The tale of two Shanghais

I finished the book &quot;Last Kings of Shanghai&quot; (<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;48890489-the-last-kings-of-shanghai" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;48890489-the-last-kings-...</a>) a few days ago and it has some overlap with this article. It&#x27;s a very good and interesting read if you are curious about this part of the history, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Opium Wars etc.<p>Can highly recommend it!

Often, as I look at Salesforce Tower in SF, I remember that Shanghai Tower is <i>twice as tall</i>.

I&#x27;m quite disappointed by the article. It&#x27;s not really about two Shanghais. Sure, it mentions an alleged divide, but it then doesn&#x27;t actually explore the contrast but spends most of the time with skyscaper porn. I&#x27;m sure the average Shanghaian would be a little offended if their city is reduced to those.

&gt; I was initially fascinated by the amount of engineering that goes into extreme buildings. That fascination shifted as I started to see skyscrapers as cultural markers, and the results of complex systems of economics and politics.<p>I don&#x27;t think any field is free from this adage.