The Tourist Life
- Fiona Jochum
- Aug 1, 2017
- 2 min read
The past few days we have taken some time to be proper tourists and get our sightseeing glasses on!
Xin Tian Di-we found ourselves surrounded by “stone-gate” houses dating back to the mid-19th century. Now the romantic area is home to the Chinese elite, unique shopping boutiques, cafes and fine dining. It is also the location of the first congress of the Communist Party of China. We took a walk through the museum, witnessed citizens idolize Mao and pledge allegiance to the CPC.
God City Temple-Now this is a popular spot in Shanghai. The streets were jam packed with people looking to indulge in the authentic, freshly prepared dumplings, coming in a huge variety of flavours and styles from your traditional pork dumpling to sweet pink dragon fruit. Our Shanghainese friends taught us how to enjoy these delicious creations. Take a small bite to puncture the side of the dumpling, slurrrrpppp the steaming broth out of the dumpling, dip into a vinegar sauce and enjoy! I don’t know which resulted in more noise, the voices dancing around us or the slurping of pork dumplings-the louder the slurp the better! (Mom you would be so proud of my manners…haha).
Once our bellies were full it was time to see the main attraction-God City Temple. Our senses were overloaded as the sound of monks singing and playing traditional bamboo instruments floated over us, the air was filled with incense carrying the hopes and dreams of the people in prayer, and in the temple courtyard we gazed in awe at the intricate beauty of the wooden temple walls covered in carvings. The temple was divided into rooms which honour various gods. The god of literature sat in front of students praying for success in university. The god of children hosted young couples hoping to have healthy babies. For every wish you have there is a god to represent it. I need to find the God that controls the weather and hire him/her full time to work for the farm!
Nan Jing Road-shopaholic paradise!
The Financial District-this is the epitome of extravagance. It feels like you are transported into the future when you step out of the subway and become surrounded by modern, aesthetically designed architecture. To see the spectacle in the daylight is one thing, but when the sun sets Shanghai flaunts the city skyline with a light show like no other. I don’t even know what to compare it to. It is out of this prairie girl’s world.
The Bund-the perfect vantage point for a photoshoot with the mesmerizing Shanghai Financial District for a backdrop!
If you find yourself in Shanghai, there’s a day (or two) trip for you!
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