Travel to China: Shanghai: Citta di Pujiang

An Italian city in Shanghai? But of course: this is another of Shanghai's new towns, like Thames Town, but in this case Venice. Well, that's what you'll read in the press, but this new town doesn't ape Europe: it has lots of water, in other words, but an intensely modern architectural style.

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And apparently not just a Venetian orientation.

You get the sense now: houses on water, but nothing like the facades on the Grand Canal.

Like Thames Town, Citta di Pujiang has been designed by a competition winner, in this case Gregotti Associates International.

The plan is for a city of 80,000, although mighty few will live canal-side. Perhaps the most Italian elements of the plan are its orthogonal layout and cardinal orientation, although both those things are as Chinese as they are Italian.

A more traditionally Italian element: public parks.

Only the most expensive homes are actually on water.

Yes, President Ciampi came, but only for a few minutes that morning.

So are we ready for a tour?

Permission, permission, permission.

First glimpse.

A commercial square, nearing completion (Feb 07).

Behind it, ponds.

Canal-side house.

Water moving slowly between houses.

Tiny channels, too.

Display home from the outside.

Just inside that wall, a sunken patio with pond.

Living room.

Bedroom fronting sunken patio.

Dining.

Kitchen: nice but, like everything else, tight.

Landing.

Master bath.