After getting my bearing s with the West side of the city, we checked out a newer section and an even older section. The first stop was to the China Art Museum that was actually an old exhibition center. We spent two hours checking out traditional Chinese artwork, Indian artwork and a 3D installation. It was beautiful!
Here I am in front of the museum.
This exhibit was an old painting brought to life in 3D film. The film showed what it was like in old China.
This is a more modern Chinese painting, but made of beautiful vibrant colors.
These are masks from the Indian section.
I love this colorful cow painting! I love the colors!
Next, we went to one of the last Water towns in Shanghai.
Water towns are ancient towns that were built around water canals. On the water there are many different gondola-like boats. We were able to take a trip on one and explore the city.
Once we got there, we stopped for a traditional Chinese lunch.
These were some of the meal selections.
For lunch we got clam stew, eggs with fish in them, vegetables and rice. Everything was very tasty!
This was the pork dish we got.
This was the bathroom at the restaurant…much different from the Western toilet.
Once we were full, we went on our way and walked around the town.
Here are the gondola-like boats, we rode these after lunch.
Here I am in the boat with the rower behind me.
Here is one of the bridges that we passed under.
This was the second bridge we crossed over and it was interpreted as a “freedom bridge”.
Above the bridge there was a huge selection of fish, turtles and other creatures. They were there because it was during the time of a Buddhist holiday . In Buddhist culture every 1st and 15th of the month you’re supposed to set an animal free to make up for your meat eating sins. The Freedom Bridge is also an iconic place for this to happen.
I took part in the holiday and freed some gold fish.
These are dried duck.
Some Chinese candies.
The view from the bridge.
The next stop was to a tea shop.
The entrance to the tea place.
The interior was an old Chinese home.
We sat out in the courtyard and this was our view.
This was the tea list.
I tried the Flower Tea and it was delicious.
Here are my two tour guides and I after tea.
After walking out of the water town, I met my dad for a big dinner in a town on the outskirts of Shanghai. We had an early night because we were taking a high speed train early in the morning.
-Amy
The Tall Teacher 