Monday 26th March
Shanghai is one of the Worlds’ most fascinating cities, bursting with ancient tradition, culture and modern technology. This fabled port on the Huangpu River has played a pivotal role in the history of Modern China. Originally, the chief of seven treaty ports inflicted by the west on Imperial China, Shanghai was famed for the Bund, an elegant section of riverbank lined with Merchants’ houses and fine mansions. The city was surrendered to the British in 1842 after the first Opium War, the rise of the communist party in the 1920’s signalled the end of foreign influence.
Yu-Yuan Gardens date back to the fabled Ming Dynasty and were named 'Yu-Yuan' as ‘yu’ in Chinese means 'peace and health'.
The Jade Buddha Temple. Built in the style of the Song Dynasty, is a popular Temple graced with upturned eaves, bright yellow walls and symmetrical halls and courtyards. It contains the revered 6½ foot-high, 455-pound Buddha statue made of white jade and precious gems.
Once more another buzzing of the alarm, far too early!
Approaching Shanghai up the Yangtze River, crowded with numerous ships and what appears to be thousands of barges, seem to go on forever, cruised past for a couple of hours and there didn’t seem to be a break in the river traffic.
Berthed at the end of the Huangpu River, still a long way from the city. Slow progress today getting everyone off the ship, plenty of officialdom to slow things down through immigration, customs and quarantine checks.
Eventually off the ship and onto our tour bus, then an hour and a half drive into the city, population of the city about 25 million, luckily only one car to each two people, but that’s still over 12 million!
Everywhere very smoggy, no clear views today, though quite hot weather and the sun is up there somewhere.
First stop today at the Jade Buddha Temple.
A huge area, but a busy spot crowded with tourist and worshipers. Joss sticks and candles burning in the forecourt.
Red ribbons, tied to almost everything for making wishes and tied to trees to give thanks for wishes come true.
The temple famous for it’s giant White Jade Buddha, it also has many gold (plated) buddhas and smaller jade buddhas.
Next we went to the Yu-Yuan market and then through to the adjacent Yu-Yuan Garden.
Yu-Yuan Garden also very busy, seems everywhere is, suppose that’s no surprise. Famous for it’s rocks! but also full of buildings, trees, bridges, pools, Koi carp and turtles. All very smart.
Outside the garden some free time to visit the bazaar and market.
All sorts of shops and stalls, a huge foodcourt and street food stalls plus of course a couple of McDonalds. Locals still seem to be keener to eat dumplings with whatever inside, battered crabs, complete and on a stick, and whole pigeon and some things completely unidentifiable.
Back on the coach for a visit to the Bund for views across the river and to view the skyscrapers and the old colonial buildings.
Another long but not quite so long trip back to the ship, time to recover, decided that we wouldn’t revisit the city to see the lights, just too far!
The folkloric show today in the theatre, the Shanghai Acrobatic Show. All sorts of acrobatic, juggling and balance acts, all very good.
Sailaway tonight very late so we missed it.
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