CITY DESTINATION: Shanghai
24 million is a huge number for
everything. When we think about population, we agree this number is atrocious,
especially in an ancient city like Shanghai. In fact, it is hard to decide
where to start the tour if we fear of the traffic, crowds and our safety.
Anyway, this world financial center has fascinated generations and won’t stop
no matter what.
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| Aerial View of Shanghai Lights |
Located in the Yangtze River
Delta in East China, Shanghai, for centuries a major administrative, shipping,
and trading town, grew in importance in the 19th century due to European recognition
of its favorable port location and economic potential.
Shanghai is a popular
tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as The Bund,
City God Temple and Yu Garden as well as the extensive Lujiazui skyline, many
skyscrapers, and major museums including the Shanghai Museum and the China Art
Museum. It has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming
economy of mainland China.
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| The Shanghai Museum |
As a museum of ancient
Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum possesses a collection of over 1000,000 objects,
about 120,000 of which are precious national-graded works of art. Its rich and
high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and
calligraphy is specially celebrated in the world. The Shanghai Museum
is open free all year round except for special notification. ID cards or certificates may be required in
certain circumstances. Visitors over 70, the handicapped and Shanghai Museum Friends (with Membership Card presented) will
be granted priority entry. The Museum is open daily 09:00–17:00 all year round.
8000 visitors accepted per day. No entry after 16:00 or up to the limits as
given.
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| The Bund |
The Bund, also called
Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (East Zhongshan 1st Road), is a famous waterfront and
regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It is on the west
bank of Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge and winds 1500
meters (0.93 mile) in length. The most famous and attractive sight which is at
the west side of the Bund are the 26 various buildings of different
architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the
Renaissance. The 1,700-meters (1,859 yards) long flood-control wall, known as
'the lovers' wall', located on the side of Huangpu River from Huangpu Park to
Xinkai River and once was the most romantic corner in Shanghai in the last
century. After renovation, the monotone concrete buildings that lovers leaned
against in the past have been improved into hollowed-out railings full of
romantic atmosphere. Standing by the railings, visitors can have a 'snap-shot'
view of the scenery of Pudong Area and Huangpu River.
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| The Yuyuan Garden |
Built in Yongle Reign of
Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the Old City God Temple of Shanghai is located at
Fangbang Middle Road, and adjoins Yuyuan Garden in the south. With the
commercial development, and the surrounding trade region expanding, the numbers
of shopping centers and snack streets are increasing rapidly. As a result,
today’s Old City God Temple usually refers to an area stretching from Anren
Street in the east, to Fuyou Road in the north and Old Xiaochang Road westward.
Yuyuan Garden, Old Street and Chenxiang Pavilion all belong to this zone.
The Old City God Temple enjoys a
high status in Shanghai, with an old saying: one who fails to reach the temple
never reaches Shanghai. City God Temple was built to protect the safety of the
people in the city, and the gods are regarded as patron saints in Taoism.
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| The Busy Old Town God Temple |
The Old Town God Temple of Shanghai, with far-reaching history, attracts a
lot of tourists from all over the world to visit. With an area of 2,390 square
yards, the present temple includes nine palaces –Huoguang Palace, Sixty-year
Cycle Palace, God of Fortune Palace, Cihang Palace, City God Palace, Empress
Palace, Parents Palace, Guansheng Palace and Wenchang Palace. The Temple
enshrines three town gods: Huoguang a famous general of Western Han
Dynasty (202 BC – -9 AD), Qin Yubo, a celebrity of Yuan Dynasty (1271– 1368),
also known as a dutiful son.
As well as praying, visitors
to the Old City God Temple can watch some folk performances; can take part in
cockfighting, special calligraphy and some other acrobatic performances in the
art arena. There is also a gift shop. The Old City God Temple is most famous
for its local snacks, and as such is a real kingdom of delicious food with many
different kinds of restaurants spread along the streets. The most famous ones
are Lu Bo Lang Restaurant, Nanxiang Small Steamed Buns, Songyue Vegetarian
Restaurant and Shanghai De Xing Guan. If you like buns you can enjoy Mini
Steamed Buns, Crab Soup Buns, Barbecued Pork Buns and Vegetable Buns. If you
like dessert, you may have Plum Flower Cakes, Date Mash Cakes, Chop Rice Cakes,
Black Rice Balls, Osmanthus Cakes and Eyebrow-like Crisps. Eight Delicacies in
Hot Sauce, Shepherd’s-purse Wonton and Crystal Shelled Shrimp are also nice
choices.
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| Koi Pond at the Yuyuan Garden |
Noted for its national banquet, Lu Bo Lang had received many
international guests including Queen Elizabeth II and former American president
Bill Clinton. These snacks sites are open till nine o’clock.
Yuyuan Garden is a famous
classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. It was finished in 1577 by a
government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. Yu in
Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for
Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their
old age.
In the 400 years of existence, Yuyuan Garden had undergone many changes. During
the late Ming Dynasty, it became very dilapidated with the decline of Pan's
family. In 1760, some rich merchants bought it and spent more than 20
years reconstructing the buildings. During the Opium War of the 19th
century, it was severely damaged. The garden you see today is the result
of a five year restoration project which began in 1956. It was open to the
public in September, 1961.
Yuyuan Garden occupies an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres).
However, the small size is not a representative of the attractions of the
garden. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters all have unique
characteristics. There are six main scenic areas here: Sansui Hall, Wanhua
Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each
area features several scenic spots within its borders.
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| The Great Rockery at the Yuyun Garden |
Upon entering the garden, you will encounter a rockery, which is called the
Great Rockery. With a height of 14 meters (about 50 feet), it is the largest as
well as the oldest rockery in the southern region of the Yangtze River. On the
top of the rockery, you can get a bird's eye view of the garden. Cuixiu Hall
sits at the foot of the rockery. It is a quiet and elegant place surrounded by
old trees and beautiful flowers. Visitors will find curio shops in the Cuixiu
Hall.
Sansui Hall was built in
1760 and was originally used to entertain guests. Later it became a place to
hold ceremonies for the gentlemen and bookmen. With a height of nine meters
(about 30 feet) and featuring five halls, it is the largest and most commodious
structure in the garden. The name Sansui is derived from the book History of the later Han Dynasty, and
means 'propitious' and 'lucky'.
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| Interiors of the Sansui Hall |
Wandering in the area of Yule Pavilion and Wanhua Chamber, you will find
pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural
features. Wanhua Chamber is a delicately chased building surrounded by derious
cloisters. Spring bamboos grow beside the cloisters. In front of Wanhua
Chamber, there are two old trees. One is a maidenhair tree which is 21 meters
tall (about 70 feet).It is said that the tree was planted by the host of the
garden 400 years ago.
The Dianchun Hall area is located east of Wanhua Chamber, and includes Hexu
Hall, Relic Hall, Ancient Well Pavilion, and the Acting-and-Sing Stage.
Dianchun Hall was once the headquarters of Xiaodao Hui, a revolted group who
fought against the government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during 1853-1855.
The coins made by Xiaodao Hui and the bulletins they proclaimed are currently
displayed in the hall.
The true treasure of Yuyuan
is the Exquisite Jade Rock. Located across from Yuhua Hall, it is one of the
three famous rocks in the southern region of the Yangtze River. (The other two
are Duanyun Feng in Suzhou and Zhouyun Feng in Hangzhou.) The rock is 3.3
meters (about 10.8 feet) in height and has 72 holes. What is interesting about
this rock is that if you burn a joss stick just below the rock, the smoke will
magically float out from all of the holes. Similarly, when you pour water into
the rock from top, the water will flow out from each hole creating a
spectacular sight to see. Pan Yunduan was very fond of the Exquisite Jade Rock,
and he built Yuhua Hall facing the rock so it was convenient to sit in the hall
and admire it. The furnishings in the hall were made of top grade rosewood of
the Ming Dynasty, appearing both natural and graceful.
The Inner Garden was a separate garden built in 1709, but is now a part of
Yuyuan in the south. It is compact and exquisite, and the rocks,
pavilions, ornamental ponds and flower walls offer some of the most attractive
sceneries in Yuyuan.
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