October 2014
I was lucky enough to join N on his business trip to China last week. We flew into Shanghai arriving in the early evening. The temperature was a wonderfully cool 16 degrees and I badgered N into going out for a quick stroll before it got dark so we could enjoy the cool air. We crossed over the road from the hotel and walked alongside Century Park which looked well worth a visit the next day.
Evening light on the canal through Century Park. We came across a man selling huge terrapins in crates by the side of the road, not sure if they were being sold as pets or food!!!
The next morning N went off to his meetings and I went exploring starting with Century Park. I was delighted to be wearing jeans again and loved the cool air which meant I could walk briskly without getting hot and sweaty as is usual in hot and sticky Singapore. I think Autumn is my favourite season and I loved seeing the autumn colours in the huge park.
I came across a lovely little wooded area and most of the trees had heart shaped signs tied on to them, I can't read Mandarin so I have no idea what they said and still haven't found out what they are there for-any ideas anyone?
Fabulous berries
I had heard that an art installation had just arrived in Shanghai and was in Century Park, so I went hunting- giant rubber duck hunting to be precise. It was pretty easy to find as it is huge!
It's called; Rubber Duck by the internationally aclaimed artist Florentijn Hofman. It is 26 meters high and since 2007 it has been travelling around the world, popping up in various cities from New York to Taiwan. It apparently "connects people to their childhood, has no political connotation and is reported to relieve mondial (global) tension"-well it made me smile anyway.
I had arrived at the park early and found the duck when only a few people were around but soon there were literally hundreds of people arriving to see it, including what looked like classes of school children all dressed in yellow. The balloon seller was doing a roaring trade. (sorry haven't figured out how to turn the pic the right way up)
I left the park and walked to Century Square which is the largest open air square in Shanghai.
Here there is another huge art installation- called "Time"
I found the underground station, figured out how to buy a ticket and made my way to East Nanjing Road Station and from here walked down to The Bund
The Peace Hotel, (left) build by millionaire Sir Victor Sassoon in 1930 and the Bank of China (right) built by his rival H.H.Kung
Built in 1921, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, it was said to be the most beautiful building in Asia. Inside it is very grand and there are fabulous murals painted on the ceiling of the dome but the guard refused my request to photograph them
Installed in 2010 this Shanghai bull is by the same artist that created the New York "Charging Bull" in 1989 but apparently leans to the right instead of the left and is red which is the "colour of China"
The view from the Bund across to Pudong was smog ridden in the morning but much clearer later in the day....
There were quite a few couples having their wedding photos taken some with Pudong as their backdrop some the Bund
I carried on and found the Yu Gardens bazaar. The buildings are not as old as they look but still very attractive. Behind the walls are shops selling tourist souvenirs, traditional medicines and teas.
Entrance to the Yu gardens bazaar
The City God Temple dates back to the Ming dynasty, most of it is restored though.
Lighting incense sticks to offer prayers to the City God
Nearby are the Yu Gardens with it's dragon walls, Ming rockeries and scenic areas.
The dragons here only have 4 claws, not five like imperial dragons, so as not to incur the Emperor's wrath.
The zigzag paths protect the buildings inside the gardens as evil spirits can't turn corners.
Later that evening N and I returned to the Bund with our host to see the skyline at night-very impressive. We were then taken for an amazing meal at a Yunnan restaurant; Lost Heaven (sorry no photos as too busy eating)
What a day!
The following morning I just had time for another autumnal walk in Century Park and a little retail therapy in the mall next to our hotel before I met N to go to the railway station to catch the bullet train to Beijing.
Needless to say it goes really fast so the 819 mile journey only took 5 hours.
It was interesting to watch the countryside flash past, the fields being poughed, some ploughs were being pulled by water buffalo or pushed by hand and tiny hamlets with narrow, dirt roads.
Another rural scene-stubble burning. So strange to travel from glitzy Shanghai through the countryside and a few hours later arrive in big, bustling, noisy, famous Beijing.
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