China Day Ten

So .... Shanghai ... noisy, vibrant, developing, exhilirating ... and hot too! High of 35c today although the humidity is slightly easier than Beijing and other places.

A full packed day today starting with a trip to the Shanghai Museum which was fantastic; beautiful ceramics, furniture, bronzeworks, paintings, calligraphy. You name it, they have it and each piece displayed to its advantage with great lighting.

After my hour of culture it was down to the river for a cruise on the Huangpu River. The development along the river has literally taken my breath away today; there are so many buildings going up that you can almost see them growing in front of you. The farmers have come into the town from surrounding countryside to gain work and teams work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a 101 floor building being constructed which will be the highest building in the world and they are completing a floor every 3 days!

The comparison between old and new buildings (the majority of old buildings were built by the British, Canadians and French and so have that colonial look about them) is astonishing.

Another delicious lunch (at my table for one!), surrounded by more food than two people could eat, and then there was dessert! My guide came to see me when I was almost finished, the main course and told me that I had to eat more, I had too. [It is now 9.30pm as I write this and I still haven't had anything to eat since!] Bizarrely the two americans I sat next to yesterday on the flight from Guilin came in and sat on the table next to me - their next stop is home to LA. Interestingly they said that Beijing was too much for them, they preferred Shanghai.

After lunch more travels to the Yuyan Gardens which are 400 years old and right in the middle of the Old Town, which was confusingly built about 15/20 years ago! The gardens were beautiful and the ponds were full of goldfish/koi carp, who I learnt today are the patron saint of students ... never knew that!

After the gardens to the Jade Buddha Temple - another awe inspiring sight. The Great Halls have the most magnificent buddha figures and the Jade Buddha itself is made from one piece of Nepalese (I think) white jade and is about 8' high and 6' wide, encrusted with precious stones, with that knowing smile.

A little shopping and then back to the hotel before the acrobats tonight.

Acrobats - clever but hilarious too. Can you imagine a contortionist (sp?) to the strains of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, surrounded by 6 "swans" ... on roller skates!?!?!? what would Darcey Bussell make of that I wonder!! Highlights included 5 motorcyclists in the "Cage of Death', balancing acts, cycle tricks, hula hoops etc etc.

Another fun evening to remember. Off to Hong Kong tomorrow first thing and should reach my hotel by early evening.