Donghu Lu and the Solid Wall of Stench

Vacuous post alert!

There's a few places in Shanghai that you can't possibly mistake where you are. Visually, The Bund, Lujiazui and Yu Yuan are places that are at the forefront of my mind. But when you extend your recollection to your olfactory senses, for me one locale is at the forefront of all others. Donghu Lu near the Huaihai Zhong Lu intersection. The reason? It has perhaps the strongest, consistent resident stench in all of Shanghai. The smell in this area is one of strong sewage mutated with the permeating power of 臭豆腐. The latter characteristic lends 'The Stench' to have the unfortunate ability to allow you to taste the surrounding atmosphere. The smell is awfully offensive. At times when I've passed through Donghu Lu on my bike or on foot, I've been surprised that I couldn't actually see the wafts of smell cornering hapless victims and make disparaging remarks about their parentage.

On top of this, I initially found it strange that some of the more eminent businesses (like the Donghu Hotel) and eateries of Shanghai do such a roaring trade on this street. My theory is that once encountering this smell, you will do anything to avoid it, and hence seeks the closest refuge in the restaurant, bar or sensory-deadening environment of closest convenience. The local hawkers have also taken advantage of the situation, and dash from the cleaner area closer to Huaihai Zhong Lu to ply their wares on victims disoriented by 'The Stench'.

It certainly is the most stinky part of China I've encountered so far.