Day Two
The Bund (外滩)
Took a heavy breakfast in the hotel, and after which walked towards the bund along Nanjing East Road (南京东路); taking about 10 -15 mins. Peace hotel (和平饭店)) was the first building I saw along the Bund. The atmosphere inside this hotel does feel like those settings in Shanghai movies. This 5-star hotel has now become a pre-eminent luxury hotel in China; equivalent to Raffles hotel in Singapore.
The bund area occupied on a section within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas.
The Bund is now one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. Buildings such this Union Building (Bund No. 3) and NKK building (Bund No. 5) in the right photo above. The Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) - 汇丰银行 building (Bund No. 12) built in 1923 and the Customs House - 海关大楼 (Bund No. 13), built in 1927, are the two more famous buildings along the bund (left photo below). The HSBC building used to be the headquarters for the HSBC but now was occupied by Shanghai Pudong Development bank. Do take time to stop and listen to the chimes of "Dong Fang Hong" (东方红) resonating from the clock tower of the old Customs House at the hour.
At the northern end of the Bund along the riverfront is where Shanghai Monument to the People's Heroes (上海人民英雄记念塔) is situated. It is a tall, abstract concrete tower which is a memorial for the those who died during the revolutionary struggle of Shanghai, dating back to the Opium Wars (bottom left photo). Due to the hazy weather, the Oriental Pearl tower opposite the bank could not be seen clearly from the bund (bottom right photo). The Bund had become so touristy that you will be pestered by photographer touts or kite-sellers as you strolled along the walkway.
Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (外滩观光隧道)
This touristy tunnel, with a total length of 646.7 meter, crosses the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong. Visitors have to board the slow-moving powered trams which travel along the tunnel, with light effects projected onto the walls of the tunnel. Do not have high expectation on this "Sightseeing" tunnel since there is no transparent glass to see the Huangpu river. Judge for yourself by looking at the following short video clip I’ve captured using my camera during the tunnel journey.
Initially wanted just to take a single trip but after looking at the attractive packages, decided to take up the return way package with admission to two special exhibitions for RMB $65. The normal single way will cost RMB $40, while the return way costs RMB $50. Separate admission to Special exhibitions can cost RMB $20 to $30 per person. Operating hours of the Bund Sightseeing tunnel is from 0800 hrs to 2230 hrs (weekdays) / 2300 hrs (weekends & public holidays).
China sex culture and sex health exhibition (中华性文化和性健康教育展)
This was one of the special exhibitions inside the bund Sightseeing tunnel, located at the Pudong side. Over 200 sex-related cultural relics, including pornographic paintings and various phallic symbols from ancient China and rest of the world were exhibited. Being influenced by Confucian for thousands of years to have subtle attitude towards sex, it was interesting to see some of the exhibit items, such as those ancient erotic paintings, could date back to Ming Dynasty. Overall this was a good exhibition on topics that is not openly discussed.
Note: as this blog can be accessed by anyone, therefore the pictures posted here had been “censored” with black boxes.
Rarities of the Deep sea exhibition (深海珍奇展)
This was another special exhibition inside the bund sightseeing tunnel. There were some live ornamental fishes in tanks, but majority of the exhibits were preserved specimen caught from the ocean. One interesting observation that money were thrown onto those ‘auspicious’ specimens such as this ‘eight-hundred’ years old turtle and even lobsters; probably it was some kind of wishing practice. Among all the specimen, what caught my attention was this Chinese sturgeon (中华鲟). Considered to be endangered in China, this large specimen weighing 320kg was even rarer to be caught in recent year 2002. Don’t know what is a sturgeon? Its European cousin has been fished to near extinction for its roe to make into the famous caviar. Overall this exhibition was very much like those natural history museum.
Super Brand mall (正大广场)
Walked towards Super Brand Mall located at the Pudong, which is within 5-mins walk from Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, and Shangri-la hotel is beside it. This mall is also opposite one of the exits of Lujiazui (陆家嘴) Metro Station. One could easily spend hours of shopping in this huge mall.
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Went to this Kungfu fast-food restaurant (真功夫) located inside this Super Brand mall for lunch. Probably saw this appealing poster, decided to order this ‘Mushroom Chicken Pot’ for RMB $29 and a milk tea for RMB $7. Simply like the way food was served in those aluminum-like container. Taste was good especially the soup; however there were too many small bones in the chicken meat.
Went back to this mall to have dinner at this Lisboa Restaurant (葡京茶餐厅). Ordered two egg tarts (one with egg yolk, other with only egg white) at RMB $4.50 each, Fried Rice at RMB $32 and ice coffee at RMB $15. The fried rice was good and the egg tarts were great, definitely worth a try.
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (上海海洋水族馆)
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is largest in Asia and has the longest underwater tunnel in the world. The aquarium is made up of 9 major climatic zones with 28 large-scale theme marine life exhibition areas, displaying the 300 species and ten thousand more rare fishes from all over the world. Some of them are most unique freshwater and marine life; others are rare aquatic life unique of China. All these give tourists a pleasant impression of “experiencing the wonders of the five continents at the bottom of the sea”.
What impressed me were the exhibitions of rare sea-creatures like Chinese Alligators, freshwater sawfish, Japanese Giant Spider crabs and Leafy sea-dragons. Didn’t expect the Chinese Alligators to be so small and the Spider crabs larger than I thought. The displays are explained in two languages: Chinese and English and the exhibits are of world-class standard; definitely worth a visit to this aquarium. Here’s the video I’ve captured on some of the exhibits during my visit. Admission was RMB $120 per adult and opening hours from 0900 hrs to 1800 hrs.
Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔)
At 468 m high, the Oriental Pearl Tower is the tallest completed tower in Asia, and the third tallest tower in the world after the CN Tower and the Ostankino Tower. The base of the tower is supported by three seven-meter wide slanting stanchions. Surrounding the eleven steel spheres that are 'strung' vertically through the center of the tower are three nine-meter wide columns. There are three large spheres including the top sphere, known as the space module. Then there are five smaller spheres and three decorative spheres on the tower base. The entire structure anchored on greenish grassland which gave the impression of pearls shining on a jade plate.
Several admission packages were available depending on how high you want to go up to the tower. The admission ticket I bought at RMB $150 includes all three observation spheres, the Space City and the Shanghai History Museum. The observation decks are at 90 m, 263 m and 350 m. View from the observation deck was great, almost similar to the experience I had at the New York Empire State building, except most of the viewing galleries are indoor. After going through three observation decks, I realized there isn't much difference between the second and third sphere just for that extra RMB $50 I paid. The elevator speed of the tower can reached 7 meters per second, which can give a trilling experience to some. Opening hours from 0830 hrs to 2100 hrs.
Personal Experience: choose a clear day to visit , and the best timing is before sunset so that both day and night view could be seen.
Shanghai History Museum (上海城市历史发展陈列馆)
Part of the Oriental Pearl Tower package, the Shanghai History Museum is located at the ground floor of the tower. It is an excellent glimpse into Shanghai past and present through images and figures. Interesting exhibits, including some outdated life-size trams and cars, old photos and miniatures of Shanghai streets / buildings, and wax figures of some vanishing trades. It is an excellent way to understand development history of Shanghai. Admission cost solely to this museum is RMB $35 (excluding admission to the Oriental Pearl Tower). Opening hours from 0830 hrs to 2100 hrs.
Binjiang Avenue (滨江大道)
The best view of the bund is from the opposite shore at the Binjiang Avenue (滨江大道) on Pudong, especially at night. The avenue is 2,500 meters long, along the bank of Huangpu River. Strolling along the river bank at night has become a dating activity for couples. Several cafés can also be found along this avenue, such as Starbucks Coffee, Haagen Dazs ice-cream and even Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan (许留山).
Went into the Hui Lau Shan restaurant, which is more ‘high-class’ compared those outlets in Hong Kong, and ordered a 金吱玉叶 for RMB $33. Was disappointed with this dessert as the mango wasn’t sweet and the Pomelo pulp was bitter. However from my friend's feedback, other desserts were as good as those sold in Hong Kong outlets.
Took the sightseeing tunnel back to the Bund. The night view of Pudong is equally fascinating as the Bund. Looking at the buildings on both sides of the river, it did give an amazing contrast between western classical and modern architectures.
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