Sunday, December 9, 2012

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:
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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:
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Pacific Hotel:
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New World Department Store:
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Shanghai No. 1 Department Store:
We had to turn off Nanjing Road where it became a pedestrian street:
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Waiting for the green light:

We drove parallel to, then crossed the pedestrian street:
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On the upper deck:
The laundry racks are closed up today:
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Tower of the Shanghai Fashion Department Store:
We crossed the Nanjing pedestrian street again:
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Mysterious activity by the ding pot:
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We worked our way towards Suzhou Creek.
Who was complaining about all the power lines in the photos?
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Across Suzhou Creek is the Shanghai General Post Office:
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A gas station:
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(See the bride fixing her makeup in the van's side mirror?)
Broadway Mansions:
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Former Union Church: 
Next we drove along the Bund.
View towards Pudong:
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The Promenade:
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The Shanghai Tower under construction in Pudong:
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It will be Shanghai's tallest building.
We wound our way around Yuyuan/Garden.
Newsstand:
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Carrying a dozen bags of rice?
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Lovely motor scooter parking:
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Candied fruit snack:
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City God Temple at Yuyuan Bazaar:
Sale bins in the entrance of the department store:
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Headed back along Fangbang Lu.
Bored shopkeeper:
The candy man:
Finally we drove along Fuxing Lu.
Pedestrian overpass at Henan Lu:
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Browsing through the pirated DVDs:
Drying chickens:
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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:
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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:
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The Shanghai Tower, soon to be the tallest building:
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The Shanghai Tower as seen on September 5, 2012:
Back through the tunnel, we followed Renmin Lu back to Huaihai Lu.
Lunchtime:
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After this short tour, it was time for lunch for us, too.
We bypassed the duck head place:
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We opted for a meal at Vegetarian Lifestyle, which we finally found!
Veggie curry, mushrooms, organic rice, spicy eggplant and fake shredded pork:

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