Day 1 in Shanghai

After getting off the train for our first day in Shanghai we didn't immediately check in to our hotel because our rooms weren't ready. Instead, we picked up a quick breakfast from a fast food restaurant. Just looking for a place to eat pointed out the first obvious difference between Beijing and Shanghai: Shanghai is much more westernized than Beijing. In addition to this difference, Shanghai is also about three times smaller than Beijing, which makes travel throughout the city much easier. Unfortunately, one similarity between the two cities is the quality of the air. The majority of our group has developed a nasty cough thanks to the pollution. It was laughable to view weather reports stating clear sunny days and then looking out the window to see fog, or more specifically smog. All of us had read of the pollution problems in China, but to experience it first hand is another matter completely.

With breakfast finished, our group then went to a Buddhist temple in downtown Shanghai. While this temple was a tradition temple, it was unique in that it was home to two of five large jade Buddha carvings, and the Chinese don't know what happened to the other three. From the Buddhist temple we then went to the famous Bund area of Shanghai for a quick walk to see the sights. We will return to this area in a day or two for dinner.

Soon after touring the Bund we were finally able to check into our hotel, and could take a much-needed shower and put on a change of clothes. Refreshed, the group then went to lunch where we were introduced to the food of Shanghai. To my surprise, there is actually a large difference between the food in Shanghai and Beijing, and I've found it much harder to acquire a taste for the food in Shanghai. Hopefully I'll be able to adapt and find a liking to the food before I leave. After lunch the group then toured Yuyuan Gardens which is an ancient garden of the south.

There is a difference between the gardens of Beijing and those of Shanghai: the imperial gardens of the north are much more open with limited water, while the gardens of southern China are much smaller and welcoming, with many areas of water. I found the Yuyuan Gardens to be exceptionally peaceful, and it was easy to forget you were in the bustling city of Shanghai with over 20 million people. After touring the gardens and a brief stint of shopping, the group then went to another dinner of questionable dishes and prepared for an acrobat show.

The acrobat show that we saw claims that "If you haven't seen it, you haven't seen Shanghai," and while I don't know how true this is, it was amazing. I don't know how to even begin to explain what we saw at the show, but it was definitely a feat of strength, timing, and talent. The variety of the acts performed were also exceptional. This show concluded day one in Shanghai.

Before my lungs collapse, I'm going to leave the cafe and return to the hotel for some rest before tomorrow. We're off to two business sites tomorrow, but I'll fill you in after our visits. Aren't you glad you're all caught up now? Wish us luck in Shanghai.