上海是一个神秘的地方！
Shanghai is a mysterious place!
我在宜兴农村的童年时代，每见到上海 人回乡，也总爱挤在人丛中听他们讲讲花花世界的见闻，夏天，他 们穿着黑色的香云纱，我以为香云纱就是上海人的标志。
I When I was a child living in the countryside of Yixing, I used to elbow my 2 way into a big crowd so as listen to someone lately returned from Shanghai chatting about things he had seen and heard in the dazzling city.
在上海做 事的人显然比乡下人高贵多了，他们似乎很有钱、带回来的整筒饼干 和美女月份牌就够令人羡慕了，后来我才知道他们都是当女工、小工 和保姆的，挣钱并不那么容易。
Later, I leared, however, that they had earning money the hard way by becoming factory workers, old jobbers or housemaids.
和百分之九十九的乡亲们一样，我的 父母也从末见过上海，虽然相距并不算远，但上海对他们永远是一个 遥远的天国。
Like 99 percent of our fellow villagers, my parents had never been to Shanghai.
近几年我每到北站候车，总听到地道的乡音，年迈的 乡亲们常来上海观光了，他们的子女在工厂、大学及科研单位工作， 他们有福气了。
In recent years, often in the waiting room of Shanghai Northern Railway Station, I have overheard some travelers speaking with a pure accent of my native place.
外滩四是大上海的面貌特征吧，南京路一带的高楼大厦曾是上海 人向乡下佬描述的骄傲。
Shanghailanders used to describe to country folks with pride how Nanjing Road is lined with high-rises.
后来当我在伦敦过了一个暑假，发现那文艺 复兴时代式样的古代楼房、那狭窄的街道，与南京路一带何其相似！
Later, while was in London for a summer vacation.
Noticed the remarkable resemblance between some of the narrow streets there with their renaissance-style ancient buildings and Nanjing Road.
不是伦敦像南京路，而是按照伦敦的某些模式捏造了南京路，让人们 回忆上海滩形成的史迹吧！
But I would rather say that it is Nanjing Road that has been modelled after London.
这可与北京的王府井争冠军，争世界冠军去！
In this respect, it can vie with Wangfujing\ of Beijing for championship, world championship.
有人说上海人滑头，有人说上海人聪明灵活，我同意后一种看 法。
Some say Shanghailanders are shrewd, some say they are smart.
从饮食烹调到糖果点心，从轻工产品到服装样式，都体现了聪 明灵活。
The delicacies they cook and the sweets and pastries make, as well as their light industry products and dress fashions, all speak well for their cleverness.
最近我看到上海一家毛纺厂生产的虎皮腈纶毯，很美，虎 虎有生气，是一件艺术品，在众多老式呆板花色的毛毯中，它应被 评为毯中之王，我希望接着出现乱真的豹皮毛毯！
Recently.
Was very much struck by the robust beauty of an acrylic blanket made in imitation of tiger skin, which was product of a Shanghai Woolen Mill.
我也曾以为上海人吃不了苦。
And I used to presume that Shanghailanders as a whole are not used to hardship and toil.
然而我在井冈山中、 在西双版纳的橡胶林中，在新疆阿尔太的边境，遇到过不少刻苦耐 劳的青年人，只当他们暴露了"阿拉，阿拉"之后，才知原来是上 三十年代的上海高楼大厦，与香港差不多，此后高楼没有再生 高楼，如今比不上香港了，也比不上北京了，在上海的我的老师和 同学仍大都住在拥挤不堪的里弄里，仍可体验产生三十年代文学的 环境。
Most of my former teachers Wangfujing the busiest downtown street in Beijing.
And schoolmates there are still living in the close quarters of lanes alleys, experiencing the same environment that had produced literature the thirties.
我去年十月下旬经上海，出站时遇大雨，提着行李包，撑着 雨伞排进等出租汽车的长队，没希望，转人排三轮的长队，也没希 望，暂找个避雨的立足之地，没有，前后左右能容人的只是马路，大 雨在横扫所有的马路。
In the latter part of last October, when I made a stopover Shanghai, I happened to be caught by a heavy rain outside the railway station.
我也 我未曾碰到过上海的大阔佬，只在《子夜》、《陈毅市长》等文 艺作品中见到资本家的豪华排场，见到老爷、太太、少爷、小姐们 的神情风致。
I've never come to know any wealthy guys in Shanghai except in the novel Midnight, the stage play Mayor Chen Yi, etc., depicting moneyed capitalists and their families leading lavish life.
最近一次到上海，见到许多大饭店的门口排开成群西 裝革履、烫头发擦口红的青年男女，有的胸前佩戴着大红花O，他们 在等待频频到来的小汽车里的贵客。
On my last trip to Shanghai, I happened to see many young men dressed in Western suits and leather shoes and women with perm and rouged lips, some sporting big red flowers on their chests, lining up in front of many luxury hotels to await the arrival of cars carrying distinguished guests.
满是一番灯红酒绿夜都市的气 氛，这不真有点像少爷小姐们的阔绰气派四了吗！
Wasn't that a night a scene of colour and bustle typical of a metropolis a scene of children from rich familes flaunting an ostentatious life-style?
刘海粟先生在上海创办了中国第 一所现代化维形的美术学校。
And Liu Haisu\ established China's first school of fine arts in the city.
凡是重要 的美展，国内和国外的，北京展完便到上海，上海的展厅与上海之 不相称"，一如那个火车站。
All art exhibitions, foreign or Chinese, first held in Beijing and next in Shanghai.
没有吸引我的美术活动，这大概是我每 过上海多半只是匆匆三五天的原由吧！
It therefore holds little attraction for me as a painter.
Probably accounts for the fact that every time in passing through the city, usually stayed there for only three or four days!