Coming towards the end of our tour and we have to say that we are feeling a bit worse for wear. Starting our trip lacking sleep and launching into a guided go-go-go-style tour was not ideal. Add in some extremely cold weather and all we wanted to do was hibernate rather than see the sights. So arriving in Shanghai to a comfortable and clean hotel with some time to relax before our next activity was warmly welcomed.
Our time in Shanghai begins with a visit to the tea shop for a tea tasting - anything tea related can almost be called the highlight of Vanessa's trip. We have some free time before the next activity and some of us head over to the Shanghai Museum. Largely regarded as China's first world-class museum, the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art, houses an extremely large collection of bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals and sculptures.
The evening was welcomed with a twilight cruise down the Hangpu River to take in the Shanghai skyline and views of the bund before dinner at the Teddy Bear Thai Restaurant. We're in China, at a teddy bear themed restaurant that serves Thai food, but also oddly enough Italian pastas and pizzas. Go figure!
The next morning, it's a late start for us and fellow traveller, Isabelle. As has become customary over the duration of our tour, we begin once again with Chinese buns and soya bean milk. We then join our tour group and head over to Jin Mao Tower, China's 88-story landmark skyscraper completed in 1999. Standing at 420.5 meters, it stretches 40m past New York's Empire State building but is easily dwarfed by Burj Khalifa in Dubai which towers over both landmarks at 828m. Unfortunately, it is not a particularly clear day in Shanghai and the view out the floor to ceiling glass windows is lackluster. What is quite impressive however, is the view down the middle of the building to the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai.
After a not so exciting viewing experience, Tim and I split from the group to have ourselves some tasty Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai Pork Mini Buns.
That evening we are treated the to Shanghai Acrobatic performance. When we enter the building for the performance, the theatre is rundown and there is no pre-show food or drink bars in sight. Rather, we are are greeted to an extremely bare foyer. We are ushered to our seats and prepare to be underwhelmed as the performance commences with a less than half full theatre. But what can we say - we were very wrong. The Shanghai Acrobats quickly became a highlight of our trip, easily outperforming what was a legendarily boring Kung Fu show in Beijing. The show contained amazing juggling as well as feats of strength, flexibility and coordination... culminating with a "ball of death", which was a large metal sphere up on stage that held up to five motorcycle riding men doing fast-paced, coordinated, loop the loops. We didn't take a video of the stunt but found it on youtube for anyone who's interested:
That night saw the tour group come together for a final team dinner. After the group consumes a variety of dishes and several beers, Ness is ready to head back to the hotel, while Tim decides it would be a good idea to kick on to a local bar with some of our fellow travelers.
Several beers later, followed by a severe hangover, it is clear that going to the local bar was NOT a good idea. Tim's final breakfast of Chinese buns was cancelled in favour of NOT vomiting, which was deemed a good decision - Ness and Bella just ate his share. After a fond farewell to Bella, it was time for a morning stroll down the bund in the crisp Shanghai air, before Tim and Ness board the train headed for the airport. So long China! Until next time...
Our time in Shanghai begins with a visit to the tea shop for a tea tasting - anything tea related can almost be called the highlight of Vanessa's trip. We have some free time before the next activity and some of us head over to the Shanghai Museum. Largely regarded as China's first world-class museum, the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art, houses an extremely large collection of bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals and sculptures.
The evening was welcomed with a twilight cruise down the Hangpu River to take in the Shanghai skyline and views of the bund before dinner at the Teddy Bear Thai Restaurant. We're in China, at a teddy bear themed restaurant that serves Thai food, but also oddly enough Italian pastas and pizzas. Go figure!
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| Click to "upsize" |
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| Teddies anyone? |
After a not so exciting viewing experience, Tim and I split from the group to have ourselves some tasty Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai Pork Mini Buns.
That evening we are treated the to Shanghai Acrobatic performance. When we enter the building for the performance, the theatre is rundown and there is no pre-show food or drink bars in sight. Rather, we are are greeted to an extremely bare foyer. We are ushered to our seats and prepare to be underwhelmed as the performance commences with a less than half full theatre. But what can we say - we were very wrong. The Shanghai Acrobats quickly became a highlight of our trip, easily outperforming what was a legendarily boring Kung Fu show in Beijing. The show contained amazing juggling as well as feats of strength, flexibility and coordination... culminating with a "ball of death", which was a large metal sphere up on stage that held up to five motorcycle riding men doing fast-paced, coordinated, loop the loops. We didn't take a video of the stunt but found it on youtube for anyone who's interested:
That night saw the tour group come together for a final team dinner. After the group consumes a variety of dishes and several beers, Ness is ready to head back to the hotel, while Tim decides it would be a good idea to kick on to a local bar with some of our fellow travelers.
Several beers later, followed by a severe hangover, it is clear that going to the local bar was NOT a good idea. Tim's final breakfast of Chinese buns was cancelled in favour of NOT vomiting, which was deemed a good decision - Ness and Bella just ate his share. After a fond farewell to Bella, it was time for a morning stroll down the bund in the crisp Shanghai air, before Tim and Ness board the train headed for the airport. So long China! Until next time...
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| Bella with our "local" bun place in Shanghai |
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| Along the bund |
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