We operated on 4 hours sleep last night, after our marathon at the Internet cafe and going to bed at 1:30 a.m. Joyce decided to take an R & R day and relaxed, did tai chi in the park, went to lunch at the huge J.W.Marriott hotel next door with a gorgeous view from the 35th floor.
The other 3 of us did the Big Red Bus on-off trip around Shanghai. We started with a lovely drive through the French Concession area. Shanghai in 1842 (after the Opium War and as a result of the Treaty of Nanjing) was opened to foreigners and Shanghai was the center. France settled a concession area, the British down around the waterfront (the Bund) and the Americans. The French area became the best address in Shanghai, with boulevards lined with plane trees and beautiful mansions (like the Ruijin) that have become hotels. It's still an up and coming hip area.
Our first stop was the gorgeous Jing'an Temple west of town. It is unbelievably restored - tons of money poured into this. A huge white jade Buddha from Myanmar (Burma), a gigantic silver Buddha, and money is being raised for a golden one! There were monks chanting near the white Buddha and a side altar we think was for a funeral of a young girl. The monks gathered around, it looked like 3 family members offered prayers and incense and they chanted. We bought incense outside, lit it and followed the bowing to the 4 directions like other people were doing, and then left our incense burning on this stove. We also threw coins up into a stupa-like thing in the central courtyard.
One of the chapels had a crew restoring a beautiful 3-D ceramic mural with wooden trim frame. Apparently during the Cultural Revolution, this was taken over and made into a factory. But they did a gorgeous job restoring it. Unfortunately had a LONG wait for the bus to come again - guy said it was traffic holding things up. We opted NOT to go into the Jade Buddha Temple as it was not as magnificent and we'd wasted time waiting. We rode around town listening to a great narration on earplugs and got off at the Yu Yuan Gardens stop. This is in the Old City area. Hungry now, we headed for the most popular eating spot in Shanghai - where they make these great pork dumplings. Just follow the queue, the guidebook said. It was about a 20 minute wait line. But was worth it - about 15 dumplings with soy sauce. We also added some bean cakes (kind of sweet) and satay (chicken) for a wonderful walking lunch!
Did some shopping for chopstick gifts and wandered around the very Chinese area. Wandered through the picturesque and tranquil Yu Yuan Gardens to various rooms and landscaped displays. Very scenic!
An early dinner tonight as we leave at 7 a.m. for the train station. Going now to enjoy our lovely room with our own shower and bath! Can't wait to see my friends tomorrow in Yangzhou! It's been 5 years!
Zai jian!
Now this sounds like a bit calmer day and quite enjoyable. Hope you are taking lots and lots of photos. We will expect a huge showing when you return. Be safe.
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