Download the Oct/Now issue of Urban Family here, or view it in your browser with Issue here (VPN needed). To see our previous issues, click here.
Welcome to the October/November edition of Urban Family Shanghai.
This month, we got to thinking about UNESCO World Heritage sites and how they showcase the best of what a country has to offer. Whether they present an outstanding natural beauty or cultural tradition, UNESCO destinations can guide us on unforgettable journeys, and this concept inspired our Cover Story (p16).
I see it as a gift to be fortunate enough to experience China. I try to absorb the best of what's around me – whether it's the friends made or the traditions appreciated – and hope that I leave a better, more enriched person. By highlighting a selection of must-see UNESCO sites in China, we aim to inspire you to take a road not yet traveled and immerse yourself in the history that abounds.
In Life & Wellbeing (p6), we keep the focus on China with our My Shanghai interview. Amber Aldred, the Executive Director of Shanghai Sunrise, tells us about the fulfilling work her charity undertakes raising funds for high school tuition sponsorships. My Editor's Picks is dedicated to all the 'gal pals' out there, with my five places for a fun ladies' night out.
As you make your way to food and fun (p26), we will no doubt leave you feeling 'peckish' this month. From rice pancakes to hand-pulled noodles, we explain quintessential Chinese street snacks (xiaochi) and where to find them around Shanghai.
In Learning (p38), our Shanghai schools explain ways they bring Chinese culture to life in the classroom. Through engaging activities, explorations far and wide and learning about Chinese philosophies and traditions, they certainly have it covered.
Our Entertainment (p32) pages include reviews on two great Chinese-focused books for kids, along with 10 classic 'made in China' movies. We take you from the visually remarkable Hero, with its bold colors and an emotive soundtrack, to the family-favorite Kung Fu Panda featuring the beloved Po and his fearless friends.
On that note, as I say "Enjoy this edition, that we thoroughly enjoyed putting together," I leave you with this quote from Kung Fu Panda's Master Oogway. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift… that's why they call it the present."
Enjoy every day in this fabulous country we call home, and we will see you again in December, as we prepare for the festive season!
Natalie Foxwell
Editor-in-Chief
