing their traditional board games like chess, or shuffling cards, cigarettes dangling from their lips, not minding the myriad tourists ogling and clicking away.