SHANGHAI SURPRISES

WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER - SHANGHAI TO HANGZHOU

It was our last morning in Shanghai and I was keen on seeing the Yuyuan Garden which was tucked away eight or so blocks south of the Bund. The light rail took us to Renmin Square and then we walked and walked and walked towards the gardens. Along the way we saw various green open spaces which seem to be quite rare. Standing on the grass was a big NO NO. These areas did offer a peaceful retreat for the locals but make sure you stay on the delineated paths.

The buildings started to change as we neared the gardens and we came across market stalls everywhere and were happy to have a quick look. Some memorable items included the genuine 'Borona' in lieu of 'Corona' bottle openers and a little clay boy that wee-ed when you poured water on his head.



It took us a good 45 minutes of going around the blocks of markets and food stalls to find the gardens as it was seriously like a maze. Along the way to the gardens we did visit a temple which had a gold Buddha and other displays.

Then it was time to explore the garden which was quite fascinating with the temples, fish ponds, gardens, rocky outcrops and even what seemed to the world's smallest gardens (something you might find at the back of a townhouse at an exclusive suburb in Sydney).




After bumping into a westerner, who had also bought a lucky cat with the arm that swings and mimicking it, we headed back to the hotel to grab our bags and then to the train. The trip back took 2 hours so half an hour longer then on the way there as there were more stops. The air conditioning was not working and it was hot, stuffy and smelly on the train. A family that had sat in our seats, before we took them back, took pleasure in staring at Deb and I until they moved carriages due to the unbareable heat.

TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER - SHANGHAI

At 9.15am after a semi Asian/Western style buffet breakie at the hotel we were on the move again. This time it was express all the way by light rail to the Oriental Pearl Tower in lieu of the less spectaular Jinmao Tower. The fifth or sixth building on my holiday that I went up just to see the view!

Even before we went in the tower Deb got hounded by people for her photo and then a group of men wanted both of our photos with each of them. Im glad Im not a celebrity every day! It is just such a weird thing having the interest of the Chinese, since in Australia it is so multicultural that we arent gobsmacked when a person, no matter what nationality, walks down the street.


The next two hours was filled with going to each of the different areas of the Tower including the 'Space Capsule' at 350m. Many photos and a few souvenirs later we descended, bought the obligatory tacky tourist photo, and then headed for the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. The tunnel, under the Huangpu River, involved sitting in a small carriage whist zooming along the 647m rail line watching glitzy lights, lasers and props jumping out.

Next it was the famous Bund (meaning embankment) area, with its row of rather grand buildings, great views of the Pudong area and touristy stalls. On the way to discover these delights we found turtles sunbaking on a pontoon in the river. Little did the poor turtles know they would soon find themselves in the supermarket, wrapped in netting, ready for someone to buy them and make a turtle delicacy.



Next we wandered up Nanjing Road - much like our Rundle Street and Rundle Mall but with an Asian influence of course, and we found out lunch is not served after 1.30pm! At the end of the mall was Renmin Park which had a art exhibition throughout which was rather unique.


Deb was a little disappointed there were no western surfy shops so when I suggested we catch a taxi to the Nanpu Bridge and have a look at this engineering feat I was surprised she agreed. Pity the taxi driver wasn't so accommodating! Even though we were able to show the driver in Chinese were we wanted to go he decided to go under the river and further east. Needless to say it was no where near our desired destination.

After paying the most expensive taxi fair to date 30 RMB (AU$6) we were at the Shanghai Science and Technical Museum! Mmm not exactly happy Jan! We discovered the real reason why the taxi driver head there - not cause we wanted to go there but because he was about to have a shift change with what seemed like hundreds of other drivers and he wanted to join the queue. Deb and I would have been better off had he refused to take us.

Anyway the next 2.5 hours was an adventure but not a favourable one. First of all there was no way to get a taxi since they were in changeover mode, then we couldnt actually find the underground station (later we found out it was shut due to more construction), and the walk back to the River took us close to two hours. Most of our afternoon was wasted but on the positive side we got to see more of the Pudong area which we wouldnt have seen otherwise. But disappointingly I wouldnt be getting to see the bridge!


After Deb went shopping for Kialah and I took hundreds of photos of the Bund area at night we embarked on a cruise on the Huangpu River.


After a misunderstanding on which boat we were to catch it all turned out in the end. We decided to eat on the boat since it was 9pm and the best view would be from the uncrowded restaurant on the ground floor of the boat. The meal consisted of eight courses; one which looked like snail but also looked like it used to have feathers - so who knows what it was. An hour later we docked before we were bombarded with more sellers. 'No No No,' I said and then started saying 'DVD, handbag, shoe' before they had a chance to say anything. It was effective as they laughed and left us alone - not so for the teenage girls who hounded Deb for more photos with her.



MONDAY 18 SEPTEMBER - HANGZHOU TO SHANGHAI

I was up and at em at 7.30am as Deb and I wanted to head to Shanghai in the morning so we would be there by early afternoon as it was a whole other city to explore. Shahghai's population surpassed 20 million in 2003 which means the 15 districts and 4 counties which make up Shanghai (and is about 2.5 times the size of the ACT {Australian Capital Territory}) has the whole of Australia living in there.

After Deb dropped Kialah off to big school we were out of there and caught a taxi to Hangzhou train station. We found out what platform we needed but when we headed there we were herded into a room with everyone else that wanted to catch the train. Apparently they do not let people on the platform until the train has emptied. Mmm well it was hot, crowded and a little smelly but like everything else - was all part of the experience.


After a just over an hour and half we made our way into the Shanghai South Train Station and then managed to find the Light Rail line and much easier ticketing system then Hangzhou - as we didnt have to speak to anyone and the computer translated everything into English. Wahoo

After the light rail we caught a taxi and made it to our Hotel - the Shanghai Hotel. When attempting to check in more local people pushed but Im learning to be as forceful back.


Then it was time to explore the sites of area primarily in Jing'An (Northwest Shanghai), Huangpu (Downtown Shanghai), Bund (along Huangpu River) and Pudong (over the river) all of which are filled with cars, scooters, bikes, pedestrians and people selling everything from dvds and matches to handbags and belts - all genuine of course!





First stretch of road we explored was Huahai which included:
1. Xiangyang Market - which we discovered had been demolished and I mean demolished! It would have once been an area filled with markets six times that of Queen Victoria markets in Melbourne but was now a levelled building site.
2. Dodgy central - a guy, who thought Deb was beautiful eventually persuaded us to follow him to a secret location filled with dvds, belts, wallets, bags, watches, sunglasses and the like. The first shop was easy to get to whilst the second was tucked away and felt like we were being lead up the garden path - but ended up being ok!
3. Ten Fu's Tea shop - we spent a good 45 minutes in this small shop trying varieties of tea, snacks and sweets and I ended up leaving with a very expensive tea infusion mug, tea and moon cakes since the moon festival was only a few weeks away.




4. City Shopper - small western style supermarket where my family could buy Weetbix, sour cream, taco mix, baby food. Deb stocked up on a few items.
5. Times Square - Shanghai style and not at all vibrant or stunning as the original in New York

I was quite amused with the carpark at City Shopper. The photo below tells all...



Then it was back to the Hotel and out for dinner at an American hamburger joint, Meloneys, since Deb was starved of Western food. The food was reasonable but the coke I found out after drinking two was 35 RMB or AU$7 a glass! Various places delivered meals and Meloneys was one. For much of our meal there was a lad on his bike out the front with his warmer box, waiting for his next delivery.