City Sightseeing Bus Tour (12/8-9/2012)

Saturday, December 8, 2012
We took advantage of sunny weather to take the double-decker bus tour of Shanghai. I researched on the internet and came up with the Big Bus Tours. I printed out the map with the bus stops. We missed getting the  25% discount available if you book online at least a day ahead! So we expected to pay 300 RMB.
After trying a couple soup restaurants (Soupa Kitchen - small bowls/mugs of Chinese soups, and Urban Soup Kitchen - big bowls of Western-type soups, plus sandwiches), we tried to find the bus stop at Xintiandi.
Kent has often passed a bus stop on his walks from work, so we headed there, just as a bus passed us! We had to beat it to the bus stop on Pu'an Lu near Yan'an Lu. Hmm, double-decker bus - check. A couple routes start here - check. But what a nice surprise to find it cost only 30 RMB! This was the City Sightseeing Bus Tour, and although it does not have a "Temple Tour," you see the essentials. Plus, you have 24 hours to use the pass, and you can get discount tickets to several sights. (Book online for a 10% discount!)
Today we went on the Red Line.
Today's bus had a partially-open second deck:

Below us, the roasted sweet potato vendor samples his own wares:

First we went around People's Square.
Kent's office, the Harbour Ring Plaza:

KSS

Great World Entertainment Center:

A new one for us, the Workers' Cultural Palace:

City bus stop, not the most crowded, but they wait right at the curb:

A Hummer limo:

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center:

Shanghai Grand Theater:

We went along Nanjing Road.
Former racecourse clubhouse, and now former Shanghai Art Museum:

Park Hotel:

KSS

Pacific Hotel:

KSS

New World Department Store:

KSS

Shanghai No. 1 Department Store:

We had to turn off Nanjing Road where it became a pedestrian street:

KSS

Waiting for the green light:

We drove parallel to, then crossed the pedestrian street:

KSS

On the upper deck:

The laundry racks are closed up today:

KSS

Tower of the Shanghai Fashion Department Store:

We crossed the Nanjing pedestrian street again:

KSS

Mysterious activity by the ding pot:

KSS

We worked our way towards Suzhou Creek.
Who was complaining about all the power lines in the photos?

KSS

Across Suzhou Creek is the Shanghai General Post Office:

KSs

A gas station:

KSS

(See the bride fixing her makeup in the van's side mirror?)
Broadway Mansions:

KSS

Former Union Church: 

Next we drove along the Bund.
View towards Pudong:

KSS

The Promenade:

KSS

The Shanghai Tower under construction in Pudong:

KSS

It will be Shanghai's tallest building.
We wound our way around Yuyuan/Garden.
Newsstand:

KSS

Carrying a dozen bags of rice?

KSS

Lovely motor scooter parking:

KSS

Candied fruit snack:

KSS

City God Temple at Yuyuan Bazaar:

Sale bins in the entrance of the department store:

KSS

Headed back along Fangbang Lu.
Bored shopkeeper:

The candy man:

Finally we drove along Fuxing Lu.
Pedestrian overpass at Henan Lu:

KSS

Browsing through the pirated DVDs:

Drying chickens:

KSS

Went through the Xintiandi area:

Passed Taipingqiao Lake:

before returning to the starting point.

Sunday, December 9, 2012
Today we went on the Green Line, on an enclosed double-decker bus:

It's a good thing, because it was colder today!
Drove down Huaihai Lu:

KSS

Then through the Renmin Lu tunnel under the Huangpu River:

In Pudong, the Oriental Pearl Tower:

The Jin Mao Tower, currently Shanghai's 2nd tallest building:

Shanghai's financial district:

The Shanghai World Financial Center, currently Shanghai's tallest building:

Combat-crawling soldier toys:

KSS

The Shanghai Tower, soon to be the tallest building:

KSS

KSS

The Shanghai Tower as seen on September 5, 2012:

Back through the tunnel, we followed Renmin Lu back to Huaihai Lu.
Lunchtime:

KSS

After this short tour, it was time for lunch for us, too.
We bypassed the duck head place:

KSS

We opted for a meal at Vegetarian Lifestyle, which we finally found!
Veggie curry, mushrooms, organic rice, spicy eggplant and fake shredded pork: