The Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai Tower with cherry blossoms

🚇A fragrant breeze blows through the subway exits of Shanghai Metro Line 2. In March, I always slow down on these steps. The March sunlight filtering through the glass roof imprints the shadows of cherry blossoms on the reflective floor tiles, as if crushing a floor of pink crystals. 🌸The cherry blossoms at Exit C are an unexpected verse in Lujiazui's poetry. As the escalator climbs upwards, the flowering branches sway overhead, as if someone has spilled a can of cherry blossom-flavored soda, and the foam-like petals fall on the shoulders of commuters' suits. A girl in a chiffon dress reaches out to catch them, sharing the same metallic sheen as the tip of the Oriental Pearl Tower. The Lujiazui trio grows in the gaps between the flowers. The sharp edges of the Shanghai World Financial Center are softened by the petals, the glass curtain wall of the Jin Mao Tower reflects clusters of pink clouds, and the newly sprouting cherry blossom branches frame the spiraling curve of the Shanghai Tower. A boy in a suit leans against the railing with a coffee in his hand, letting the petals float into his cup—at this moment, the mocha latte art and the skyline share the same cream puff-like edge. A breeze suddenly rises, the flowering branches sway, and all the phone cameras tilt up at the same angle. The cleaning lady puts her broom in the corner, takes out the SLR from her cloth bag, and points the lens at a falling petal—inside it hides an entire spring of the stock exchange, with gentle K-lines turning red every second.