Shanghai is a very cosmopolitan city - 18 million people and very much like New York. The familiar waterfront is on the Huangpu River and features the 4th tallest building under construction as well as the Oriental Pearl Tower which I have included across the river as well as photos from the 90th floor overlooking Shanghai. Our hotel is located in the Hutong district of Shanghai (remember the Hutong Pizza parlor in Beijing). Hutong means residential so our hotel looks like a home rather than a modern hotel. It's kind of "eclectic" but not fancy. You walk across the way to a separate building for breakfast. They don't believe in heat here - it had to be 40 degrees in the building for breakfast!
We spent the morning and afternoon around the Bund or waterfront at the river. We rode a river ferry across to see the city from the river, then found a small park that was built by a rich family near the Bund. We also visited Yu Gardens and a nearby bazaar that was amazing - a maze of shops with thousands of people shopping and haggling. We found a Dairy Queen and had a blizzard - in 40 degrees here!
We returned to downtown Shanghai for dinner tonight and had an unusual experience at a restaurant recommended by the hotel. We sat down, then were told many things were not available onthe menu; however, the waiter tried to point out the most expensive items, thentold us there was a minimum Y100 required for each person ($12 which is alot in China). Both Jingyi and I flet that they were manipulating us as foreigners, so we got up and left. It was actually kind of disturbing. After spending a toal of Y188 ($25 total), we headed over to Nanjing Road, a famous street that is best described as the Nicolet Mall at two miles long combined with New York's Times Square. There were hordes of people. Also, what has become the most annoying thing, were the beggars of all kind - women, women with children, men, children. It's quite amazing - "want a rolex?" or "want some postcards?" among the most common requests.
Tomorrow we are going to WuZhen, a small town about two hours away by bus. We are returning to Shanghai rather than stay in WuZhen, and then will return to Beijing Saturday night.
We spent the morning and afternoon around the Bund or waterfront at the river. We rode a river ferry across to see the city from the river, then found a small park that was built by a rich family near the Bund. We also visited Yu Gardens and a nearby bazaar that was amazing - a maze of shops with thousands of people shopping and haggling. We found a Dairy Queen and had a blizzard - in 40 degrees here!
We returned to downtown Shanghai for dinner tonight and had an unusual experience at a restaurant recommended by the hotel. We sat down, then were told many things were not available onthe menu; however, the waiter tried to point out the most expensive items, thentold us there was a minimum Y100 required for each person ($12 which is alot in China). Both Jingyi and I flet that they were manipulating us as foreigners, so we got up and left. It was actually kind of disturbing. After spending a toal of Y188 ($25 total), we headed over to Nanjing Road, a famous street that is best described as the Nicolet Mall at two miles long combined with New York's Times Square. There were hordes of people. Also, what has become the most annoying thing, were the beggars of all kind - women, women with children, men, children. It's quite amazing - "want a rolex?" or "want some postcards?" among the most common requests.
Tomorrow we are going to WuZhen, a small town about two hours away by bus. We are returning to Shanghai rather than stay in WuZhen, and then will return to Beijing Saturday night.
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