Cirque du Soleil, gala and Gretzky

I spend three weeks in the most populous city in China. But time flies too quickly, between a presentation at Cirque du Soleil, the purchase of a suit, and meeting Wayne Gretzky!

My entry to Shanghai is not going too badly. Especially considering that its agglomeration has more than 24 million inhabitants, the second largest municipality in China! The development of this city is incredible, even for an economically booming China. Once a simple fishing village, Shanghai was occupied by Western powers after the Opium War. First by the British, then the French, the Americans, the Russians and the Japanese will follow. These presences explain the different districts called foreign concessions.

It is therefore in the French Quarter that I settle down, a guest at Brigitte's.

View of Pudong, the city's new economic center, on the east bank of the river that divides the city in two.

Cirque du Soleil

Brigitte is the Montrealer in charge of Cirque du Soleil in China. In Shanghai for almost a year and a half, she discovered me through Patrick Lagacé's article in La Presse. She invited me at the time to give a talk at the Cirque office in Montreal, but I was somewhere in Central Asia at the time. I contacted her again when I was in Canada last summer, but then she was the one who moved to China. Perfect, I told him, I will be in China in the next few months. And that's how I arrive at her place ... for three weeks!

Surrounded by Chinese employees of Cirque du Soleil and some of their partners, after my presentation.

It must be said that Brigitte is more than kind and welcoming. I have my own bedroom and my own bathroom in her beautiful apartment, and she tells me several times that I am welcome for as long as I want. I enjoy the rest, the silence, and our daily conversations. After 25 years at the Circus, organizing tours all over the world, Brigitte certainly has many fascinating stories to share!

After a week, I therefore go to the Circus office to give my talk. Cirque employees are present, as are Quebec partners based in Shanghai, such as the Quebec office and the Canada China Chamber of Commerce (CanCham). And it's going really well.

So good in fact that after my presentation I received an invitation to the annual CanCham gala. I hesitate.

- I'm not equipped for a gala! I only have my bicycle clothes!
- You're in China! A suit, you can make one in 2 days!

I am convinced.

The gala

In gala dress, surrounded by Brigitte and Hélène, the president of CanCham.

No need to search long here to find a tailor. In half an hour, my measurements are taken and my fabrics chosen for a three-piece suit and a shirt. The next day, I made my first fitting, and everything was completed in two days, in time for the gala. In the meantime, I had time to find my accessories: tie, belt and shoes.

Despite my new clothes, I still clash a bit at the Maple Leaf Canadian Ball. The majority of people are in business mode. But I have nothing to sell to the bosses of Imax, CN, CP or the various diplomats I meet.

The conversation quickly surprises my interlocutors.

- Hello, I'm the boss of Imax in Asia, and you?
- I cycle around the world.
- What ?! But it's awesome!

It just goes to show that the attraction of adventure remains even when you are at the top of the business pyramid. We can put on beautiful clothes and have prestigious titles, we remain little guys (or little girls) inside.

The Bund, a tourist pedestrian boulevard along the river.

Relaxation in the shade in a park of the French concession.

Shanghai: huge city, all in height, and very populated.

Wayne

Talk, talk, talk, talk. I learn at the gala that none other than Wayne "the Wonder" Gretzky will be in Shanghai the following week. A local hockey team invited him to promote hockey in this huge developing market. And this time, it's Hélène, the president of CanCham, who has a ticket to offer me. "Do you want to be my +1?" ". It's clear ! I can't miss this chance… so spend another week in town!

When Wayne's evening comes, I put my shirt on a second time to go meet the legend in person. The man was in demand and we didn't chat at length, but I still managed to take some pictures!

The wonder.

Wayne clearly recognizes the famous international cyclist by his side.

Say yes

I didn't really have any expectations when I arrived in Shanghai. Three weeks later, I can't wait to get back in the saddle, but most of all I leave all my new friends with sadness. Time has passed and I have a lot of kilometers to cover until Tokyo, from where I will have to take the plane for a stop of a few weeks in Canada.

I also loved this city halfway between Asia and the West. Chinese in its rapid development and immense business opportunities, but more Western in its openness, more orderly chaos and cleanliness. I wouldn't see myself living anywhere in China, but I wouldn't have a hard time settling in Shanghai.

And then, I had once again the confirmation that answering yes to invitations often brings a domino of wacky adventures. Whether you're on the other side of the world or at home, the most interesting experiences are often just around the corner.

Night falls on the Pudong district and its new skyscrapers.