Monday, September 19, 2011: Shanghai: Nanjing Road and the Bund

After breakfast we walked to the subway, this time taking the closer route past the train station rather than all the way around as we had the night before.  We walked through the bus station and the underground taxi park before finding the metro line.  We took the metro to People’s Square, went up and looked around the square a little before trying to find Nanjing Road.  A man saw that we were lost and directed us to Nanjing Road—the famous pedestrian shopping street.  In fact, he did quite a bit more than direct us to Nanjing
Road.  He attempted to become our tour guide, showing us the aquarium and then telling us to follow him to the best shopping.  We tried to ditch him in a large department store, but he followed us.   Finally went with him to one back alley store then thanked him for his help and firmly said goodbye several times.  After that we had to say no to a street vendor about every 10 feet.  The person would show  a card with pictures of watches and designer purses and  ask if we wanted to buy them.  Other people were selling roller skates, tops, laser lights, and other gadgets.  “Pretty Lady, you need a watch?”  “Sir, you like bag?”  “Madam, I have luggage”  often accomplished with a grab at your arm or a wave of the picture of the item or the item in your face. The slightest look or interest means that the person follows and tries to talk you into it.   Generally one “No thanks” is sufficient, but for some vendors, it needed repeated several times.

Nanjing Rd was very modern, but it was possible to find less touristy places not too far off the main street like this outdoor restaurant..  

We walked to the East Nanjing Metro where we took the metro back to the hotel for a nap. After our nap we took the metro back to East Nanjing Road where we walked on a few blocks to the Bund.  The Bund is
the stretch along the Huangpu River of important buildings from the early 20th century built by European countries. We saw a couple of wedding parties having pictures taken on the Bund, one bride in the traditional Chinese color, red, and the other in the traditional Western white dress (the color for a funeral in traditional China.) Across the river were the skyscrapers of Pudong, the new business district. Most famous is the Pearl Tower  completed in 1994. At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it was the tallest structure in China until 2007 when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. The tower features 11 spheres, big
and small, representing pearls, hence the name Pearl Tower. The three largest spheres  have diameters of 164 ft (lowest), 148 ft (middle, 46 foot (upper.)

We walked along the Bund to the very end where we took a boat down the river past the Pearl Tower and other very creatively designed skyscrapers.  There was a cool breeze on the upper deck. On the way back it was getting dark, and we saw the buildings light up. Two buildings opposite the Bund lit up entirely with constantly changing pictures.   Other buildings just lit up with different colors.We then walked across the street into Old Town through some interesting gardens to an old three story restaurant just outside Yu Gardens on the northwest side. There was a loud party occurring on  the main floor. Each table had a glass lazy susan with about a three foot diameter which was covered with food.  This is where we were introduced to our first 20 page menu with many interesting entrees.

After dinner we took the subway back to Nanjing Street to see it lit up at night.