Day Seven - Shanghai Part One

The largest city in the world and an autonomous municipality in central China, Shanghai is home to 24 million Chinese and some of the most amazing architecture of the 21^st century. Split into 2 sections by the Huangpu River, the Pudong and the Bund, Shanghai is a relatively new city compared to the ancient metropolises of Beijing and Xi'an. Lacking the historical artifacts and relics of the other Chinese cities, Shanghai has created its own tourist attraction – a vibrant and chic nightlife.

We woke this morning in Suzhou and packed for our two day visit of Shanghai. Before departing Lucie and I took a morning stroll around the our hotel, catching these shots of a family outing, our hotel, a man and and his son on a scooter (it was very typical to see a parent and child riding this way), and even a man channeling a young lady's Qi.

 

On our way out of Suzhou, we stopped for a short visit at the Marco Polo Bridge. Flanked by quaint parks, this 15^th century bridge was made famous in Marco Polo's book on Travels.

 

These little ones were enjoying their day in the park too.

 

Silk production first began in mass in China in 2,640 BC and quickly became one of China's key exports. China maintained a monopoly on silk for 3,000 years and it only found its way into other countries production as a result of smugglers. Our visit to a silk factory was fascinating as we got to watch the process from caterpillar to carpet.

 

To stimulate our shopping experience, we were treated to a brief fashion show featuring models wearing silk outfits.

 

From the Suzhou's No. 1 Silk Factory we were off to Shanghai. It was an hour and a half bus ride (affording me the opportunity to write this blog) through an entirely urban landscape of apartment complexes, mini city centers, and industrial areas. On arrival in Shanghai we dropped our suitcases at our hotel, the Raddison, and headed downtown. From the Bund side of the river we caught a tour boat for a sightseeing trip along the Huangpu. We were blessed with crystal clear blue skies for the benefit of our photo snapping trip along the shores of the Special Economic Zone know locally as the Pudong. In support of Shanghai's hosting of the 2010 World's Fair, the crossing of the Huangpu was upgraded to include 4 bridges and 11 tunnels.

 

Following is a picture of the monument to the victims of the Japanese invasion during World War II.

 

The Pudong.

 

Danielle cruising along the Huangpu.

 

On the opposite side of the river from Pudong is the Bund. One of the oldest landmarks of Shanghai, the Bund features a wide boardwalk running between the river and the classic marble and stone buildings from the days when the western world occupied many parts of Shanghai. This shot of the Bund is in sharp contrast to the modern glass and steel of the Pudong.

 

After our tour boat ride we were treated to some free time to stroll the Bund's boardwalk. It was crowded with Shanghailese enjoying the bright summer afternoon, but not with the annoying souvenir sellers, thankfully. We could have spent an entire afternoon here and not had enough. Our next stop was dinner at a downtown restaurant. This is a picture of a golden statue to the people, one of four featured on a bridge in downtown Shanghai.

Dinner was a little spicier than the normal Beijing fair and was also delicious. Whoever said we would lose weight in China must have been indulging in the oldest import – opium! From the restaurant we had a short ride to a theater for an amazing show of Gymnastics. Pictures weren't permitted but I did manage to snap a few, just for you!

After the show it was back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we spend another day exploring the mysteries of the orient in Shanghai.