I was waiting in a queue to enter Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. A 9 year old cute little Chinese kid was in front of me. The Chinese kids look so chubby and cute because of Mongoloid race. So I had a take on his cheeks .It turned red. Then I ventured to talk to him.
Do you speak English
Yeah He Said, My mom in front does no understand, I go to English school.
Do you like Shanghai
Yeah, It is great, very Modern like Western Countries. I love this place.
How about Beijing?
Oh, it’s in the North, very cold, I don’t like. Here it is sunny and cool.
Did you see Great Wall of China.
Where is it?
Do you know Manhattan, New York
No, We have Manhattan here.
That is Shanghai for you.
Beijing and Shanghai are like Chalk and Cheese diametrically opposite to each other though not far off. Beijing very Historical, Ancient, cultural, polluted and crowded while shanghai is the New China to the world, Modern, meteoric High rise with Massive infrastructure and entertaining to the core.
Shaaghai is a twin City like the place I live, Hyderabad divided by the Huangpu river into Pudong and Puse. Pudong is the ultra modern cornerstone of Technology and Growth and Puse the Oriental Paris.
City of Flyovers & skyscrapers
Rewind back to 1980 you will see the real Shanghai showing old buildings and hutments in ethnic Chinese style.25 years and 547.138 billion yaun , (30,000 crores ) later these have disappeared under massive infrastructure and dragonic flyovers from Puse to Pudong which we dreamt of seeing as Children after seeing those Posters in light.
The Nangpu bridge spanning 8 kilometers with 46 metres clearance in six lanes on Huangpu river is called the flying dragon, the longest of its kind that I have driven on.
The lights add enchantment to the flying dragons which include other expressways and metro rails all over Shanghai dissolving the old China into a sea of obscurity.
The Bund-Centre of Modern Shanghai
Its one major attraction of Shanghai overlooking the skyscrapers of Pudong ,the modern Corporate Houses and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the Huangpu should be enjoyed twice-In the day and on Cruise in the night under the magical lights-Shanghai Nights very similar to Manhattan Cruise, but shorter depicting the old and new on either side of the river.
The Cruise costs 100 Yuan, but also costs a dragonian waiting queue which is very common for this 1.8 million populated City at tourist spots. Push, Push Push like a Mumbai Central line and you are inside the liner. Take the upper deck to enjoy the night better.
If you want to see the Pearl Tower ,you need to take the Cab to cut across the river through the Dulian Road tunnel which reminded me of Lincoln tunnel in New York, though a bit longer and a marvelous work under the river.
The Oriental Pearl Tower the tallest Building in Shanghai can also be visited both in Day and Night to enjoy the spectacle. Crowded again, the lift takes you up at 7 m/sec to the height of 468 metres for a ringside view of Shanghai.
The Tower has stanchions at the bottom with three central spheres and the whole things looks like pearls studded on Jade-Hence Pearl Tower. The space city and Historical museum can be watched inside. It costs 50 Yuan.
Adjacent to the Tower is the Shanghai Aquarium
I was skeptical and expected similar kind as we see in India. Foolish enough, it turned out to be one of the best in the world quite near to the one I saw in Tokyo. Consisting of eight zones, there are more than 10000 under water species from the world and the best attraction was the three glass tunnels. You can see divers feeding those big sharks above you. Only missing creature were the Big whale.
You have a nice shopping arcade with eat out above and the good thing is the shopping is connected with sea life. The entry is 200 Yuan.
Science & technology Museum
One of the best in the world combines every form of science in a huge place including 4D theatres and live programs and interactive tools which makes it the most fascinating place for Children to explore, enjoy and learn as I found from this little guy I met. The Museum built a whooping cost of 700 Crores is a must for any techno freak. The spectrum of life is the beginning of life explained and explored and ends with audio visual delight. Cost: 150 Yuan
Back to Puse
Take a ride back to Puse to have a look at the Jade Buddha temple carrying two monumental statues of Buddha-the sitting and the nirvana posture were most impressive and divine add to it the scent of incense and aura of enlightenment. Costs peanuts
New Shanghai Circus-enthralling
No visit to China is complete without seeing Chinese Kungfu and Chinese Acrobat show in Shanghai. After Kungfu in Beijing it was time for scintillating display of Acrobatic Show at 4.00 PM.
Luckily I was half hour early and peeped into the theatre to see the Chinese Opera going on before this. Breathtaking I should say with rich colour of dressing, the ambience and add to it the voice of females acting their roles was of the highest octave, which I never heard before.
The Acrobat show was spectacular, unbelievable and out of the world comprising 90 minutes of chilling breath taking action by young girls and boys which has become the best Acrobat show in the world because of the pain and effort which has gone behind. The Best were cycling, Barrel contortion, Chair stack, Pagoda and Bikes.
The cost of the show was 100 Yuan and I spent another 150 yuan for DVD to show the dear ones the amazing acrobats of China ( http://www.acrobatsofchina.com). The Chinese music that was played for each show was enthralling and beautiful.
Shanghai-Shopping Paradise for Made in China Products
You need one full day to do shopping in Shanghai and I am sure you pockets will be empty after the day. The four streets to visit in Shanghai are Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, North Sichuan Road & Middle Tibet Road.
Nanjing Road is adjoining the Bund with abundant shopping Centres, Big and small. Heavily crowded, it has all leading brands in one street. Lot of eat outs to spend gala time here. The Big one here is China’s No 1 Departmental store with five floors with all kinds of stuff from Clothing to Shoes to Electronic goods.
Took the cab to Huahhai road and got down and got flocked by girls around the place –don’t get scared, they are great marketing agents. They keep calling you to their shops.
One girl told .Come luku luku luku
I told her back Coolu Coolu Coolu
The look was worth it for the entire great buy I had including 10 English DVDS FOR 60 Yuan and don’t forget to Bargain like Hell to get heavenly prices.
This luku luku luku continued everywhere, but I ignored.
Electronics, Entertainment, Toys, Bags, Shoes, sports accessories like rackets etc on Huahhai road makes the shopping here the best experience in the world. Keep enough to come back to India.
Super Ride to Pudong International Airport
Catch the world’s fastest Train on Shanghai Maglev to have flying experience on Magnetic levitation train from Shanghai to Pudong airport to zip past the cars on express way at 430 km/hr
Your trip to China will not be complete without this.
Food for thought
Unlike Beijing,Shanghai is full of all kinds of eat outs because of the cosmopolitian nature and there are 13 Indian Restaurants in Shanghai including Delhi Restaurant and Dakshin. Stuffed Bun and Chinese cuisine are very popular and so too are KFCs & Starbucks Coffee.
Thanks for reading Shanghai Nights
