After my little side-trips out to Suzhou and Hangzhou I returned to Shanghai for one more day in the city. Unfortunately I didn't have time for more as my departure from China was drawing ever closer. I had a look round town and, being on a bit of a garden buzz after Suzhou, decided to head to the old Chinese part of town and the Yuyuan gardens and bazaar. It was interesting to see that there still is an old part of the city, which actually seemed quite well preserved, hidden along back streets away from the high rises. They even beat Beijing's Hutongs for me, but by this time I was extremely biased!
I really enjoyed looking round the gardens and just taking time to sit and look around my peaceful surroundings. Outside the gardens however, it was a different matter. This area is a big tourist shopping market and absolutely packed. At times I'd have descried such a place as hellish, but sometimes you've just got to go along with the flow. I met up with a friend I'd made a few days ago and together we joined the crowds and shopped for gifts and souvenirs. We did quite well I think, then walked through the back streets again back towards central Shanghai, providing me with a good idea of how the city fitted together, before going for something to eat. Later on that night we walked down to the Bund to see it all lit up. It was worth the effort, the Pudong shore looking particularly brilliant as the tall buildings also managed to illuminate passing low cloud, creating a white glow across the whole skyline. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the local government must be fairly energy conscious, as the whole lot was shut down soon after we got there! Still, I managed a few good shots to remember it all by. That night I went to sleep in China for the last time, and with very mixed emotions.
After my little side-trips out to Suzhou and Hangzhou I returned to Shanghai for one more day in the city. Unfortunately I didn't have time for more as my departure from China was drawing ever closer. I had a look round town and, being on a bit of a garden buzz after Suzhou, decided to head to the old Chinese part of town and the Yuyuan gardens and bazaar. It was interesting to see that there still is an old part of the city, which actually seemed quite well preserved, hidden along back streets away from the high rises. They even beat Beijing's Hutongs for me, but by this time I was extremely biased!
I really enjoyed looking round the gardens and just taking time to sit and look around my peaceful surroundings. Outside the gardens however, it was a different matter. This area is a big tourist shopping market and absolutely packed. At times I'd have descried such a place as hellish, but sometimes you've just got to go along with the flow. I met up with a friend I'd made a few days ago and together we joined the crowds and shopped for gifts and souvenirs. We did quite well I think, then walked through the back streets again back towards central Shanghai, providing me with a good idea of how the city fitted together, before going for something to eat. Later on that night we walked down to the Bund to see it all lit up. It was worth the effort, the Pudong shore looking particularly brilliant as the tall buildings also managed to illuminate passing low cloud, creating a white glow across the whole skyline. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the local government must be fairly energy conscious, as the whole lot was shut down soon after we got there! Still, I managed a few good shots to remember it all by. That night I went to sleep in China for the last time, and with very mixed emotions.
