We spent one full day in Shanghai. Lots of tourist blogs, magazines etc complain that there really is nothing for tourists there. I was going to travel there but my reading of the critiques changed my mind. So, I was glad to have this as a side trip. I know they are building a Shanghai Disney to be completed 2014. They must know there is not much for tourists.
Right now, as the financial center, they have many people who live there part time. There is about 23 million people who live there and another 9 million who live there at least 6 months out of the year.
Our hotel in Shanghai.
Buddhist Temple near the hotel.
It was great to have a "late" start our first morning in Shanghai. We did not have to meet until 9 am vs 8 or 8:30 the other days. Our first stop was the Bund area. It is the most photographed area in Shanghai. "Bund" is a hindi word meaning "riverside." It comes from the colonial days.
Some colonial buildings are still standing. The next two buildings are the Hong Kong/Shanghai bank and the Shanghai Custom house.
We had a beautiful day and it was nice to see blue sky.
The spire is the Shanghai Convention Center.
The first mayor of Shanghai.
The Chinese are very superstitious according to our Guide. He said that it is good luck for them to have their picture with someone with blond hair and blue eyes. Patrick's turn. He had his share of requests also.
Our last stop in Shanghai and the tour was Yuan Gardens and Yuan Market. We had to walk through a mass of vendors etc to get to the garden. A typical street...
The sunny side of the street was opposite the houses so an electrical pole served as a clothes line.
Yuan market.
This is the most famous restaurant for steamed dumplings. There were about 200 or more people in line. One will typically wait for 1.5 hours for the dumplings.
The oldest tea house in Shanghai is to the left. It is an original building, 450 years old. The other buildings are new.
The Tea House.
Yuan Garden was finished in 1577. It was constructed by a government official named Mr. pan for his parents in their old age.
The old and the new. The crane symbolizes longevity. It is common for people to give cakes with a crane on top to the elderly for their birthday.
Mr. Pan got in trouble with the Emperor for his dragon wall. The dragon is supposed to symbolize the Emperor. Mr. Pan was asked if he felt that he was at the same level as the Emperor since he had many dragon sculptures. He said no because...
He said he was the frog underneath the dragon. He was allowed to keep his dragon.
The kids noticed a Dairy Queen. So that is where we headed after the Garden. Grandpa Ostrowski shared his ice cream with Caroline and I. I look terrible in this picture but I like it anyway. They were lots of fun.
Caroline always spoke with Guides. She did not ever call them by their "American" name. She always called them by their Chinese name. Here, she is practicing her pronunciation with the Guide.
Good bye China! I have to say it was great to get back to Japan. When I got off the plane in Okinawa, the first thing I heard was "Ohaiyo Gozaimas!" (Good morning). Yes! It is so much cleaner and friendlier here. No pushing and shoving. I never did explain the crazy bathroom experiences in China. No toilet paper, bring your own. Fight to get into a stall when there is a crowd. No seats, just a hole in the ground. Filthy also. That was a big downside.
Overall, a great trip. I learned so much. I missed Bill like crazy. It was not the same for any of us without him.
The highlight of my trip was coming home and seeing him.
A great, great experience! I will try to go again (with Bill).
