Ye Garden (7/7/2012)

Sunday, July 1, 2012
We had brunch at Sasha's with several of Kent's work colleagues.
This restaurant had an unusual wine cooler/dispenser:

Saturday, July 7, 2012
Today we went to find another garden from the secret garden list.
Took Metro Line 10 to the Jiangwan Stadium station. Here is the entrance to Jiangwan Stadium:

We crossed a canal, and due to construction, we made the first left, which curved to the left, then took a right on Daxue Road. We walked through a small neighborhood centered on Daxue Road that appeared brand new and catered to Westerners:

A sculpture indicating entertainment, food, and research?

The fiberglass sculptures were not durable:

This area was near Fudan University.
Daxue Road merged with Zhengmin Road, a mop and broom sales cart:

The Ye Garden was behind the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital at 507 Zhengmin Road. There were several entrances, some more formal than others:

The garden was built in 1923 by racecourse magnate Ye Yiquan. He built the garden to entertain racetrack patrons, a business he owned since 1910.

Apparently it is simpler than the classic Chinese garden because it was created by a Japanese designer.

The story of Ye begins with the father, Ye Chengzhong, who was born into poverty. He came to Shanghai to work and soon bought a small boat to sell food to foreign sailors.

Once an American hired Ye's boat in 1862, and left behind a briefcase full of money and valuables.
(A crocodile head and other monster rocks:)

Ye held onto the briefcase, and when the American came looking for it, he was impressed with Ye's honesty.
(This pavilion has a stork on top:)

The American helped Ye set up a hardware business selling much-needed tools and supplies to sailors and the military.
(A silent cicada!)

The business boomed, and Ye expanded into other areas such as finance, commerce, industry, shipping and education, and made many contributions to society before he died in 1899.

Ye Yiquan donated the garden in 1933 to the Shanghai Medical College.
(A bridge with wrought-iron balusters:)

He had heard that tuberculosis patients needed a place for healing.
(Two-story colonial mansion:)

The place was named the Chengzhong Pulmonary Sanatorium in honor of Ye's father.
(Props for old Chinese juniper trees:)

KSS

This pavilion has a peacock:

KSS

An arbor:

The iconic pavilion had stained-glass windows:

Artificial floating islands were set up to grow plants:

A road in the densely wooded garden:

KSS

At last, an arched bridge!

Uncle Kent tries "planking:"

For lunch we found the American restaurant called "Munchies." They offer Cincinnati Chili!

Sunday, July 8, 2012
We had to use our winning certificate for a free dim sum brunch at the Westin Bund Centre. We still had to pay for one of us, plus drinks. You could order as many dim sum dishes as you wished, plus choose dishes from the carts that went around table to table.
The Westin lobby has two statues of Sumo Skaters:

By sculptor Yin Zhixin.