The first week of May in China is a holiday to celebrate 'May Day', and last May, my fellow foreign Teacher, Chiara Braccagni (Italian Teacher) and I decided to go to Xi'an for the week.
Well that was our plan before we discovered that we couldn't get a train ticket in Suzhou. So we decided to go to Shanghai and see if we could get tickets there. No such luck.
Stuck for what to do, we immediately set about looking for accomodation, only to discover that all the hostels were full. We were however directed to a local 'Chinese' Hotel (as opposed to 'foreigner' hotel). Given our resident status, they let us stay.
The Hong Kong Hotel was located in a back street, about 10 minutes from the Bund.
We spent two days in the area before taking the train to HangZhou, where we spent a couple of days exploring 'West Lake'; and visiting "Shaoxing" about which I have already written at Magic City.
The photos contained in this file are nothing spectacular, but for those who have never been to Shanghai, or never been to China, they might offer some insights.
The Area Around our Hotel
Chiara and I were walking over a little bridge trying to find our way to the Bund, when we ran into a Finnish Girl, Mervi, who told us she would take us there.
That's Mervi. She's not quite as beautiful as the Building in the Background.
The following photographs were taken within one block of where we were staying.
An Art Gallery
At one end of the Bund, there is a rather interesting looking place. You can't miss it, it has a rather interesting triangular sculpture or something on the top deck.
Down below, at the bottom of the sculptured walls, is the "Shanghai Patriotic Promotion Site" which contains an art gallery. Chiara who was frustrated by my lack of interest in museums, was not at all keen on looking at art. (It was probably like Coffee and Pizza - not as good as the Italian Version).
Nevertheless, I found the art so interesting, that while she and Mervi spent the second day browsing in the museum, I returned to the art gallery. They had one particular and unsigned oil painting that was in the exact same style as several of my own paintings of Paris, painted by Elizabeth Lane, former wife of Australian Artist Harold Lane.
It is definitely worth taking a stroll down there - better than being conned into visiting the studios of the Art Students who pester you to go with them to their dubious and financially inspired 'art houses'.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong Park, Lujiazui, Shanghai - behind Mervi and I
On the Right, the sculpture at the "Shanghai Patriotic Promotion Site"
Above ground at the "Shanghai Patriotic Promotion Site"
Looking between the sculpture toward Oriental Pearl Tower
Sculptures line the walls as you descend into the 'belly' of the Site.
Along the esplanade
As much as this looks like a nice area - and indeed it is - it is a terrible place to just 'sightsee'. The most 'seen sight' is that of the foreigners telling the hawkers to get lost. I went there on my own the second day while Chiara and Mervi went to the museum, and I gave up on the hawkers after about 10 minutes. When you are with someone it is easier to ignore the blighters. When you are on your own it is a nightmare.
Chiara and Mervi walking the Esplanade
Those are restaurants to right of frame.
Lost in Shanghai
We walked to the far end of the Esplanade
End of the Road - so to Speak!
Leaving the Bund, we headed off to the nearby park that Mervi had visited the previous day. As we walked and talked, we each thought the other knew where they were going. We had a wonderful walk, and came across an interesting series of sculptures outside a bank.
I seem to remember that it was at this point in our journey that Chiara and I asked Mervi where we were headed. That's when we discovered that she thought we were travelling in a specific direction.
Well, that certainly made the situation interesting. We grabbed our maps and tried to figure out where we were. Eventually, with that sorted out, Mervi planned a way to get back where we started, and along the way, we took a couple of detours to investigate some interesting looking places. We did eventually find our way back to the hotel.
This is the alley where the Wishing Tree Was
Architecture on the Bund in Shanghai
Some River Photographs
I hope you have enjoyed this little excursion!
Searching for a hotel in Shanghai? Or sightseeing tours?
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
Shanghai Photographs : The Bund | 2 comments | Sign Up
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that is cool
Written on 12/18/07 at 06:22:12 AEST by youaremyangel
i copy that picture with you and mervi,then send them to our English group created for English majors of our university,you know,what i have said,"watch out,our foreigh teacher and his girlfriend"they were suprisedly rushing to see that picture.That is for joking,hope you will not mind.We would very much want you to join in our grpup if you do not mind.Our QQ group number is37723950.
