上海 Shanghai is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people. Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River.Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favorable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s. However, Shanghai's prosperity was interrupted after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. Economic reforms in 1990 resulted in intense development and financing in Shanghai, and in 2005 Shanghai became the world's busiest cargo port.
The city is an emerging tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund and Xintiandi, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world's fastest-growing economy.
A view of Pudong skyline from Puxi
On Holy Saturday, April 9, Fr. José Ruiz Márquez and I, Alberto, arrived in Shanghai invited by the Latin American Catholics in that city. From the airport we went to the city, about 50 kms away… but only 15 minutes by train: the famous Maglev.
The Maglev, with a top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph).
MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles, predominantly trains, using levitation from a very large number of magnets for lift and propulsion. This method has the potential to be faster, quieter and smoother than wheeled mass transit systems. The technology has the potential to exceed 4,000 mph (6,437 km/h) if deployed in an evacuated tunnel. If not deployed in an evacuated tube the power needed for levitation is usually not a particularly large percentage and most of the power needed is used to overcome air drag, as with any other high speed train.Our visit to Shanghai was not for tourism though. We went there to accompany the Catholic Spanish-speaking community to celebrate Easter with the liturgy in Spanish.
It is a unique experience as foreign priests cannot celebrate the Mass openly in China, but Shanghai is the showcase of China to the world and somehow our enterprising “Latinos” were able to get permission to celebrate an open Mass.
More than 100 participated in the celebration, mostly students and business people and their families.
PICTURES
Easter Vigil: celebration of the light.
Easter Vigil Mass: Fathers Márquez and Alberto concelebrating.
The following day, Easter Sunday,
we participated in an English Mass
with more than 1,000 in attendance.
we participated in an English Mass
with more than 1,000 in attendance.
Heart of Jesus Parish, Shanghai: Easter Sunday Mass in English.
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