Shanghai. An exhilarating city full of contrasts. One of the largest cities in the world (and fast-growing) in a fit of preparation for the 2010 World Expo. The first day in Shanghai was spent sightseeing with longtime friends Michael and Doreen McFarlane. They greeted us at the airport and we rode on the Maglev train into the city -- it travels up to 268 miles/hour!
We began sightseeing in People's Square.
The Shanghai Museum seemed like the first place to visit.
The collection of ancient sculpture, calligraphy, and pottery was great. We also witnessed a monk intending to meditate in the middle of the atrium floor shooed away by the police.
We visited the YMCA where I was to give a concert in a few days. My name in lights!
We had our first Shanghai meal at Grandmother's Restaurant, which was good, and walked to the Bund.
(Unfortunately the Bund's riverfront was under major construction and largely inaccessible.) The view of Pudong (the newer section of the city, across the river) was impressive. The building on the right that resembles a bottle-cap opener is incredibly tall -- the third tallest in the world now.
We stumbled upon the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, a tourist trap, yet a convenient way of traversing the river!
We went to the top of the Jinmao Tower (pagoda shaped tower next to the bottle-cap building) to see the view from the observation deck.
From the observation deck you could also look down into the hotel in the upper floors, which boasts the world's tallest atrium (or some such hyperbole). It was quite a sight.
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The next day, we wandered around the French Concession, where the hotel was located, and walked eastward toward the center of town. This was my favorite section of Shanghai, with colonial architecture, tree-lined streets, and sophisticated variety.
KFC delivery by bicycle.
Lots of food being prepared and consumed right on the sidewalks and streets. Here are crabs, crawfish, and small mantis shrimp:
Not sure what this is (octopus balls, maybe?)
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That afternoon we found the Old City, of which not much remains other than a sad little temple and a bit of the old city wall.
We seeked Yu Gardens, which was surrounded by a bazaar of shops.
Deepfried softshell crab on a stick, or beef-balls, perhaps (notice the steer's head in the broth).
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awesome!
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