Shanghai in depth

Shanghai ( the "a" pronounced like awesome, not like amiable...) is incredibly architecturally diverse...not so old...built by all the european invaders in the 1800s and early 1900s and re-built in space age shapes and heights since the 1980s. We went to the Bund ( the old riverfront) this morning...So did lots of Chinese, we were ALL taking pictures..It was warm and sort of clear...well maybe not so much...


- but it was fascinating. Hearing about Opium wars...Boxer Rebellions...the wicked Dowager Empress and the invasion by to English, French, Americans Germans...on and on...it seems quite reasonable that the Chinese became a bit wary and mistrustful of " everyone else"


Just look at all those Red Flags ....
Looking across the river give the "rest of the story"...walls of flowers...and space needle restaurants...that used to be undeveloped farmland






Convention center with glass globes as bookends.
From there we explored the incredible Shanghai Museum...incredible ceramic collection, bronzes...Ming and Ching dynasty furniture...even a Russian loaned collection of Faberge...eggs, jewelry, furs, crystal...iwas admonished not to take pictures but others in our group didn't get caught and will email me theirs!

Our lunch was THE most amazing vegetarian meal at a restaurant at the back door of the Longhua Buddhist temple










We went on into the Temple...on this the Full moon day of the 9 th month...it was very sacred and very busy for the worshippers...didn' t see any other foreigners there...












The eleven head/ thousand arm goddess is there to help you for anything you need...roughly goddess of compassion...many hands, many eyes to be helpful and watchful for your safety and needs...even has eyes in her hands...an important lady.

Some of us explored the world os silkworms and products thereof...hand-weaving is a dying art, but the silkworms are still intriguing.



Who knew that you have silk comforters??


A pretty interesting dinner was followed by a spectacular Shanghai Acrobatic Production!

In old days the children were trained as toddlers on and were poor kids . These days it is prestigious and pays well...still need to begin training at a very young age. It was absolutely spellbinding to watch...balance, strength, grace, ballet, humor...no photos. Funny thing: the LAST act turned out to be motorcycles circling inside a huge globe...which we saw at the circus 4weeks ago...but the rest was nothing short of inspirational

We are getting tired...


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Location:China