China Tourism News

China-Shanghai

By Justin Wastnage on 24 September 2010  (From Travel Weekly)

Surrounded by hundreds of tourists snapping pictures faster than their fingers would allow, I languished as Shanghai’s dense summer heat sent sweat trickling down my brow. Yet after spending two hours wedged among thick crowds, I was not flustered. On the contrary, I was oblivious to all the bustle and in awe of what stood before me.

I was at Yu Garden (also known as Yuyuan Garden), marvelling at the beauty that has stood in Shanghai’s old town for more than 400 years. The gardens were unlike anything I had ever seen, with a distinct oriental flavour far removed from Australian rose gardens and vegie patches. There were towering bamboo plants among the many shrubs and trees, and ancient stone monuments. Oriental dragons stood amongst the 20,000 square metre garden, while ornamental ponds reflected the green and golden leaved trees above.

My tour guide explained to me that these gardens capture the essence of ancient China and are close to the heart of Chinese people. The jade rock symbolises purity and sincerity, while bamboo represents harmony between nature and mankind. In the meantime, the heat was affecting me more, and it was time to move on.

After a short but blissful trip in air-conditioned comfort, we arrived at the Jade Buddha temple and were soon marvelling at ancient monuments with golden touches. The temple serves tourists and locals and is home to more than 70 resident monks, which was clear to see as we entered the front gate.

Several young men were paying their dues to an elaborate Buddha statue as we stepped into the first temple. Dressed in pale yellow gowns, the monks delicately handled incense sticks and left the smell of cloves and spice as they serenely glided by. They carried a sense of humility, but their surroundings were nothing short of extravagant.

High ceilings were clad with gilded decor, and ornately crafted wooden carvings sat along golden walls. Each of the three temples was a bold and brilliant shrine to each of the Buddhas that were inside.

It wasn’t long before our grumbling stomachs brought our visit to an end and took us to our next stop — a traditional Chinese banquet.

My guide reassured me he had told the restaurant of my vegetarian inclinations, but it seemed this hadn’t been properly understood, as I sat down to deep fried chicken and fish head soup. I consulted the kitchen staff, who told me chicken was good for vegetarians. After some negotiating, I was given tomato soup and rice instead.

We arrived at the Tianzifang art street in good time, and it wasn’t long before we were peering through quaint shop fronts and modern art studios dotted between traditional Shikumen houses. We meandered our way along cobblestone alleyways, past locals living in communal flats and shop vendors selling their various wares.

The atmosphere of Tianzifang had an almost European flavour. Here, visitors can pick up oriental trinkets and handicrafts from about 50 yuan ($8.00), or purchase extravagant paintings and art pieces ranging up to the high thousands in yuan. The place definitely had a unique vibe.

As the clock neared 4pm, my guide suggested we finish the afternoon in air conditioned comfort. But there was more to the next stop than just a cool interior - we were on our way to the fourth tallest building in the world, Jin Mao Tower.

We arrived to join crowds of people who were equally excited to jet to the 88th floor. I reluctantly shuffled into a lift with about 40 others; fortunately it was only a 45 second trip to the top. Alas, our view was obscured by hazy smog and our outlook barely extended to the ground, some 420m below. On a clear day, however, you can see Shanghai city for miles in the distance.

Of course, anyone visiting Shanghai needs more than one day to see all of the highlights. There’s the Bund with its varied architecture, Pudong district with its jaw-dropping skyscrapers, the popular Xintiandi area, and Nanjing Road, with its blend of local shops and big name brands. Then there are the city’s peaceful green spaces, like Yu Garden and various parks. This destination where east meets west may be big and bustling, but its ancient heart is still beating strongly. The writer toured as a guest of Helen Wong’s Tours.