So that was Shanghai, and a most enjoyable stop it was.
We arrived on time, which meant that all the tours started as they should, for once. Our trip was the City Tour, scheduled to last for 8 hours.
Th first stop was the city museum. We were tol;d we had an hour, but the museum security staff made a mockery of that as it took 25 minutes for all of us (90 odd) to pass through. The guide changed the departure time by 25 minutes for the back markers, but did not tell those at the front. When we got back, there was alot of muttering and dirty looks. The museum, especially the furniture and jade was most interesting.
After a short coach movement, our stop was the Jin Yuan tower. The top floor for public access is the 88th, and is an observation deck. There is also a post office up there. Floor 57 to 87 is the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The lift to the top rises 9m per second, and the viewing platform is 340m from the ground. It was a clear day, which we gathered is a rarity in Shanghai, so there was plenty to see.
Next came lunch at a restuarant by the river, A good meal for vegetarians. There was plenty of it, so no one went hungry.
Following this, a visit to a 400 year old garden was made. The brochure described it as a peaceful haven in the middle of abustling city. Someone fibbed, as it was so full, one could hardly move round. Movement was not helped by various parties coming in at both the netrance and exit! Undeniably, on a good day it would be fabulous. OUtside the garden is the old city, full of shops, reataurants, takeaway stalls and touts. Noisy, bustling exciting, and great fun. Easy to get lost in though. Even children were touting for watches and hanbags, armed with pictures rather than the real fakes!
Our final destination was posted as a walk along the Bund. This is the riverside promenade in what was the old British section of Shanghai (more properly the British Concession). When we got there, it was a bit of a building site, and though we managed to get onto the promenade and take pictures, there was no strolling as it was all closed off. Our guide was shouted at by a little angry chinese man. It transpired we should not have been there, as the whole area was officially closed. In 2010, Shanghai will be hosting the World Expo on the Bund. To do this, the Chinese are going to put the dual carriageway underground, and turn the current roadway into gardens. Makes one think. They intend to do this in just over a year, and they have not yet started!
On board that evening, we were treated to a display of music, dance, gymnastics(contorsionism!), magic and general amazement. Very, very enjoyable.
We left Shanghai on 26th at 1pm local-5am UK. Before leaving, with others, we took a stroll down the quayside to look at the other boats that had arrived. The port police became unhappy, and like a bunch of sheepdogs, rounded us all up, and gently herded us back from whence we came. All quite good hunoured, and it its own way quite funny.
Now we are at sea, on our way to Tianjin, the port for Beijing. WE are due there at 8am local tomorrow.
The captain has just announced that we have now sailed the equivalent of more than halfway round the world, and we are nowhere near the international date line!