Sunrise in Shanghai 上海的日出

“The secret to a good morning is to watch the sunrise with an open heart.”

Have you ever been so lost in a sunrise or sunset that you feel overwhelmed by its beauty? There is nothing more magical than the timeless glimpses of warm colour that light up an entire sky. The peaceful yet magnificent illumination of fiery colour is enough to make time stand still. If photographing a sky of fire is on your bucket list, Shanghai 上海 is the destination for you.

My Story

In the midst of Shanghai’s 上海 summer heat, one true blessing has been the relentless and unfailing sunrises which accompany the scorching months. Every morning, I wake at 4:30 am to witness an indescribable sea of colours which mark dawn. With a distant view of the Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔, red and orange hues are followed by a blurry morning fog which clouds the infamous Lujiazui 陆家嘴. Watching this from afar in Jing’an District 静安区 is special, but one day I felt like taking a closer look.

On a warm July morning, I headed to The Bund 上海滩 to experience the warm sunrise in person. Waking up at 3:00 am was difficult but well worth what awaited me. At this time in the morning, Shanghai 上海 feels unusually peaceful. As a stark contrast to the bustling daytime hours, only a few souls could be seen at this quiet hour. It was the perfect time to breathe and observe the city from a different perspective. With this tranquil start to my morning, the sun slowly began to rise.

Rising east over the endless Pudong District 浦东区, pink hues began to cut the midnight black sky. Fading in slowly, they tinted the greyness with a subtle streak of light. The red tones slowly grew brighter as Lujiazui 陆家嘴 stood prominently in front of the sunrise. Prepared with my cameras, I patiently waited for the sky to change. Gradually, there was a shift from fading black to a warm sunrise. Within the blink of an eye, the infamous Lujiazui 陆家嘴 skyline was illuminated with a chorus of hot colours. Red, yellow, orange and pink stripes arched above Shanghai 上海 and made for the most beautiful sunrise.

Within the blink of an eye, pink clouds faded into the golden hour. I blissfully watched aeroplane silhouettes approach Shanghai 上海 at this perfect time. The summer colours blended into a sunflower yellow and the morning mist emerged. Whilst still peaceful, locals began to emerge to complete their morning activities. These include jogging, kite flying, photography and simply socialising. Somehow, these typically mundane activities turn exciting and exhilarating with such an incredible background, Turquoise hints began to emerge from the yellow and daylight began.

At this time of day, people genuinely felt happier. I sensed excitement and passion from the locals and their morning routine. In seeing me, they were quick to say 早上好 or 你好, even in English where possible. Eagerness overcame those excited to show off their kite-flying skills. Lujiazui 陆家嘴 felt almost insignificant behind the view of soaring kites and ever-more golden skies. As fog rose and sunflower yellow skies beamed, the scene became more and more magical.

This is just the start of another day in Shanghai 上海.