Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Shanghai: 8AM Luwan
The Luwan District, located directly south of People's Square, is part of the old French Concession area, one of the most prestigious sections of the city. The trees lining the main streets were imported from France over 100 years ago. The district includes the historical residences of Sun Yat-sen, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Mei Lanfang, among others. Here are some random photos from morning walks near my hotel...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Shanghai: Moganshan Art
If you like modern art, and like browsing galleries, 50 Moganshan Road is your destination... an area once home to factories and warehouses on the banks of Suzhou Creek has transformed into Shanghai's leading creative arts center, a labyrinth of workshops, studios, and galleries that will keep you busy for an entire afternoon. As you explore you'll find paintings, sculpture, photography, and artists galore... even a film viewing room or two, as filmmakers, architects, and graphic design firms have now taken root in this section of the city. When it's time to rest, there are a few nice cafes and teahouses in the area as well. I had a blueberry smoothie and pastry that totally hit the spot. There is no subway service nearby, so taxi is your best choice. Hint: bring a roll of t p as there might not be any remaining in the restrooms you locate.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Shanghai: Pudong Towers
Across the Huangpu River from the Bund is Pudong, Shanghai's new corporate development area, which provided me with an entire afternoon of memorable experiences and worthy photo ops. My taxi dropped me off at the Shanghai World Finance Center... at 492m it's the tallest skyscraper in China, 2nd tallest in the world, and possesses the world's highest observatory ~ with glass floors, so cool!
The journey to the top is a high-tech Disneyland-like experience, from the ticket buying, to the elevator waiting area (complete with attractive "flight attendants"), to the elevator design and ride itself, to the observation decks, lounges, and souvenir shop... it'll put a big wow into your day. And yes, the views are incredible. The highest viewing deck is 474m (1,555 ft) above ground level. Do you have vertigo? Yikes!
The Park Hyatt Shanghai occupies floors 79-93, the highest hotel in the world, surpassing only its next door neighbor in the architecturally decorative Jin Mao Tower, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai (floors 53-87). After a cool drink at the WFC lounge
I headed down and walked toward the Oriental Pearl Tower... there's a nice park along the way (seen in the lower right of the photo below).
The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai's most recognized landmark, has 15 observation levels, restaurants, exhibits, gaming areas for kids, shopping, and ~ my favorite ~ the Shanghai Urban History Museum in the "basement"... a fascinating chain of revealing wax-museum type exhibits (skip the tower crowds and lines ~ trust me on that ~ and also have lunch at one of the fine restaurants beside the Huangpu River nearby).
The journey to the top is a high-tech Disneyland-like experience, from the ticket buying, to the elevator waiting area (complete with attractive "flight attendants"), to the elevator design and ride itself, to the observation decks, lounges, and souvenir shop... it'll put a big wow into your day. And yes, the views are incredible. The highest viewing deck is 474m (1,555 ft) above ground level. Do you have vertigo? Yikes!
The Park Hyatt Shanghai occupies floors 79-93, the highest hotel in the world, surpassing only its next door neighbor in the architecturally decorative Jin Mao Tower, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai (floors 53-87). After a cool drink at the WFC lounge
I headed down and walked toward the Oriental Pearl Tower... there's a nice park along the way (seen in the lower right of the photo below).
The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai's most recognized landmark, has 15 observation levels, restaurants, exhibits, gaming areas for kids, shopping, and ~ my favorite ~ the Shanghai Urban History Museum in the "basement"... a fascinating chain of revealing wax-museum type exhibits (skip the tower crowds and lines ~ trust me on that ~ and also have lunch at one of the fine restaurants beside the Huangpu River nearby).
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Shanghai: The Museum
The Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952, but moved to a larger (and more appropriate) new home in the center of People's Square in 1996. Its collections are extensive, stunning and unsurpassed anywhere else in China. All I can say is, wow...
5 beautifully designed floors, 11 permanent galleries ~ containing over 120,000
pieces total, and 3 special temporary exhibit halls.
The permanent galleries are:
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Bronze
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Sculpture
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Ceramics (my personal favorite)
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Jades (incredible artistry)
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Paintings
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Seals
Gallery of Ancient Chinese Numistics
Gallery of Chinese Furniture in Ming and Qing Dynasties
Gallery of Arts and Crafts by Chinese Minorities
Designed by a local architect, the new museum building is designed in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a ding. The building has a round top and a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as "round sky, square earth". The Shanghai Museum is a definite must-visit. Admission is 60 yuan... plan on 2 hours at least.
5 beautifully designed floors, 11 permanent galleries ~ containing over 120,000
pieces total, and 3 special temporary exhibit halls.
The permanent galleries are:
Designed by a local architect, the new museum building is designed in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a ding. The building has a round top and a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as "round sky, square earth". The Shanghai Museum is a definite must-visit. Admission is 60 yuan... plan on 2 hours at least.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Shanghai: A Night Out
OK, here's the perfect Friday or Saturday night out in Shanghai if you're traveling with your significant other... a romantic dinner at Bali Laguna, followed by a taxi ride to Bund 18, where you'll take the lift up to the 4th Floor and Lounge 18 for drinks and dancing... and later, if you're in the mood for a change of scenery, head up to the top floor and Bar Rouge for more music and fun.
Shanghai's best Indonesian cuisine, Bali Laguna, is perched over a large lily pond inside of Jing'An Park. The exotic decor and music inside have a distinct and soothing Indonesian feel, with high wooden ceilings (bar on the first level, dining on the second, with outdoor seating by the lake as well ~ weather permitting). Dubbed Shanghai's Most Romantic Dining by the Asian Wall St Journal. 189 Huashan Road.
In 2008 Shanghai City Weekend gave Lounge 18 its Editor's Pick Best Bar award... it's a tasty mix of classical and modern décor (plush colorful chairs and couches, eclectic paintings, candles everywhere) with spectacular views of Pudong across the Huangpu River, delicious food (skip Bali Laguna if you want to simplify your evening) and cocktails, great DJs and a busy dance floor. Super nice, you'll want to return.
Bar Rouge on the 7th floor is a bit more rowdy, and has an outdoor terrace for fresh air views of the Bund and Pudong. Shanghai being a hub of international business activity, the clientele inside Lounge 18 and Bar Rouge are a good mix of Chinese, Americans and Europeans... and the DJs are too. Address: Bund 18, 1 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road (as of this writing Lounge 18 is currently closed for rennovations).
Shanghai's best Indonesian cuisine, Bali Laguna, is perched over a large lily pond inside of Jing'An Park. The exotic decor and music inside have a distinct and soothing Indonesian feel, with high wooden ceilings (bar on the first level, dining on the second, with outdoor seating by the lake as well ~ weather permitting). Dubbed Shanghai's Most Romantic Dining by the Asian Wall St Journal. 189 Huashan Road.
Bar Rouge on the 7th floor is a bit more rowdy, and has an outdoor terrace for fresh air views of the Bund and Pudong. Shanghai being a hub of international business activity, the clientele inside Lounge 18 and Bar Rouge are a good mix of Chinese, Americans and Europeans... and the DJs are too. Address: Bund 18, 1 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road (as of this writing Lounge 18 is currently closed for rennovations).
Friday, January 21, 2011
Shanghai: To Zhouzhuang
If I could recommend only one attraction to anyone planning a visit to Shanghai, it would be a day trip to Zhouzhuang... my afternoon exploring this ancient water town (originally built during both the Ming and Qing dynasties) is definitely one of the highlights of my China experiences. Zhouzhuang is surrounded by lakes and contains several canals, including 14 picturesque stone bridges.
The Chinese call Zhouzhuang their "Asian Venice" for good reason, and although this village (60 yuan entry fee) is far smaller, it contains abundant treasures... 900 year old traditional Chinese houses and courtyards, hundreds of shops (silk wares, souvenir trinkets, arts and crafts), pottery and rice wine making exhibits, a Buddha statue museum, temples, and an open air opera house with daily performances.
There are a few good restaurants outside of the village, but it's an overcommercialized zone you'll want to avoid. If you can, visit on a sunny weekday, as sunny weekends bring Chinese tourists and (according to my Shanghai friends) the tiny alleyways where all the shops are located can get too crowded. While browsing there you'll want to sample some of the snacks offered along the way... date filled rice balls, etc.
Zhouzhuang was recently declared an International Heritage Site by the United Nations. One of the most famous compounds inside the village, Shen's House, has 7 courtyards, 5 archways, over 100 rooms, a wharf and water gate... a few rich families formed the core of this village long ago. While walking through Zhouzhuang is extremely enjoyable, 1 hour gondola rides (60 yuan) are available as well.
The best way to get to Zhouzhuang is bus... 7 departure times are available from the Shanghai Bus Station (beside Shanghai Stadium) and the ride takes approximately 90 minutes. Upon leaving Zhouzhuang you'll probably be taken to the silk factory on the edge of town, but there was no high pressure sales, and I found it quite fascinating (including demonstrations of all the steps required to make silk ~ I held some worms!).
The Chinese call Zhouzhuang their "Asian Venice" for good reason, and although this village (60 yuan entry fee) is far smaller, it contains abundant treasures... 900 year old traditional Chinese houses and courtyards, hundreds of shops (silk wares, souvenir trinkets, arts and crafts), pottery and rice wine making exhibits, a Buddha statue museum, temples, and an open air opera house with daily performances.
There are a few good restaurants outside of the village, but it's an overcommercialized zone you'll want to avoid. If you can, visit on a sunny weekday, as sunny weekends bring Chinese tourists and (according to my Shanghai friends) the tiny alleyways where all the shops are located can get too crowded. While browsing there you'll want to sample some of the snacks offered along the way... date filled rice balls, etc.
The best way to get to Zhouzhuang is bus... 7 departure times are available from the Shanghai Bus Station (beside Shanghai Stadium) and the ride takes approximately 90 minutes. Upon leaving Zhouzhuang you'll probably be taken to the silk factory on the edge of town, but there was no high pressure sales, and I found it quite fascinating (including demonstrations of all the steps required to make silk ~ I held some worms!).
Monday, January 17, 2011
Liuzhou: Walk Around
With each city I cover in this blog, I remind travelers that the best way to discover hidden gems and learn about the daily lives of the locals is to take a two hour walk... each day in a different direction from your hotel, one hour out, then one hour back using different streets. Liuzhou, because it is not a big tourist destination, offers a crystal clear glimpse into Chinese life, and life here is extremely peaceful.
For whatever reason, Liuzhou has a larger percentage of scooter commuters than most Chinese cities... many parents scooter their children to school on the way to work, and I saw several dealer showrooms near downtown. During wind storms alarms from many of the thousands of scooters parked outside of businesses in the city go off at once. It's amusing until it becomes mildly annoying. But I can't say it's a complaint.
A recurring theme in my observations of China is the active nature of the people, especially older generations. I wouldn't at all be surprised if in fact they spend less time watching TV than Americans. Liuzhou has an abundance of parks, and each time I ventured out they were busy. Chinese exercising, dancing, singing, performing music, practicing taichi, playing mahjong or cards... they love being social and outdoors.
For whatever reason, Liuzhou has a larger percentage of scooter commuters than most Chinese cities... many parents scooter their children to school on the way to work, and I saw several dealer showrooms near downtown. During wind storms alarms from many of the thousands of scooters parked outside of businesses in the city go off at once. It's amusing until it becomes mildly annoying. But I can't say it's a complaint.
A recurring theme in my observations of China is the active nature of the people, especially older generations. I wouldn't at all be surprised if in fact they spend less time watching TV than Americans. Liuzhou has an abundance of parks, and each time I ventured out they were busy. Chinese exercising, dancing, singing, performing music, practicing taichi, playing mahjong or cards... they love being social and outdoors.
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