Third Annual China (SanYa) Orchid Show

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Orchid Show. It was the very end of the show and some of the flowers were wilting but there were still many beautiful flowers.

We walked down to the beach that is about a block and a half from our hotel and then went to an open air food court for supper. There were coloured lights all around. In the center of the court there is a stage and there was music being played.

The End of the Earth

Yesterday we went to the End of the Earth or Tian Ya-Hai Jiao. This inscription was put on large rocks about 1714.

Here is a picture of the entrance to the scenic area followed by pictures taken inside.

Below is one part of the inscription. The first character is sky.

The ball in the dragon's mouth is a pearl. Apparently if the dragon puts the pearl in the mouth of a deceased person the person will come to life.

Saturday Afternoon in Shanghai

After lunch on Saturday we went back to The Bund because the sun was shining and we could get clearer pictures than we got the day before.

We then went to the Shanghai museum. It was a beautiful building with many displays. We did not have time to see all the displays. We looked at the display of furniture, jade and ceramics. We also looked at an exhibition of copper pieces on loan from a private collector in New York. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the copper exhibit. Following are pictures from the furniture, jade and ceramics exhibits.

I always thought jade was green, but I found out there are many colors of jade.

After the museum we were able to take some of the same pictures that we took Friday with better light.

Everyone hangs out their laundry here in China. People who live behind the shops hang it out right on the street in front of the business.

We went to the Shanghai Jiangnan Silk Museum and learned how to make silk before rushing out to the airport where we caught a flight to SanYa on Hainan Island. We travelled by a private no frills airline (most airlines are government airlines but some businessman thought he could make airlines more accessable to the common people by lowering prices). We were allowed only one carryon and it couldn't be more than 5 pounds and they weighed it in as they collected our boarding passes. It was very hot on the flight and we were glad to arrive at SanYa finally.

Still cold in Shanghai

It was still very cold on Saturday morning, but the sun was shining. We went to visit Yu Garden. It was a garden built by a Mr. Yu on a two acre plot for his parents to spend their declining years. (Hint to my children. Mr. Yu's father died before the garden was finished so it is probably time to get going on one for your aging parents.) It was built in the late 1500's and this part of town became the center of town.

Later the downtown moved to the Bund.

The government has conserved this garden and the buildings of that period around the garden and has built more buildings in the same style and it is now a tourist area - many shops.

A Cold Day in Shanghai

Bob brought his laptop and there is an internet hookup in our room.

We left Nanjing this morning on the 8:00 a.m. train and arrived in Shanghai well before noon when we were supposed to meet our group. However, there had been snow further north and it caused some of the planes to be late, so we didn't get going until 1:30 p.m.

We went for dinner and then we went to the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower. We first went up to the observation level halfway up and then we went down to the museum that is in the building.

These flags were waving outside the building - advertising the 2010 Expo to be held in Shanghai.

This is a view from the observation tower looking down on the Huangpu river.

Another view from the obervation deck.

This is the International Trade center. There is a globe at each end of the building.

In the museum there was a display of cars.

We then went to stroll along the Bund, but there was a cool breeze and everyone was happy to get back to the bus after only a few minutes.

This was a police boat on the River. Apparently they hauled someone out of the river, but we didn't have any details.

We had a quick supper at McDonalds and are happy to be back in our warm room with English TV.

Spring Festival

We leave early on Friday morning for our vacation. We will visit Shanghai, Hainan Island, Hong Kong, Southern China, Viet Nam and Cambodia and will be away until 3rd February. It is possible that we will be out of computer contact for that time.

New Year's Eve in Shanghai

The past week just whirled by. We went to Shanghai on New Year's Eve. We went right from the train station to the airport and ate and then no-one wanted to go back into Shanghai to see what was going on so we spent our time exploring the airport, visiting and getting to bed early.

Terminal two where the international flights come and go is very modern, clean and attractive.

This morning we saw Darwin, Amber, Caden, Chloe and Owen off - at least into the security area. It was sad to watch them go.

The airport was fairly quiet - at least in the international area, but we took a bus to the train station and it was a madhouse. There were so many people they had policemen or security people allowing only a certain number of people in the station at one time. The Nanjing train station likewise was crowded and the subway was the most crowded we have seen, but we arrived back at our apartment safely.

New Year's is a holiday from school and work here in China.

The Shanghai airport from our hotel window.

Good-bye Darwin, Amber and children.
We loved having you here.