Thursday 8th July, Shanghai, 25ºC, hazy
I was very fortunate to meet up with a Yale friend and her Shanghainese friend to do a whistle-stop tour of Shanghai. Two nights previously, I had managed to climb the 88 floors of the Jie Mao tower by night to see a spectacular view of the city skyline. But today, I set about visiting many of the sights I strained to see among the brightly lit skyscrapers.
Our first stop was the Bridge of Nine Turnings in 黄浦区 the Huang Pu District. This bridge zigzagged across a pretty lake. It was supposedly built to ward off demons, who it was believed were afraid of corners. In the surrounding area, there were a number of little shops, buildings that exhibited traditional Chinese architecture and food stalls that sold a number of local snacks. I allowed myself to buy a caricature fan: for this, I had to sit as motionless as possible focussing on a bamboo pole over the right shoulder of the artist. Some ten minutes later, and a several photos later (other tourists had taken to capturing the moment on camera!), I left the stall with a personalised fan in hand (see below).
Next, we went to the beautiful Yu Yuan gardens. This complex network of temples, gardens and ponds made for a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city around us. This picture really epitomises the beauty hidden behind the stone walls we passed through to enter the garden.
We spent time in other parts of the city during the afternoon, including 新天地 Xintiandi, a very modern shopping district, and a small art district that exhibited a whole range of traditional and modern Chinese art. I also couldn’t resist taking a photo with Haibao, mascot of the World Expo!
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