A Foreigner's Love Letter to Shanghai on Anfu Road

Anfu Road on a Sunday, with the chill vibe lingering in the often-busy megacity, is truly fantastical.

We saw Ario, who was putting on her helmet beside her motorcycle. She is an Italian hailing from southern Italy. Immediately, her charm, warmth, and enthusiasm strike me. Her eyes brim with joy, and she beams throughout, her generous smile allowing our nervousness to escape from our minds.

Ario, besides her motorcycle

Ario is currently employed at Brandy Melville on Anfu Road. As she discusses her job, she uses her hands to paint vivid pictures, her gestures mirroring her love for the street’s lively atmosphere. She has been in Shanghai for a staggering nine years, and her love for this city is written all over her face. When I ask Ario about her favorite parts of Shanghai, her face brightens like a beacon.

Brandy Melville, the shop where Ario works. 

“The nightlife here is just amazing!” she shouts, raising her hands in excitement. “Bars, cafes, convenience stores, cinemas, museums, gyms, and residential neighborhoods…” Shanghai’s convenience is truly remarkable. Whether it’s the well-run public transport or the numerous 24-hour convenience stores, everything is within easy reach.

“Shanghai expertly combines Western and Eastern elements, making it truly international.” She admires how the city also effortlessly marries modernity with tradition. Shanghai, once a small coastal village famous for fishing a hundred years ago, has now become a cultural melting pot of the East and the West, a mimic of the world’s far-reaching globalization.

Ario lives beside the scenic Suzhou Creek. While we talk about her neighborhood, she leans back comfortably, wearing a satisfied expression. “The view of the creek, especially at sunset, is simply stunning,” she says, her voice soft and dreamy. Despite the neighborhood and the city’s speedy lifestyle, Ario doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Instead, she has been energized by the nonstop rhythm. Something different always happens every day.

Over the past nine years, Shanghai has become far more than a workplace for Ario—it is her home. Her story in Shanghai serves as an inspiration, showing how a foreigner can adapt to a new culture, embrace its distinctiveness, and lead a fulfilling life. As our interview draws to a close, Ario stares out at the city skyline, her eyes full of hope for her future in Shanghai.