DAY 4 - Xitang - 1000 year old city

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Our adventure started with a 2 hour trip outside of the city to visit a pretty little water town called Xitang. Xitang was established about one thousand years ago and in someways has most probably maintained its charm. Today, Xitang is a living museum where there is a modest charge for admission. We think the money is charged to help with the upkeep of the city, but it's not like a local sat down and told us this... just a hunch. Ty, our driver parked our van in a parking lot and we walked into the city across a few bridges, and by a few pagodas all equipped to handle the nearby fisherman and obvious tourists. The little homes and shops open to a network of canals, and there is a temple at the end of the water highway. It was a sunny day, although chilly, and much laundry was out and about 😊

The old and new were sizing up the day when we got there and both were willing to smile for my camera. We dined on a boat where we tried fried pumpkin, chicken and beef dishes, dumplings, a green vegetable that I thought tasted like turnip greens, and no one else particularly liked, a sugared corn that tasted like kettle corn and an eggplant to die for! That and hot tea made for a great meal that even filled up 15-year-old Brentley. Our highlight of the excursion came when we headed back the way we had came in a wooded dinghi of sorts. Our captain explained to us that this canal fed into the Huangpu River and 20 years ago he took his boat all the way to Shanghai... "a two day trip," he said. We were told the boat captain's would sing if one asked but our captain said we did not want to hear HIM sing, thus Sheri said she would try! She piloted the boat which consisted of a paddle and movement not unlike a fish's tail. Sheri even tried a rendition of "Proud Mary" we all joined in and the locals were amused. After each of us, except Ty, commandeered... we gave it up and allowed our experienced captain to guide us back to the parking lot.
It was an uneventful trip back to Shanghai except for the styrofoam stop on the way... see photos!
Back in Shanghai - Brentley went out to see the city with friend Tyler and Sheri, Matt and I went to Johnny Moos, a hamburger joint WITH REAL HAMBURGERS and FRIES! Then ... a self-indulging stop for foot massages for all three of us. A great way to end the day!

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