When I moved to Shanghai on an 18 month work assignment in early 2008, I rented a furnished apartment in the Xintiandi area.

I soon realized that I needed to get some additional stuff and decided that the big new Ikea near the Indoor Stadium would have what I required.

So I went there one Saturday to do some shopping.

I was very surprised to see that in China, well at least in Shanghai anyway, a visit to Ikea appears to be more of a social event and a day out, rather than a trip to the shops…

People seemed to be enamored with the “Ikea ambiance” and were settled in for the day – relaxing on the various lounge settings as if they were at home.

I tried my best to sneak some photos so that I would be able to illustrate this post, but it was not easy as they clearly did not like being disturbed.

I felt somewhat like a dinner party guest who had overstayed his welcome!

Then I thought that if this was what it was like in the lounge furniture & fittings area, what was happening round in the bedroom furniture section….

Sure enough, people were stretched out half asleep on the beds and several looked like they were having a nice nap, oblivious to the throngs of people passing by.

I did my best to sneak some shots of the sleepers, but my paparazzi skills are not what they should be and I failed miserably…

I promise to try harder next time!

If you enjoyed this post and are a member of any of the social networking sites below, please click on the relevant icon as it helps me with this site.

Don

.

Filed under: Shanghai
by Don Silcock