China, the Shanghai Post

[przed]

This is the second last main post for the China pictures, and is the last big city we visited, Shanghai. I'd always wanted to go to Shanghai, and even though we only had a couple of days there and the weather was a bit dodgy, it did not disappoint.

Our first full day in Shanghai was rainy, but that didn't stop us from visiting the Bund. Here we are standing on the river shore, with the financial district behind us.


Here are some of the more recognizable buildings in Shanghai, their television tower and convention centre.


We visited the top of the tallest building in Shanghai, the World Financial Centre. When we first got up to the 100th floor, we were enveloped in clouds and couldn't see anything, but then the clouds started drifting in and out. It was eerily fascinating being up there with the view appearing and disappearing around us.


We next visited the Yuyuan commercial district and Yuyuan gardens. It's a very touristy area, but the architecture is stunning. It also gave Ros a chance to go shopping, which she was desperate to do.
Our guide: What would you like to do?
Ros: Go shopping!
Our guide: What do you want to buy?
Ros: Shoes!
We're in such trouble.


Another one of the buildings in the district.


The Yuyuan gardens are a gorgeous classical garden built by a well-placed official and maintained by various individuals and organizations over the years. This is the main rockery in the garden. (Rockeries are the most important part of most Chinese gardens, and this one was stunning.)


Ros climbing the entrance to one of the areas in the gardens. She's always very quick to point out that daddy wasn't holding her at all here.


This is the dragon wall separating different areas of the garden. Dragons were supposed to be reserved for use by the emperor alone, but the owner of the garden bribed the official sent to report back on whether there was a dragon wall here and he got away with it.


The Sweetie and Ros on the other side of a double pathway. It was designed so women could walk on one side, and men on the other.


Chinese gardens are designed so that windows and doorways act as frames, turning the landscape into a simulated picture. There are some really stunning examples of this in this garden.


Another framed view.


And another one.


One of the many pairs of lions found throughout the garden.


Ros posing with the lions. I had to take this shot quickly to get it with no one else in the frame. It was quite a crowded place, in spite of the rainy weather.

Comments

[asilia.livejournal.com]

Those gardens look lovely indeed :)

Ros climbing the entrance to one of the areas in the gardens. She's always very quick to point out that daddy wasn't holding her at all here.

That's such a typical thing - all my little cousin and my niece do that too, lol.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

The rain and mist make the views more real and interesting! I love the framed garden pictures.
Now we need to see the shoes Ros bought!!

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

The gardens look wonderful, and the dragon wall is stunning! Loved the rockery, too.
Ros is a girl after my own heart. Wait until she discovers handbags and wallets, too :-)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

This garden is stunning. I do want to visit! Thanks for the wonderful pics. I like that you guys don't let a little thing like weather stop you from enjoying yourselves.

[rangerke.livejournal.com]

Some lovely posts to catch up on! The cruise on the Li River and Yangshuo look breathtakingly beautiful with those mountains. The visit to Tonggu must have been so special, maybe even more beautiful than all the stunning landscapes because of its meaning.

I always love stories like the one of the dragon wall bribe! That wall definitely makes the gardens look even more impressive!

Go shopping *g* Good luck with that :p

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I love the difference between the old and new buildings - it really is an amazing country.

[sunshine-2525.livejournal.com]

I'm so behind with everything but I've finally been able to catch up with all the lovely posts from your trip. Such great and fascinating pictures! I've loved looking at all the pics and reading your little comments to each and every picture. Thank you so much for taking the time to put it all together and for sharing all these pictures with us.

What an amazing journey this must have been for you!

So, how many pair of shoes did Ros buy? *g*

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

So pretty - the framing in particular is gorgeous. And dragons! Yay! *g* The ones on the gates with Ros, holding a lion and a all (?)are wonderful. Not sure I could go up that tall building, though, that picture alone makes me feel funny!
*g*