After eating we walk around the area some more, and find ourselves in front of the building that commemorates the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party. From the Chinese point of view this event was a declaration of independence from the past ways of governance. We go in to take a look. I am very impressed with the professionalism of the displays. Most items, such as old photos and documents, are labeled both in Chinese and English. I want to take a photo of some old money, but the guard tells W that no photos are allowed. Too bad. I would have loved to have shared it on this website.
We then decide to go across the river to the Pearl Tower, which has three observation decks, the top one at 350 meters, or over 1100 feet! The tower is located just east of the riverfront. We take the subway, first line 1, and transfer to line 2. Total time, about 15 minutes. Total cost, 2RMB each (about 25 cents). The subway is very busy, and the recorded announcements of each stop are in the same three languages--Putonghua, Cantonese, and English. Most of the signs for the subway also include the English version. We exit the subway at the XXX station, and find a multitude of people. There are numerous sidewalk vendors, selling food or novelties. There is a carnival a block away, so many people are coming and going to it. The Pearl Tower is across the street. We walk over and buy our tickets (Not so cheap, 100RMB each). The tower is new, built in 1996, and very interesting (see the photos). It is hard to describe with words.
We show our tickets and enter. The entrance area is round, with the elevators in the middle. There is a line for the elevator, but it moves quickly and soon we are our way up. There are 3 different levels, each with observation decks. We want to go to the highest one. However, the elevator does not go all the way. We must first go to the 263 meter level, and then take another elevator the rest of the way. The ride up is quick and smooth. The elevator attendant gives a short speech (same 3 languages) as we are going up. It is about 5:30 when we reach the 263 meter level. It is dusk, almost dark. I notice there is a sign pointing to a revolving restaurant at the 267 meter level (must be one floor upstairs). There is a long line waiting for the elevator to go to the top level. After walking around for a few minutes we get in line. It takes about 20 minutes to finally get on the elevator for the last 87 meters. But the wait is worth it. It is now darker, and the city lights are more distinct. We can look down at the river and the tour boats passing by. We can see the lights extend west into the other side of the city. If only it were a week-night (with more lights) and if only the air was clearer! But pretty good even so!.
About a km east of the tower is the tallest building in China, the Jim Mao building. It has 88 floors, and it also has an observation deck. I decide I will go there later in the week. We soon head back down (more lines at each level), and walk back towards the subway. W must go to attend the wedding of a friend. She gives me her subway pass card (magnetic strip card with stored value), and we agree to meet for dinner on Thursday (when I will return the card). She takes the subway to the next stop, but I continue on to the Peoples Square station, where I transfer to line 1. I get off at the first stop. Exit A takes me to just off Huaiihai Road, which is a main East-West street that runs a half-block from my hotel. I walk west for about mile. There are lots of shops, lots of people. In one section almost every shop is a wedding photo shop, with many couples sitting with salespeople deciding what photos to take. There are also lots of jewelry shops. Hmmmmm. Any connection???
I find my street, turn right, and am soon walking towards the entrance of the south building.
On the walkway that leads to the entrance there are some shops and restaurants. As ai pass the Yakiniku Matsuzaka restaurant (Japanese w. Shanghai characteristics?) I notice that there is a TV with the Marlins/Yankees game on it. I go in and see that it is in the 7th inning. Of course, I already know the result, but I want to see how it happened. So I sit down near the TV and enjoy a pasta and veggie dinner while the Marlins win the World Series. What a nice way to spend an evening in Shanghai!
I then go back to the room. After watching some TV, checking email, and working on the journal, it is time for bed. What will I do tomorrow? We'll see!
Last night I had asked about breakfast and was told that the same restaurant where I had dinner was also the breakfast place in the hotel. So I walked back to the north building about 9:00 AM and was directed to an upper level of the restaurant where a breakfast buffet was set up. The buffet was pretty good, especially here in Shanghai. There was an omelet station, bacon, sausage, fruit, breads and toast, cereal, french toast, juices, coffee, tea, and also several Chinese dishes. The dining area was filled with mostly hotel guests, both Chinese and western. I had a small table to myself. As I was eating I noticed that some people gave the hostess a paper ticket for lunch, and I wondered if I should have received a lunch ticket. When I finished eating they brought me the check which I signed to be billed to my room. 118RMB, about $14.50. Well, I won’t eat here every day, but then again maybe they only have the buffet on the weekends. I will have to find out tomorrow.
I walk back to the room and wait for W to call. I met W at the Newark airport a couple years ago. We were both flying to Chicago, but she was continuing on the her home here in Shanghai. She had been in Newark and New York on business. She works for the e-business department of a Chinese shipping company. We had kept in touch by email, and she had agreed to meet me at about 11:00. While waiting I check the internet and see that the Marlins are winning their World Series game against the Yankees, and just before W arrives I see that the Marlins have actually won the series! Wow! What a great start to my day!
A few minutes after 11:00 I meet W downstairs in the lobby. It was a bright and sunny day, not as hazy as yesterday (thank goodness). We talk about where to go. I tell her this is her town and she should take us wherever she thinks is best. This turns out to be a really good decision, as I am very pleased with where we go.
We hail a taxi and go to Yuyuan Gardens, which is actually a neighborhood that includes shops, a temple, and a garden. It is very old-style, and some of it really is old. The temple is over 1000 years old! I want to take a photo of some of it but W advises that I cannot take a photo inside the buildings. So I content myself with photos of the roofs--very interesting. Later we go to the garden, and it is very unique. W tells me that it was designed so that from any point in the garden your view is different in each direction that you look. There are ponds, walkways, gardens, rocks, etc. We then go to the shopping area. It is very crowded. Lots of interesting shops, restaurants, and lots of people. There is a large pond (near the entrance to the garden) with an elevated walkway over the pond. The walkway has 9 sections that zig-zag over the water. I am told that this is a Chinese style. There are many people leaning over the walkway fence tossing fish food into the water. There are hundreds of gold, yellow and black fish, happily eating all that is given to them. I think these are very fat fish! They are fed constantly by all of the people.
After walking around for a while we try to have lunch at the place W wants to go, but there is a long line. So we go to a tea house instead. The tea house is very old and famous. The Clinton's had tea here when they visited China. The tea house is right above the walkway over the pond, and we are seated upstairs overlooking the action. We may even be sitting where the Clinton's sat. Hmmm, did Hilary warm my seat, or Bill? We get a tea set, which is tea, and light snacks. The tea leaves are placed into our glasses (not cups) and hot water poured on top. After waiting for the glass to cool we are able to pick-it up and take a sip. It is a kind of green tea. W does not know the english name, or even if there is an english name for it. But it is very nice. The snacks are interesting. One is a small brown egg that has been boiled in tea. I eat one, and it tastes---like a tea flavored egg. One of the snacks is a small portion of cooked rice wrapped in a leaf and tied-up with a thin string. It is a pretty snack, and after unwrapping it you eat the rice. It reminds me of sushi without the fish, but the rice has a slightly brownish color to it, and inside the rice there is a small portion of meat. Another snack comes in a plastic wrapper. It is a candied fruit which you eat and then spit-out the seed. A little chewy, but sweet and good.
Shanghai page 3