Monday, May 20, 2013

Shanghai - the commercial capital

Like all of the other cities that we visited, our time in Shanghai was choreographed to provide the most experiences possible.  In the two full days we spent there, the first was about Shanghai and the second about the neighboring city of Suzhou.  So much to see in each!

Shanghai is definitely the most Western/International of all the Chinese cities that we visited.  We saw much more English on signs and more shops/businesses that were familiar.  We visited the Shanghai museum first.  It features the best in Chinese artwork - bronze, porcelain, calligraphy, furniture and artwork by minorities - from the beginning of their civilization onward.  We spent a lot of time in the bronze and porcelain sections - such amazing and beautiful pieces, many of which were created while Europe was in the Dark Ages.








Then we visited another of the areas of spectacular artwork.  We went to a silk factory that makes silk carpets and other products.   The rugs were unbelievably soft and lush - and very expensive.  The thread is so fine that weaving a rug takes a very long time and must be done by someone who is very skilled.




Because Shanghai is such a modern city, with most of its development and building happening since 1992, steps have been taken to preserve a large traditional neighborhood - "Chinatown" in a Chinese town.  Narrow alleys, crowded tiny shops and a tea house made up the area we visited.  We were warned against going more than a street away from our meeting place because it is so easy to become lost.  We enjoyed wandering the shops for a bit and then decided to get some refreshment.  Mixed in with the traditional were some welcome Western options and we decided that Starbucks was too good to pass up.  Dairy Queen was available too and ice cream cones were chosen by some of our tour group.










The Bund is the financial and commercial area of Shanghai.  It is located along the river that runs through the city.  We spent time on the boardwalk that runs along the river enjoying the view and people watching.  The architecture of the buildings is unique and pleasantly surprising.  Here are some samples:











I wish I had photos of our dinner and the acrobat show we went to that evening.  Pictures were forbidden at the performance which included contortionists, jugglers, unicyclists and gymnasts.  The performers were extremely talented and amazed us with what they could do.  It was a great ending to our day!

Suzhou is a bedroom community for Shanghai but is also known as the "Venice of the East" and the "silk capital of China".  It's about an hour and a half drive from Shanghai but definitely worth it since we spent all day the next day there.

The first stop was a dock where we boarded a small boat for a trip through the canal system.  These canals were built at about the same time as the Great Wall, 2500 years ago!, and are second only to it in terms of the achievement.  Some canals are quite narrow and some were wide enough for several boats abreast.  Our guide, John, grew up in Suzhou and said that about 20 years ago the water was clean and the bottom could be seen easily.  Now that is not the case.  The water is murky and has debris floating in it.  Nevertheless, women were washing clothes and people were fishing in it.  We enjoyed the 45 minutes or so that we spent aboard as we traveled through the first canal, past a narrower one and then out into the broad "freeway" sized main canal.







Our next stop was a silk factory.  This place actually grows the silk worms.  John gave us a step by step  presentation about the various stages of life for the silk worm.  Then we saw the part of the factory where the silk is extracted and woven.  As our Australian guide, David, used to say, the exit is always through the gift shop and this was no exception.  We saw duvets, duvet covers, tablecloths, runners, placemats etc and then a second, larger area with clothing and accessories.  Everything was beautiful!






Our final stop that day was the UNESCO site "Master of Fish Nets" garden.  It was not like I anticipated but beautiful nonetheless.  It was not a park but a nobleman's former home, buildings and gardens, that have been preserved for the public to visit.  The complex was square shaped with a wall around it and a garden in the middle with a pond and meditation area.  It would be quite wonderful to live there, protected and serene.







This was our last night back in Shanghai and we were on our own.  An optional river cruise to see the lights was offered and we decided to go.  The lights were amazing - Shanghai is known for and proud of them - but the best part for us was the opportunity to talk with John about China, to ask some questions that we hadn't been able to earlier.  We discussed openly the situation in North Korea and strategies for solving international issues, Chinese laws and prisons, pollution and traveling in each other's countries.  John is a young father with a 2 and a half year old son.  Like all fathers, he wants the best life possible for his son.  The conversation was based on things we had in common and had a depth and good will that was gratifying.  The lights were beautiful!











Our tour group split up the next morning.  One member had to leave the hotel at 8:00 am for her flight and the others left at noon.  Our tour director Chris and his wife Ping went to the airport with the big group.  John would take us there at 3:30 for our early evening flight.  And so we said good bye to our traveling companions...they are nice people and good travelers!

Our tour director Chris Lee and his wife Ping and us.




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