Every neighborhood will likely have a shop such as this. They make fresh steamed buns; vegetables, ground pork, and red bean paste are common fillings. They also sell eggs boiled in tea, porridge, and more. They are open all day, but are busies… — Every neighborhood will likely have a shop such as this. They make fresh steamed buns; vegetables, ground pork, and red bean paste are common fillings. They also sell eggs boiled in tea, porridge, and more. They are open all day, but are busiest in the mornings. I used to get two vegetable steamed buns to eat on my way to church.

Traditional urban neighborhood

September 18, 2017

For about three years, I lived in an apartment in a traditional urban neighborhood. By traditional urban neighborhood, I mean a neighborhood built in the days when most Chinese lived in apartments that had been provided by their work units. This neighborhood was in a city district a few blocks to the southeast of downtown.

New neighborhood across the Yangzi River

September 17, 2017

In the fall of 2015, I moved into an apartment in one of the early new neighborhoods in Nanjing. This was a gated community with at least 20 residential buildings, ranging from 10 to 20 floors. The buildings were spaced apart with park-like sidewalks, grassy areas and planted trees and bushes.

This is a slightly western view outside my 19th floor apartment, overlooking downtown Nanjing.

Living in a high-rise

September 16, 2017

For about three months in spring of 2015 and again from fall 2016, I have lived in a high-rise building on the south edge of downtown Nanjing. Both times, my windows have overlooked the skyscrapers and other tall buildings in the heart of the city of 8-30 million people.