Alexandra, Year 10, Century Park Campus.

Shanghai is a city abounding in energy and amazement, never short of anything interesting to see or do. This city has been my home for the past twelve years, and I completely adore all it has to offer.

The first word that comes to mind when I think about Shanghai is convenience. With APPs such as WeChat allowing you to pay for things right on your mobile phone you never need to carry bank notes with you ever again! With almost the whole city interconnected by the vast WeChat network, shopping and simply making a quick run to the grocery store is made so much easier. In addition to helpful APPs, Shanghai’s Metro system is renowned for its efficiency and enhanced amenities. With numerous lines spread out all across the city, great city planning, and a clear structural layout, you can effortlessly get from Pudong to Puxi, and all for less than RMB 4 yuan.

Moreover, the foods offered in Shanghai are like symphonies to the taste buds. Local treats like Xiaolongbao dumplings, fried noodles, and Shao Mai are simply my favourite dishes to indulge in. On weekends, I often find myself ordering these foods for lunch and dinner!

One of my other favourite things about Shanghai is the nighttime skyline on the Bund. The period lampposts are in line with the aesthetic building structures, exhibiting their unique architecture. Not to mention the colourful and flashing lights floating in the river, with the chatty murmur of people in the streets which truly encapsulates the never-sleeping and elegant nature of Shanghai.

With a population of twenty-five million and the hundreds of thousands of varying organisations and businesses, Shanghai is the place of opportunity. Not only does Shanghai provide students like me with endless ways to explore different types of careers by taking part in things like job shadowing, but it also allows us opportunities to do volunteer work. Shanghai is filled with charity organisations like the Shanghai Healing Home or the Heart to Heart Foundation, where students can really learn what it means to give back to our community.

Finally, my absolute favourite thing about Shanghai is what it has gifted me and many others: a sense of community. Throughout my many years here, I have developed strong connections and friendships I know will last a lifetime. This community, filled with friends and role models from all across the globe has brought me great joy and an understanding of what it means to be a global citizen. Nowhere else have I witnessed a city where people of all races and beliefs live so harmoniously together, but also where people strive to embrace the different cultures they see so purposefully. And that is why Shanghai has been, and always will be, a place I am proud to call my home.