I spent some time in Shanghai and a short way off.
Shanghai is the largest Chinese city by population and the largest city proper by
population in the world. It is one of the four direct-controlled municipalities
of the People's Republic of China, with a
population of more than 24 million as of 2013. It is a global financial
center and a transport hub with the world's busiest container port. Located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China,
Shanghai sits on the south edge of the mouth of the Yangtze
in the middle portion of the Chinese coast.
During the full day sightseeing all the major places of
interest were included such as Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Musuem, People Square, Pearl Gallery, Yuyuan
Garden, the Bund, Nanjin road and a great tea ceremony.
It was a busy day, fortunately
the traffic was OK. I got what I expected from this city, is more European that
Chinese. Very clean, very well organised city. The public transport is also
amazing, they have 13 metro lines and building 10 new one. Here you can find
everything you need.
For any visitor to China, perhaps the most attractive
thing about Shanghai is just how fashionable it is. Museums, galleries,
restaurants, etc. have emerged in the past few years. The heydays of the 1920s
and 30s and the newfound wealth in the city are making Shanghai a place with a
fabulous and optimistic style and attitude.
My 1st highlight was the Jade Buddha Temple. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1875-1909) with its priceless collection of jade statues from Burma. The construction of the temple is in the magnificent architectural style of the Song Dynasty. There are monks currently living in the Temple and the Temple houses the Shanghai Buddhist Institute.
My 2nd highlight was the Bund, Shanghai's waterfront, a showcase of pre-1949 architecture. The symbol of old and new Shanghai, Bund is Shanghai's most famous landmark. Four kilometers long, the Bund has long been one of the most important areas in Shanghai, and a must to visit to every visitor. In the 1930s, the row of buildings was host to the city's financial and commercial centers and the world's greatest banks and trading empires established a base here.
The tea ceremony was also
mentionable, but the prices were extraordinary high 200-250 USD/kg.
Another day I visited Suzhou, the Net Master Garden, the town's best example
of a model Ming Dynasty garden. The gardens embody the harmonious principles of
Chinese garden construction, which dictate that gardens should re-create a
microcosm of the universe in a confined space.
The other part of the excursion was the water village of
Zhouzhuang. The majority of residences were built in the Ming and Qing
dynasties, and nearly 100 classic courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are
still in use. In this water village, locals live their life on the waterways,
continuing to carry out everyday activities on the water, from washing clothes
to shopping from vendors in boats.
This was a memorable 3 nights, and now I’m ready for the
1st cruise from Hong Kong by Celebrity Millenium.
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