Home › Uncategorized › Hangzhou to Shanghai, China – 11/3/2016

Hangzhou to Shanghai, China – 11/3/2016

Posted on Posted in Uncategorized

November 3, 2016 (Thursday)

We woke up and went down to the (as usual) great breakfast buffet.  Onto the bus once more to a drive into the tea plantation. Such a beautiful area out in the countryside with terraced tea growing. Felt like we were in the Napa Valley.

Lovely day.
Lovely day.
Feels like home.
Feels like home.

We got to the tea plantation and were schooled on the quality of the teas you purchase and what they can do for you. You then had the opportunity to buy as little or as much as you wanted.

The small new leaves are the best.
The small new leaves are the best.  Spring growth is also the best.
Our guide, Dave, explaining with great enthusiasm, the tea growing, harvesting and processing steps.
Our guide, Dave, explaining with great enthusiasm, the tea growing, harvesting and processing steps.
Samples and more education.
Samples and more education.
Education/sales meeting.
Education/sales meeting.
Green tea. We sipped and chewed. Tastes like spinach.
Green tea. We sipped and chewed. Tastes like spinach.
After the sales presentation we wandered the grounds. Fun teapot fountain.
After the sales presentation we wandered the grounds. Fun teapot fountain.
The grounds, like wineries, are lovely.
The grounds, like wineries, are lovely.
Some grand paintings on a wall.
Some grand paintings on a wall.
Lovely paintings.
Lovely paintings.
Very lovely.
Very lovely.
Tea is big business in China.
Tea is big business in China.
A lot of thought goes into what you see through an opening.
A lot of thought goes into what you see through an opening.
I love the dragon fences. Follow the fence to the left and you can just make out the dragon's head covered in green leaves.
I love the dragon fences. Follow the fence to the left and you can just make out the dragon’s head covered in green leaves.
I had to go check it out.
I had to go check it out.
See the dragon's head on the top left?
See the dragon’s head on the top left?
Love the fence.
Love the fence.
Dragons head.
Dragons head.

On the way out you walk through more things you can purchase, which is always fun to look over. Most of us on the bus ride back shared treats we had purchased.

Cured hams, with hooves.
Cured hams, with hooves.

We then drove to our lunch spot, which was up in the mountains with the road so steep and the bus so big, you could not possibly pass an oncoming vehicle. One of the vehicles would have to back up the hill. It was scary but fun. The restaurant was lovely with a great view and beautiful facility.

We were all fooled. Thought this was a natural rock until we saw where someone broke it.
We were all fooled. Thought this was a natural rock until we saw where someone broke it.
Restaurant high in the residential suburbs above Hangzhou.
Restaurant high in the residential suburbs above Hangzhou.

20161103_120645

Grand entrance.
Grand entrance.
Ponds with fish are very popular here.
Ponds with fish are very popular here.
Lovely touches along the way.
Lovely touches along the way.
The interior is beautiful.
The interior is beautiful.

When we got our table full of food, we all had to take a look (and some even picked it up to look at it) at the chicken foot that was there to eat I guess. Not very appetizing to us.

Giant lazy Suzanne's move the food around the table.
Giant lazy Susan’s move the food around the table.
Okay, a chicken platter. We got the thigh, we got the leg, we got the foot!
Okay, a chicken platter. We got the thigh, we got the leg, we got the foot!

After lunch we headed off to Shanghai.

Leaving the restaurant. Kind of a mixed use neighborhood with nice landscaping.
Leaving the restaurant. Kind of a mixed use neighborhood with nice landscaping.
Big Ferris wheel on our way to Shanghai.
Big ferris wheel on our way to Shanghai.
Nice looking modern buildings.
Nice looking modern buildings.
Everywhere I look there are beautiful and different buildings.
Everywhere I look there are beautiful and different buildings.
Huge private homes.
Huge private homes.
Interesting personal houses, though no one has a property deed in China, they have a 70 year lease.
Interesting personal houses, though no one has a property deed in China, they have a 70 year lease.
Vendor at the rest stop.
Vendor at the rest stop.
Rest area market.
Rest area market.
Lots of goods in the stores.
Lots of goods in the stores.
Lots of products.
Lots of products.
We were told, either sports or arts...
We were told, either sports or arts…

img_4407

I think it is real plant growth, but I have been tricked many times here.
I think it is real plant growth, but I have been tricked many times here.

We got into Shanghai and went straight to the Bund. The Bund is a five block riverfront promenade with lots of things going on. Shanghai is a bit smoggy but such a beautiful city. I, personally, think what makes it so beautiful is the Shanghai Pearl building, which is very unusual and lovely bright red. We had been told by Michael’s dermatologist, Dr. Walgren, that if we got a chance we should go up into the Pearl to check it out. Her sister lives in Shanghai and she’s been over several times.

A selfie on the Bund with the newest part of Shanghai in the backdrop.
A selfie on the Bund with the newest part of Shanghai in the backdrop.
Tucked into a small space on the Bund.
Tucked into a small space on the Bund.
Memorial to lost solders in WW2.
Memorial to lost soldiers in WW2.
Lots of bull, no bear in sight.
Lots of bull, no bear in sight.
We fell in love with Shanghai.
We fell in love with Shanghai.
Andrew and Brandon.
Andrew and Brandon.
Second tallest building in the world. 1/3 of it's power comes from the wind blowing around it. The building captures and recycles rain water.
Second tallest building in the world. 1/3 of it’s power comes from the wind blowing around it. The building captures and recycles rain water.
Twin globe building low center. Pearl on the left, space ship looking.
Twin globe building low center. Pearl on the left, space ship looking.

We were given a time limit to walk around and enjoy the riverfront. So many people, so many buildings, so very awesome. Apparently they were doing some sort of filming as there were many cameras and wires around. David pointed out the different buildings and told us the building that Tom Cruise hung out of, among others of movie fame.

Movie or TV show being filmed here today, not sure who the stars are.
Movie or TV show being filmed here today, not sure who the stars are.
Filming.
Filming.
Hotel to Ulysses S Grant on his world tour 1877 to 1879. Probably stayed here in 1878.
Hotel to Ulysses S Grant on his world tour 1877 to 1879. Probably stayed here in 1878.
Wonderful signs that really helps tourist in finding things.
Wonderful signs that really helps tourist in finding things.
The building on the sign!
The building on the sign!

When it was time to load up on the bus, we were then driven to a shopping area called the French Quarter, which had lots of restaurants and stores. David explained it was happy hour so we could get a good deal on drinks and dinner if we wanted. We were also given a very generous time period to go shop or do whatever we wanted until it was time to leave. The shopping area was quite lovely, narrow cobblestone streets, unusual shops to look at, and most anything you wanted to eat. There was a great park across the street that Michael and I would have liked to explore but it was getting dark and our time was almost up.

Old and new. All well maintained.
Old and new. All well maintained.
A fountain in the French Quarter section of Shanghai. Our meeting spot in an hour.
A fountain in the French Quarter section of Shanghai. Our meeting spot in an hour.
This beautiful cloth with the light source on the inside is wonderfully bright and warm. Great use of printed cloth.
This beautiful cloth with the light source on the inside is wonderfully bright and warm. Great use of printed cloth.
The angles are great in the french quarter.
The angles are great in the French Quarter.
Looks like they even took the copyright mark for their cafe.
Looks like they even took the copyright mark for their cafe.

We left the shopping area, got back on the bus, and headed to our hotel – The Eton Hotel – which was on the same side of the river as the Oriental Pearl. The first thing I did once we got to the hotel was to go over to the concierge desk and arrange for transportation to Shanghai Disney in the morning. The young man was so kind, asked how many, told him six, and he arranged a private van and also said to come by in the morning for tickets to Disney instead of wasting time once we got there. So nice. Our room was gorgeous and overlooked the river. The only bad thing was the smog. Very bad here. Good thing it’s a beautiful city to make up for it.

Walking past a dealership on our way to the bus.
Walking past a dealership on our way to the bus.
Fun cars.
Fun cars.

img_4512

20161103_173524

Bentley's and Rolls were represented as well.
Bentley’s and Rolls were represented as well.

img_4524

Oh yeah, a new billionaire every 5 days.
Oh yeah, a new billionaire every 5 days.
Our hotel.
Our hotel.
Excellent manufacture of materials.
Excellent manufacture of materials.
TV, tub, glass wall, granite everywhere.
TV, tub, glass wall, granite everywhere.
Our bed.
Our bed.
Robes.
Robes.
Safe though most of our money has been spent at this point.
Safe though most of our money has been spent at this point.
Comfortable work area.
Comfortable work area.
Shower on right.
Shower on right.
There was every kind of wall plug you could need by the nightstand, wherever you are from in the world.
There was every kind of wall plug you could need by the nightstand, wherever you are from in the world.

 

Huge hallways and seating areas.
Huge hallways and seating areas.

We left after a little while and got a taxi to the Shanghai Pearl. We got tickets to ride up (not the top but close) that cost almost $50 US. We thought it was little steep until we got up there and saw how absolutely stunning it was. We walked around and around, just enjoying the city from every angle.

The Pearl, We are on our way up to the second ball observation deck.
The Pearl, We are on our way up to the second ball observation deck.
The steps keep changing color.
The steps keep changing color.
Like Disneyland, they are set up to make masses serpentine their way through many stalls and paths creating the illusion of movement. We were lucky, it was a slow night.
Like Disneyland, they are set up to make masses serpentine their way through many stalls and paths creating the illusion of movement. We were lucky, it was a slow night.
We walked around the upper rail as part of the waiting to get on the elevator.
We walked around the upper rail as part of the waiting to get on the elevator.
Beautiful huge lion sculpture.
Beautiful huge lion sculpture.
Shanghai at night with the Huangpu River in view.
Shanghai at night with the Huangpu River in view.
We get 360 degree views from the observation deck.
We get 360 degree views from the observation deck.
The WW2 memorial illuminated.
The WW2 memorial illuminated.
The bottle opener and cake top together. Second tallest building in the world on the right.
The bottle opener and cake top together. Second tallest building in the world on the right.

20161103_195604

Selfie with nighttime Shanghai in the backdrop.
Selfie with nighttime Shanghai in the backdrop.

Michael noticed a very unusual young man looking at him. Said he was being, “Dogeyed.”  They had a staring contest going on. He was a big guy with a very unusual hair cut.  We also had people come up to us and want their pictures taken with us (I’m pretty sure it was because Michael was wearing shorts). Michael and I talked later and he said the guy who stood next to him was gently patting his butt. I said the guy that was next to me did the same thing. We just had to laugh.

Towers of the world chart.
In line for the down elevator. Towers of the world chart.

We left after awhile and went back down, toured a small museum.

Ticket included the museum.
Ticket included the museum.
Nice combination of artifacts and photos.
Nice combination of artifacts and photos.
Early transportation.
Early transportation.
When Shanghai was a noun and a verb.
When Shanghai was a noun and a verb.  To be Shanghai’d was to be drugged, sold into slavery on a ship and miserable work until you could escape.

By this time we were hungry and found a Subway. We split a sandwich and cookie. While we were waiting for a taxi back to the hotel, I went into the Disney store to get in the spirit of Shanghai Disney. Looked like all the other Disney stores I’ve been in and wasn’t all that impressed. I was hoping for some ears that would have been cheap but I didn’t see any.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!