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Published: June 25th 2017
Geo: 31.23, 121.47
The crush of people continues on the Labour Day Holidays and although we thought we had already experienced lots of people in the shopping mall it wasn't until we were cheek to jowl with the other half of the Chinese population in the Yu Gardens and in the Old Town Shopping Market that we really got to appreciate "the crush" of humanity.
Our early morning visit started with a look around Xintiandi Old Town and ‘Shikumen' houses which date back to the 1860's (not so old for China...but old for the story of Shanghai) and demonstrate the architectural influence of the Jewish and British bankers. They have been carefully restored to create a snapshot of the old Shanghai and are now a very elite restaurant precinct.
We walked another block to observe the outside of the "founding" home of the CPC where party documentation was signed in the 20's in two houses donated by "brothers" who supporters of the party - "foreigners" not allowed - without the completion of lengthy paperwork and applications. So we looked at the doorway, watched lots of police and soldiers circling the building as Chinese nationals lined up to visit...and then jumped in our
car and headed for the gardens.
The Yu Gardens sprawled over 5 acres through twists and turns and over bridges and through walkways. There were temples, meeting halls, opera stages, the homes of concubines, resting rooms and tea rooms. We saw rock gardens, water gardens, lawns, flowers and trees. There were carvings and statues of dragons, fish and birds. We heard a colourful history of the gardens beginning with the corrupt financing of the government official Mr Pane ( um, we think); through to raids and occupation by the Japanese and the British; the restoration by the Shanghai Government and the current support by the keepers of the temple. As we wandered and soaked up the stories and the beauty - I couldn't help thinking that my Mum would love this place...but I think she is going to settle for my re telling of the beauty of the magnolias, wisteria and maples that provide the colour for the garden.
Mac set up camp on one of the benches with a spectacular view of the stone garden and invited all and sundry to pose for photos with him. Before long he had a stream of volunteers, lots of laughing locals and a constant
snap and pop of cameras and flashes. His commitment to being the star of the show has escalated to new heights.
The walk on the zigzag bridge followed by a stroll through a "real" China town was such an experience. Young people, old people, children, strollers, people in a rush, pushing people, people who were hot a smelly all crowded onto the limited spaces in the 29 C heat. We were happy to have a bit of a push and jostle and then take off for a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the 88th floor observation deck of the Jin Mao Tower on the east bank of the Huangpu River.
But first lunch. Well, what can I say. Mac always says alarms go off when we are with 500 other "foreigners" in a restaurant with absolutely NO locals. The Seagull Restaurant served sliced kabana, boiled cabbage, chicken cubes with potato cubes and hunks of beef gristle with hunks of potato ...all served just one degree above cold....accompanied by the mandatory single drink in a 200 ml glass.
I concede...there were clean Western toilets.....but even this had the gloss removed...because the toilets were in cubicles smaller than on an aircraft. It's hard
to go when you are laughing yourself silly because your knees are pressed against the door!
Needless to say, when Miranda asked us if we enjoyed lunch, we told her this was not our favourite meal. That triggered phone calls, discussions, interviews with the restaurant manager and reports to the tour manager. What a headache!
We went from the pits of lunch to giddy in heights of the Jin Mao Tower. This is a quick ride up to the observation deck to a height of 382 metres and from there it was possible to view Shanghai and all its sprawling development. After the conformity of high rise across China, Shanghai's diversity is breathtaking. No two buildings are the same, in fact, each building makes a unique, individual contribution to the skyscape of the city.
The Jin Mao Tower challenged our ability to deal with heights. The observation deck also provides a giddy in view from inside the building.. It is possible to peer down the core of the building to the 56th floor of the atrium of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Mac braved it and stepped up to lean over to look down....I couldn't do it....I could only hang the came out
to snap the shot. This is one of the highest atriums in the world with a height of 152 metres and a diameter of 27 metres.
We needed a rest before dinner. Almost a recovery if you like ...from lunch. But wow, Miranda certainly turned the food thing around and we found ourselves in a new restaurant with a very attentive restaurant manager. There were no other "foreigners" in sight...just locals! A good start....and again, wow, the food was amazing. One of the best me use we have enjoyed in China! Each dish was presented beautifully and the restaurant manager explained the dish - it's ingredients, it's preparation and it's cultural connection. Mmmmm, mmmmmm....was almost worth the drama of the lunch.
A perfect prelude to the Shanghai Acrobatic Show.
We had VIP seating for the ERA Acrobatic Show in the "big pineapple". It was an amazing venue...a theatre in the round with our seats front and centre. This show was amazing! The performers interacted with the audience and gave an impression of genuine enjoyment in their performances. Every act in the evening brought gasps of appreciation from the audience. There was the usual array of contortionists, tumbling, balancing, juggling, aerial silk performances,
trampolining...it was a balance of high energy and quiet elegance and beauty. All accompanied by live performances by the band and the soloist. The finale was a crazy motor bike act..where 7 dare devil drivers (they must have had their basic training in Beijing) were locked in a metal cage dome...and criss crossed each other in wild patterns. It was breath taking.
What a great day....and still more Shanghai to come.
Pedometer Reading: 8 570
Temperature: 29 C with one heavy shower
PS
A reminder of some of the "acts" from the acrobatics show
Girl balancing on hand on. Spinning raised platform
jumping and tumbling through stacked and spinning hoops
Seesaw barrel balancing in boat catching plates, cup and spoon
Female contortionists creating balancing human pyramids
Juggling with huge ceramic pots
Speed aerial acrobatics in a suspended Spinning wheel
Girls on aerial trapeze
Strength and balancing act two men and a lady
Jumping on seesaw to propel to towers and seats
Aerial tumbling on trampoline and a flexible balance beam
Partners dancing on suspended spinning silk
Girls performing dance routines flowers of Spinning plates
Seven men on motor bikes performing dare devil precision driving in enclosed metal cage
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MrsAngell
non-member comment
The views are astonishingly beautiful. So is the food!