Moganshan

This past weekend, NYU took a group of 28 students to Moganshan (Mount Mogan), which is a mountain range with bamboo forests on it. Moganshan is about 200km away from Shanghai (4ish hours depending on traffic), and is a popular destination in the summer for city residents because of the cool temperatures compared to the Shanghai's scorchingly hot and humid summers. In 1880, Shanghai's elite decided to purchase the peak of Moganshan for 50 Mexican dollars, but the communist party took over in 1949, and now all the homes at the peak are still leased from the government. All the bamboo on Moganshan is actually harvested, and the family writes their last name on it to show whom the bamboo belongs to.

the town at the base of Moganshan

my friend Jeff

Sword Lake, named for Ganjiang—a talented swordsmen who found Moganshan

sunset from the roof of our lodge

hehe, some of the bamboo looks like Dr. Seuss tress

Guilin and Yangshuo County

This past weekend my friends and I went on our best trip thus far: Guilin. The city is pretty small—it only has a population of 1.3 million—and it is known for three specialties: chili sauce, Guilin local rice wine and pickled tofu. Guilin is also known for their rice noodles, silk and pomelos—none of which I got to try! wah. I really wanted to get a silk scarf and try a pomelo, but I didn't really have time, so it will have to wait until I go back to Guilin this June with my family.

Anyway, on the first day, we rode mountain bikes from the main road in Yangshuo County (about an hour and a half away from Guilin) to the Yulong River, where we went on a bamboo raft ride. The Yulong river is the smaller of the two rivers in Yangshuo, and does not allow motor boats, so the water is 'cleaner' and calmer. The Yulong river is also where you can see the famous view of the mountain range that is on the back of the 20rmb note. Sadly, my boat person did not point this out to us and I had no idea until later in the day. Then, we rode to Moon Hill, where we climbed to the top! It was rather tiring, but the views were breathtaking and totally worth it.

The next day, we went on a boat cruise through the Li River to Pudi, where we had lunch at a farmer's home. The food was so fresh! Everything was grown on his farm—including the rice!! Also in the village, I made a new little friend! I was asking her questions in Chinese, but she was too shy to respond and kind of just giggled. Her grandma said that she's four. Side note: I noticed that all of the babies/little kids in Guilin/Yangshuo are really, really cute. All of them. In Shanghai, most of the babies are cute....but not all of them are. Finally, we went to a water cave. The majority of the mountains have caves on the inside, but most have not been explored.

I tried to keep the mountain pictures to a minimum, but I know these pictures just can't do Guilin and Yangshuo justice.

The main road in Yangshuo

Cormorant fishing

Moon Hill

view from Moon Hill

Yangshuo at night

The village had little modern conveniences, only a few vans to share with everyone

My new friend!!

adventures in Xi'an.

This past weekend, my friends and I traveled to Xi'an, capital of the Shaanxi province. Xi'an is a developing city of eight million people, so there's construction everywhere—the city is just building a subway! Xi'an is mainly known for its 3100 plus years of history, but I didn't know that they're also known for their dumplings! The dumplings are made into really intricate shapes, like birds, fish, corn on the cob, a globe, etc.

We saw the Big Goose Pagoda, biked on the Xi'an city wall, saw the Terra Cotta army, some Emperor's hot spring/bath house and went to Tang Paradise. This weekend, I also stayed in my first hostel. The Han Tang youth hostel is rated number one in Asia and seventh in the world, or something like that, so it was pretty nice. It's a really cheap and safe option for students, especially groups, but I don't think I'll be staying in hostels after this semester.
I had a lot of fun in Xi'an, and I would certainly recommend a visit if you're a history buff. It's definitely something you can do in a weekend, a day really if all you want to see is the soldiers, but Xi'an isn't a place that you need to visit multiple times.

Shanghai purchases, thus far.

Many will be surprised to hear that in the month I have been in Shanghai, I have only made three purchases that are not food, school supplies or traveling expenses. Remarkably uncharacteristic? I know! The reason I have not yet been shopping is because the majority of the time I am with my friends, and I don't want to subject them to the long and probably arduous task that is me shopping. So, in the few moments I am by myself, I enjoy browsing the stores in peace.
My first purchase was a striped shell top from H&M for 199rmb ($30) that I saw in New York magazine. The top is very reminiscent of this season's Prada collection.
A few days ago, I bought a Hello Kitty x Tokidoki wallet for 119rmb ($18.11). I love both Hello Kitty and Tokidoki, but the collaboration at the Sanrio stores retails pretty high. I saw the wallet in the window of a random store at the backgate. I looked at a few wallets, but both the shopkeeper and I agreed the HK x Tokidoki one was 最 好看.
Finally, yesterday, I bought a Lesportsac backpack. Normally, lesportsac backpacks retail close to $100. This one we bargained down to 130rmb from 150. That's $20 for a real lesportsac backpack! Mine has the Fifi Lapain print.

"Culture Chanel"

Yesterday afternoon, my friend Lauren and I finally went to MOCA Shanghai to see the Culture Chanel exhibit. MOCA Shanghai is an all glass dome shaped building located in People's Park (人民场). Tickets come with a free audio tour, which is essential to understanding the exhibit, as there are no descriptions next to each piece!
All the objects are encased within a glass case, allowing the visitor to walk on the platforms and get a 360 look at the clothing and jewelry. On the first floor, there is also an interactive media room. The room is completely dark except for an interactive digital table, which is essentially a giant ipad. The table has an interactive interface, and the Chanel interlocking C's or No. 5 drift by and you "grab" it and a video pops up. Some of the videos were behind the scenes at photoshoots or castings, others were the actual runway shows, and some showed the haute couturiers painstakingly working on the collection.  The second floor has a film room, where all the different Chanel perfume ads were shown. Who knew that directors like Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese directed Chanel ads?!
The gift shop didn't have much, but Lauren and I each bought the poster ad of the exhibit for 25rmb (about $3.80).
It's a great exhibit for anyone interested in fashion. I'm not a huge fan of Chanel, but after seeing the exhibit I certainly have a new appreciation for the timelessly chic brand.

the digital table

Shanghai museum

Yesterday afternoon, my art class went to the Shanghai Museum, located in People's Square. We only had time to look at the Chinese Calligraphy Gallery and the Chinese Painting Gallery, but the museum is famous for their Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery, according to my teacher. I liked the museum itself. Several people in my class didn't like the architecture of the building, but I like it, even though there does seem to be a lot of wasted space at the top. The museum felt very modern. I liked the placement of the escalators/stairs to create these V shapes, and the rich mahogany banisters. I would certainly like to go back and see the rest of the museum, especially the bronze pieces.

hello kitty vans collection (!!)

This June, Hello Kitty and Vans will be teaming up to create an insanely cute collaboration—the Hello Kitty Vans Collection! I'm admittedly a huge hello kitty fan, and I think this collaboration with Vans (the epitome of street style) takes Hello Kitty into a less familiar direction.

Prices range from $37 for the children's slip on, to $55 for the high tops and will be available in Vans stores/online and select Sanrio boutiques/online.

I want this pair!!

(all images via refinery 29)

Christian Siriano x Payless

Christian Siriano has been collaborating with Payless shoe store for a few seasons now, and the shoes are always crazy, avant garde but affordable! And, he always uses them in his runway show, which I appreciate. This season, the shoes are so chic! I would definitely wear them.

(all images via racked)

[really late] NYFW vol 3.: the casually chic

Band of Outsiders

Bensoni

Carlos Miele

Chado Ralph Rucci

Dennis Basso

Lela Rose

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Milly by Michelle Smith

Pamella Roland

Prabal Gurang

Preen

Steven Alan

Tibi

Tim Weiland

United Bamboo, I would wear this!

Vera Wang, sooo chic

Vivenne Tam

Wes Gordon, love the unexpected leather collar and cuffs

(all images via nymag)