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China 2015, Day 4: Shanghai, Day 2

Central Shanghai

It was such a relief to stay in Shanghai for the day rather than taking another day trip.  Because my arrival in Shanghai was delayed a day and I was departing for Beijing the next afternoon, this was my only full day in Shanghai.  And full it was, a complete tour of central Shanghai.

People’s Park

I started the day in People’s Park, directly across from the hotel.  People’s Park and adjacent People’s Square, where I wandered looking for my hotel late on Night 1, were built on the former site of a British racecourse for horse racing.  Such an establishment was way to Western and decadent for the Communists, so it was demolished after they seized power in 1949.

May Thirtieth Movement Monument in People's Park commemorates an anti-foreigner uprising in Shanghai in 1925. This was a time when most of Shanghai was controlled by Western powers and Japan. Shanghai, China, Asia.
May Thirtieth Movement Monument in People’s Park commemorates an anti-foreigner uprising that began in Shanghai in 1925. This was a time when most of Shanghai was controlled by Western powers and Japan.
Modernism in and over People's Park. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Modernism in and over People’s Park.
A revolutionary monument in People's Park. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A revolutionary monument in People’s Park.
A small segment of a glorious heroic monument in People's Park. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A small segment of a heroic socialist monument in People’s Park.

Walking around People’s Park, I was approached by 3 attractive young ladies with umbrellas.  They asked me to take their picture and then asked if I wanted them to take my picture.  I wasn’t handing my camera over to anyone, and I know what I look like.  They were exceedingly friendly and very curious to know about me, where I was from, what I was doing in Shanghai.  Their charms were lost on me.  I smelled a scam coming on.  I started to leave.  “Why are you in a hurry?” they asked me.  “Where are you going?”  I was getting the hell away from them.

Jade Buddha Temple

When I was done with my visit to People’s Park, it was time to take a bus to my next destination.  No bus adventures this time like the last 3 days.  Actually, my bus adventure in Nanjing was the last bus adventure I had on my trip.  All bus rides went smoothly after that.  This bus ride went according to schedule.  I kept a close eye on streets signs (which were in Chinese and English) so I was sure when to get off.  My next destination was Jade Buddha Temple, one of central Shanghai’s 3 fabulous temples.  The temple was built to house two jade Buddhas imported from Burma in the late 19th century.

Hall of Four Heavenly Kings at Jade Buddha Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Hall of Four Heavenly Kings at Jade Buddha Temple.
Two of the four Heavenly Kings. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Two of the four Heavenly Kings.
Two of the three Golden Buddhas in the Grand Hall. They were too big to get all 3 in one picture. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Two of the three Golden Buddhas in the Grand Hall. They were too big to get all 3 in one picture.
There is always lots of praying going on at Buddhist temples. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
There is always lots of praying going on at Buddhist temples.
And there's always lots of incense burning. Smoke is rising from these ladies' incense sticks. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
And there’s always lots of incense burning. Smoke is rising from these ladies’ incense sticks.
Elephants in the courtyard at Jade Buddha Temple. Very cool! Shanghai, China, Asia.
Elephants in the courtyard at Jade Buddha Temple. Very cool!
One of the temple's 2 namesake jade Buddhas. This is the jade reclining Buddha. Both jade Buddhas were transported from Burma. No photographs are allowed of the jade seated Buddha, which is 6-feet-tall and gorgeous. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
One of the temple’s 2 namesake jade Buddhas. This is the jade reclining Buddha. Both jade Buddhas were transported from Burma. No photographs are allowed of the jade seated Buddha, which is 6-feet-tall and gorgeous.

No photographs are allowed of the Jade Buddha Temple’s stunning 6-foot-tall white jade seated Buddha.  You can see a picture of it here.

A very cool decoration on the exterior of the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
A very cool decoration on the exterior of the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Jing’an Temple

Having sufficiently investigated Jade Buddha Temple, I traveled on foot and by subway to central Shanghai’s second fabulous temple, Jing’an Temple (Temple of Peace and Tranquility).  The original Jing’an Temple was built in 247 in a different part of Shanghai.  It was relocated to its current site in 1216 and rebuilt in the 19th century.  It suffered the indignity of being converted into a plastics factory during the Cultural Revolution.  It was severely damaged by fire in the ’70s and rebuilt in the ’80s.

A rhinoceros in Jing'an Park, across the street from Jing'an Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A rhinoceros in Jing’an Park, across the street from Jing’an Temple.
Golden rooftop features of Jing'an Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Golden rooftop features of Jing’an Temple.
Yes, there's always lots of incense burning at Buddhist temples. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Yes, there’s always lots of incense burning at Buddhist temples.
People try to toss coins into this elaborate brazier for good luck. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
People try to toss coins into this elaborate brazier for good luck.
One of the brazier's fantastic feet. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
One of the brazier’s fantastic feet.
Intricate woodwork at JIng'an Temple. Not a single nail was used. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Intricate woodwork at JIng’an Temple. Not a single nail was used.
Seated Buddha in the Precious Hall of the Great Hero. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Seated Buddha in the Precious Hall of the Great Hero.
Courtyard scene at JIng'an Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Courtyard scene at JIng’an Temple.
Pretty decor on a temple door. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Pretty decor on a temple door.
Fantastic rooftop detail. Jing'an Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Fantastic rooftop detail.

When I got to Jing’an Temple, I was feeling tired and really questioning if I could keep up this extreme sightseeing at my advanced age of 52.  I thought maybe I’d go back to the hotel for the afternoon after visiting this temple.  But I got caught up in the excitement of Shanghai, spent the rest of the day wandering all over the city, and never had that malaise again the rest of my trip.

The French Concession

After the two temples, I explored the French Concession, the area of Shanghai that was controlled by the French for about a century prior to WWII.

The Cathay Theater, an Art Deco movie palace opened in the '30s. French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
The Cathay Theater, an Art Deco movie palace opened in the ’30s.
A pretty shopping street in the French Concession. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A pretty shopping street in the French Concession.
This charming house, built in the '20s, was for a while the home of Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of Communist China. He served under Mao from 1949 to 1976, the year they both died. It is now a Communist-themed museum. French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
This charming house, built in the ’20s, was for a while the home of Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of Communist China. He served under Mao from 1949 to 1976, the year they both died. It is now a Communist-themed museum.
The happiest alley in all Shanghai! Part of Tianzifang, a maze-like district of cute little shopping alleys. French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
The happiest alley in all Shanghai! Part of Tianzifang, a maze-like district of cute little shopping alleys.
Goldfish in a pool with what I'm guessing is a more modern take on mid-century modern. French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Goldfish in a pool with what I’m guessing is a more modern take on mid-century modern.
In Fuxing Park, old men playing cards by the trees. Oh, if only they had been playing Chinese checkers, in the rain. (If you don't get it, look it up.) French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
In Fuxing Park, old men playing cards by the trees. Oh, if only they had been playing Chinese checkers, in the rain. (If you don’t get it, look it up.)
Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Mao and others formed the Communist Party of China here in July 1921. The delegates had to flee Shanghai due to police harassment. French Concession, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Mao and others formed the Communist Party of China here in July 1921. The delegates had to flee Shanghai due to police harassment.

I really liked the French Concession  It drove home the point of what a fantastic, diverse city Shanghai is.  I was completely energized by this point.  Which was a good thing because I still had a lot of walking to do.  I headed east to the Old City.  The Old City, formerly surrounded by walls, was home to the Chinese of Shanghai while most of the rest of the city was occupied by foreigners.  You can get an understanding of this by watching “Empire of the Sun”, which I re-watched prior to my trip.  It shows how the Chinese were restricted in somewhat of a ghetto while the foreign powers were living large in grand estates.

The Old City

A seafood market in the Old City. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A seafood market in the Old City.
How can I have a trip without a picture of a display of hanging dead ducks? Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
How can I have a trip without a picture of a display of hanging dead ducks?
The only remaining portion of the Old City walls. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
The only remaining portion of the Old City walls.
The Taoist temple within the structure on top of the wall. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
The Taoist temple within the structure on top of the wall.
Why wouldn't you expect graffiti of Heath Ledger's Joker on a construction site in Shanghai's Old City? Shanghai, China, Asia.
Why wouldn’t you expect graffiti of Heath Ledger’s Joker on a construction site in Shanghai’s Old City?
Fuyou Road Mosque, Shanghai's oldest mosque, built in 1870. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Fuyou Road Mosque, Shanghai’s oldest mosque, built in 1870.
A street market in the Old City. Shanghai, China, Asia.
A street market in the Old City.
Central Shanghai's third fabulous temple, City God Temple, a Taoist temple. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Central Shanghai’s third fabulous temple, City God Temple, a Taoist temple.
An altar at City God Temple. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
An altar at City God Temple.
Beautiful mural in City God Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia.
Beautiful mural in City God Temple.

City God Temple is surrounded by Yu Garden Bazaar–a tourist district so enormous, it puts Nanjing’s Fuzimiao to shame.  It looks authentic, but the buildings are reconstructions of traditional architecture.

The throngs finishing up their weekend at Yu Garden Bazaar. It was here that I first got a true sense that Shanghai is the world's largest city. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
The throngs finishing up their weekend at Yu Garden Bazaar. It was here that I first got a true sense that Shanghai is the world’s largest city.
In the center of the bazaar, the Huxington Teahouse, built in 1784. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
In the center of the bazaar, the Huxington Teahouse, built in 1784.
An island of tranquility amid the madness of Yu Garden Bazaar is the actual Yu Garden, created in 1559. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia
An island of tranquility amid the madness of Yu Garden Bazaar is the actual Yu Garden, created in 1559.
Large rockery and pavilion in Yu Garden. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Large rockery and pavilion in Yu Garden.
Dragon wall in Yu Garden. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia.
Dragon wall in Yu Garden.

East Nanjing Road

On the way back to the hotel, I took a walk along East Nanjing Road, Shanghai's (and probably China's) Times Square. Shanghai, China, Asia.
On the way back to the hotel, I took a walk along East Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s (and probably China’s) Times Square.
The whole length of my walk along East Nanjing Road, people kept asking me if I wanted a massage. Young ladies were available. It got really annoying. Shanghai, China, Asia.
The whole length of my walk along East Nanjing Road, people kept asking me if I wanted a massage. Young ladies were available. It got really annoying.

Well, I hope now you get a sense of just how great a city Shanghai is.

Grand finale to a grand day

Oh, I almost forgot.  At the end of the day, I went to see an incredible acrobatics show.  I rarely go to any performances when I’m on my trips, but a Chinese acrobatics show sounded like a must-see.  It didn’t disappoint.  I kept saying to myself, “How is that even possible?”  And that was before the show’s finale of 8 motorcycles racing around inside a giant globe.  There’s were lots of warnings not to take pictures, warnings which were ignored by many in the audience.  But I was well behaved and didn’t take any pictures.  You can watch a video about the show here.

[If the video below doesn’t work, you can watch it by clicking here.]

[Factual information is primarily gathered from Wikipedia, so you know it must be true.]

Related posts:

China 2015, Day 9: Tianjin China 2015, Day 10: Beijing, Day 4 China, A Little History, Part 10 Must-See Nanjing

Comments

  2. Ray says

    This was a great story to read and I thoroughly enjoyed the photos. However, my wandering mind can’t help but wonder what scam those three women were trying to pull on you. There’s only been one time where I have been on a trip and asked me to take a photo of them with my camera, and that was a Hooters waitress in Cancun. Then she wanted to take a photo with one of her co-workers and my friend. Never asked for our contact info nor tried to get a copy of these. She was definitely working us hard for a better tip, but I think we ended up just giving the usual.

    Reply

    • Billy says

      Thanks! From what I read, usually they bring you to some tea house and stick you with an enormous bill. I actually got extorted in the Philippines when I was in the navy, so I never let strangers lead me anywhere since then.

      Reply

    • Billy says

      In the Philippines, they were actually very big men! Well, I was brought to a place by a man (not so big) who had helped me earlier, so I assumed his intentions were good. I soon found myself in a potentially dangerous situation. So I get wary when strangers are looking for something.

      Reply

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