Shanghai's Jewish Settlement & HongKou Neighborhood Tour

So, I only recently learned how many European Jews, especially Austrians, were saved from the Holocaust by Ho Feng-Shan, the Chinese Council General to Vienna who issued exit visas so Jews could leave Nazi-occupied territories and emigrate to Shanghai during WWII. 

Originally, the Jews lived in many areas of Shanghai when they arrived, usually by boat, but when the Japanese invaded China, they restricted the Jews to a Jewish Ghetto in HongKou.  Still, although overcrowded and somewhat restricted, they were able to work and live and avoid the terror of the Holocaust that their friends and family back in Austria and Germany had to face.  

Although they were forced to leave once the Communist government took power in 1949, over 25,000 Jews were saved by their brief residency in Shanghai. 

On Thursday, March 20, we toured the museum, the synagogue, and the HongKou neighborhood in which these refugees were housed amongst the Chinese families already living there - a very interesting and moving tour and a fascinating insight on the humanity of the Chinese.

After seeing the Jewish Settlement area, our tour guide, Talithia, took us on a walking tour of the surrounding area, part of the HongKou District of Shanghai. We saw some wonderful local neighborhoods, a great open market, and a beautiful Buddhist temple.



 Every expat who lives in Shanghai must have a photo of the bicycle-riding recycler.
 

 While you see underwear drying everywhere in Shanghai - especially red underwear, as it is good luck - you rarely see drying underwear and drying fish hanging from the same rack.

 The market was full of interesting things, like this noodle and butcher stand and the fresh bamboo shoots, which just came into season, below.