March 21, 2013 Sea Day

We had a very busy day today. Organized and packed for our China Overland trip. Had lunch in the dining room and then went to the port lecture on Shanghai and then stayed in the lounge for the classical pianist afternoon concert. Worked on pictures, but I’m still way behind. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner and the show. Tonight’s show was a variety show with the comedian and the sax player with different acts. Now, to do a few last minute things and go to bed early since we will be up around 5:30 tomorrow morning.

Since it will be about a week before I can post again, I’ll post our proposed tour plans and then comment on them after I return.

Here is our day in Shanghai:

We are joined by Jeff & Julie and Dennis & Bonnie.

The ship is in Shanghai and then has 2 sea days before spending 2 days in Hong Kong. We will leave the ship here and rejoin the ship early in the morning the first day the ship arrives in Hong Kong. We booked with a company called China Highlights.

Yuyuan Garden (1 hour) Yuyuan Garden is located in the center of Shanghai old quarters. It was a private garden built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty, with typical Chinese classic architecture and style. The complex covers an area of 2 hectares, with rockeries, pavilions, ponds and corridors. Yuyuan Garden is surrounding by a busy market place, where visitors can find everything from popular local snacks, handicrafts, antiques and souvenirs to some famous time-honored restaurants.

Jade Buddha Temple (40 minutes) Built in 1918, Jade Buddha Temple is a very popular Buddhist temple among local people. The main treasures are two statues of Buddha imported from Burma by sea. They were carved from rare single blocks of white jade adorned with precious stones. The temple is a hive of activities with monks, worshippers and visitors.

Yuyuan Market (30 minutes) Located next to the Yuyuan Garden and also known today as the City God Temple, it was built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. The City God Temple is a Taoist temple which is composed of many halls such as the Grand Hall, Middle Hall, Bedroom Palace, Star Gods Hall and etc. The City God Temple has a great influence on the residents of Shanghai. The religious festivals of the temple are considered to be festivals for all Shanghai people.

The Bund (40 minutes) This 1.5-kilometer-long embankment runs along the western bank of Huangpu River. On its west side it is the "architecture gallery" with 52 well-preserved old European style buildings. Once the major trading and commercial center of old Shanghai, the Bund has now taken on new vitality, with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do-and by night it's magic!

Home's Restaurant  Home's Restaurant is located near the Nanjing Road. It specializes in Shanghai cuisine using the best local ingredients. Smoked fish and red jujube with sticky rice are well known in Shanghai. The restaurant enjoys a great reputation with diners from many parts of China and abroad.

We then fly to Beijing and spend 2 nights at the Sunworld Hotel Beijing.

Day 1 Beijing:

The Forbidden City (2 hours) The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors between 1368 and 1911.This "city within a city" is a World Heritage Site, and is the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in the world, with great square, halls and gates contrast with intricate halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are all important treasures of ancient China.  

Tiananmen Square (50 minutes) Tian'anmen Square is the largest city square in the centre of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) which sits to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several key events in Chinese history. As the world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, it is surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.  

Hutong Tour including the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single storey traditional courtyard houses, which are now fast disappearing. In this one hour tour, you can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family and find out about the different thresholds of the courtyards. Visit the Gate and the Drum tower or the Bell tower.  

Courtyard 7 Restaurant Courtyard 7 is located in central area of Nan Luo Guo. Its well designed Chinese style modeling, the layout makes it antiquity and rusticity. Its special featured restaurant provides new modern French dishes. Seating in Courtyard 7, you may see the fusion of eastern and western culture, and smell apart of old and new fashion air. Here, you can not only taste delicious gourmet food, but also can enjoy a piece of pure land and haven in such a busy city. Courtyard 7 welcomes you stay and enjoy.  

Day 2 Beijing:

Temple of Heaven (1.5 hours) Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties visited for annual ceremonies of pray for good harvests. Located in the south of Central Beijing, it covers an area of 273 hectares. Temple of Heaven was enrolled as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.

The Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car) (2 hours)  This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a about 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.  

Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant  Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant is near Great Wall of Mutianyu section. This garden style restaurant serves farmhouse dishes, specializing in rainbow trout, sturgeon and salmon. The fabulous taste will leave you with great memories.  

There is also "free time" to visit the night market, take in an evening show and Peking Duck Dinner at Quanjude.  

The Opera and Kungfu Show are performed in theater, usually the time is 17:30-18:30. About the evening show at Beijing, Peking Opera is our quintessence of Chinese culture, luckily you might be able to go to its back stage to see the make-up process and be invited to take photo with actors after it finishes, however, I also heard that “it was boring” due to the big culture difference. Kungfu Show is more popular and more fun.  

We will then fly to Hong Kong and spend the night and then meet with the ship the next morning and tour Hong Kong for 2 days with the Hop On Hop Off Bus.  

Will update the blog when we return!