In the afternoon on Aug 8, 2024 we docked at Shanghai, China for a three-day stay. Shanghai is a city of over 26 million people located on China’s central coast. It is the largest city in China and a global financial hub. Its heart is the Bund, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial buildings that were built in the early part of the 20th century when the country was first opened up to western trade. Today Shanghai is referred to as “the Paris of China” and “the Pearl of the Orient” and is a shining symbol of the economic emergence of China.

China, officially the People’s Republic of China, has a population of 1.4 billion people and is the world’s second-most populous country (after India). It spans the equivalent of five time zones and borders fourteen countries by land.

As soon as the ship was cleared by the Chinese immigration authorities, we decided to take off on our own to explore. We were headed to the Bund area, which is the most famous area in Shanghai. It was a long walk to get there, but eventually we made it and experienced the excitement of this beautiful city. The entire city that we saw was very clean and there were trees and flowers everywhere.

We made our way to the Peace Hotel that is an iconic hotel now managed by the Fairmont Group. It is at the center of a busy shopping area with many world class retailers, as well as local merchants, and restaurants and bars. The entire area was very lit up and looked like Times Square in some respects. Across the Huangpu River was the Pudong area, which is Shanghai’s financial district and home to some of its more famous buildings, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, one of the city’s iconic landmarks. At night the buildings are all lit up generating a spectacular scene.

On the morning of Aug 9, 2024, Nancy went on an all day excursion that initially stopped at Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town well known throughout the country for its history of more than 1,700 years. The town covers an area of 18 square miles and consists of many alleyways that allowed a view of the stone and wooden structures known for their simplicity and elegance. Old bridges cross streams and small rivers, many shaded by willow trees, and old houses with attached courtyards and their peaceful tranquility contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the city. We took a boat ride on the river, and walked the alleyways filled with local shops, and an old post office, and pharmacy (in operation since 1877).

We also viewed and crossed the Fangsheng Bridge, which is the most famous bridge. Built in 1577, it is the longest, largest and tallest stone bridge, with five openings.

Our next stop was for lunch at a restaurant in Shanghai. It was a beautiful place with a latge selection of things to eat and drink.

After lunch we went to the Sucan Silk factory where we got to see how silk is produced by silk worms and turned into fine silk fabric. We also were able to shop in the store where they had a wide variety of silk products and clothes.

Later on in the evening we again enjoyed the sights of Shanghai from our ship, and on the next morning we left Shanghai and set sail for Hong Kong, our next destination. As we sailed out of the large Shanghai harbor we passed hundreds of large skyscrapers in the background that are condominiums and rental properties for the millions of people that live in this area.