This is our last full day in Shanghai. The tour group schedule included a Buddhist Temple and a garden.
We looked at each other. Right—-not. We have seen a number of extremely well restored temples and more than a couple well preserved gardens. What we have not seen is much of any of the cities themselves. Politely bowing out, we headed down Nanjing Road toward the Harbor figuring that we would hike wherever and take a cab back at the end of the day if we were too tired. Something about the tour’s luncheon plans including Mongolian Barbecue just made the decision easier.
Shanghai is a city of skyscrapers –
Which became even more obvious after visiting the World Expo Planning Building (2010 is in Shanghai).
and looking at the amazing and detailed scale model of the center of the city. Please remember that Shanghai at preset is thought to be somewhere around 17 million people.
The model as you can see is the size of a rather large room complete with a number of the buildings that light up as the model cycles through its night phase.
We also saw the Museum in the daylight, across the harbour to the TV tower and the memorial.
As well as the bustling pedestrian zone.
As many no longer remember, Shanghai was one of the few places at the start of WWII that required no visa for immigration. Prior to the Japanese conquering the region, the city of Shanghai became home to over 20,000 Jews who escaped Germany and Eastern Europe fleeing there by sea, rail and over land to safety. After the war, most of the Jewish population left as life became untenable under the Maoist regime.
I would hazard it is because of the tourist trade that the Ohel Moshe Synagogue is getting renovated.
The building itself will not be open until sometime this fall.
The teens were sure that we had hiked 20 or so km. I think it was more like 12. Even so, I did not mind the cab back to the hotel. At a price of 25Yuan (about 2,5€) it seemed like a reasonable bargain.
-Holly