Prelude: To the south of China lies this vast and timeless land that the Chinese call Nanyang, or the Southern Ocean. The region encompasses all the waters and lands of southeast Asia, the Malay archipelago and beyond. Since ancient times the Chinese have sailed the seas of Nanyang in search of the vast riches that is the stuff of dreams. Many have become fabulously rich, others paid with their very lives. Through their enterprise great cities have sprung up linking peoples of many skins and tongues through their common desire to trade. It is in this romantic setting that my story unfolds. “Nanyang” tells of two brothers Seng and Hock who, separated during a shipwreck and after many twists and turns in their lives, eventually come face to face on opposites of the law. The outcome marks the turning point in their journey from boys to men. In telling this tale, I myself have embarked on a journey of a thousand miles. This little video says I have taken the first step.

  The Bund offers a spectacular view of the Pudong business district on the opposite side of the Huangpu River with its gleaming skyscrapers. The promenade is the place where selfies are a must. The Bund is the pride of Shanghai, if not of all China. It is the strip on the west bank of the Huangpu River where the foreign powers first settled, just north of the old city. It is home to many historic buildings of different architectural styles influenced by the multicultural heritage of the foreigners who carved out their own quarters collectively called the international settlement. It is a great place for the visitor to bum around as there are many sights, sounds and tastes from its cosmopolitan past to be savoured at a leisurely pace. At nightfall join the throngs of locals and tourist on a stroll along the bund for a spectacular view of the skyline. The old Meteorological Signal Tower is a historic landmark built in 1907 at the southern end of the Bund. A cafe and bar with roof

The Huangpu River cuts across Shanghai city, dividing it neatly into two. The western sector or Puxi is home to the old walled city and most of the historical tourist attractions. The eastern sector Pudong is a recent development of the last few decades and is the new business district boasting many awesome glass and steel towers, soon to be joined by another, the simply named Shanghai Tower.  A typical day cruise will take you around the lower reaches of the river where you can catch a glimpse of the life blood of Shanghai, the flow of goods between the port and the industrial heartland.   The Huangpu River is spanned by the several suspension bridges, under which flow an endless stream of coastal and river vessels in both directions. Cruise the river on a resplendent floating palace with twin-dragon bows, or something more this century in steel and glass. Cruising past the futuristic Oriental Pearl Tower. The promenade lined with skyscrapers of the new busi

A day trip to nearby Suzhou is most rewarding just for one attraction alone – The Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan). About an hour or so by train or car from Shanghai city centre, you’ll cut through suburbs, industrial zones and the open countryside. Here in the farmlands, the holdings may be small but the farmers are not the buffalo pushing and changkol wielding kind. These latterday farmers are doing pretty well judging from the tractors, trucks, motorcycles and tv antennae visible from the road.  As you approach Suzhou, farmlands give way to industrial estates stretching as far as the eye can see. Soon you are on the edge of the old town renowned for its canals and ancient dwellings, some dating back to the days of Marco Polo who must have felt quite at home in the city dubbed the “Venice of the East.” The old Administrator’s title might sound deferential, but his abode is anything but humble. Located at 178 Northeast Road, Pingjiang District, the Humble Admi

Its architectural form inspired by a bronze age sacrificial vessel, the Shanghai Museum sits imposingly in downtown People’s Square district. Housed inside the galleries are some of China’s most precious treasures including ancient bronze pieces, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, jade and coins, Ming and Ching furniture, Buddhist sculptures, and art of the minority nationalities. There is also a gallery devoted to the quintessential Chinese invention – paper money. The Shanghai Museum is no place to hurry through, especially if you are a connoisseur of fine objets d’art. Be prepared to spend several fruitful hours just going through the permanent collection spread over 38,000 sq m of floor space, and more if there are themed exhibits put up in its three exhibition halls. The Shanghai Museum building with its upper half unmistakably inspired by a Shang dynasty bronze ritual vessel. A  masterpiece from the ceramics gallery with its vast collection covering simple N