Shanghai (part 3)

Day Nine

Yonghe DouJiang (永和豆浆)

Reached this 'Yonghe DouJiang' (永和豆浆) outlet (left photo below) at around 8.15 am to have my breakfast. Located near the cross-junction between Zhejiang Zhong road (浙江中路) and Nanjing Pedestrian Street (南京路步行街), this outlet doesn't seem to be the franchised outlet from the original Taiwan store. Anyway I decided to have a try. Ordered my favorite 'combo-breakfast' of 'You Char Kway' at RMB 4 and 'Tau Huay' at RMB 5 (right photo below), which was slightly pricey compared to the same combination in Nanjing at a total cost only RMB 7. Taste of this combination wasn't that bad and had the standard I expected. The price most likely was due to the higher living standard in Shanghai and the location of this outlet.



Sightseeing Tram

While walking towards the Metro station, saw this sightseeing tram along the Nanjing Pedestrian Street (left photo below). Noticed this tram shuttering visitors at night but only then I realized that a cost of RMB 2 per adult was required to travel from one end to the other along the street (right photo below). I would consider this to be touristy.



Took Metro subway line 2 and reached this museum at the station with the same name: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station (上海科技馆站).

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (上海科技馆)

Claimed to be the largest museum in Asia, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has a total floor area of 98,000 square meters (photo below). This museum incorporates an IMAX theatre and has 12 main exhibits, including Robot Theatre, Plane Steering Simulation, Wide Spectrum of Life, Earth's Crust Exploration, Light of Wisdom and Cradle of Designers.

Probably due to its modern architecture, this museum was also featured in many scenes of Jay Chou's latest movie, Kung Fu Dunk (left photo below). This museum is certainly suitable for whole family. During my visit, I saw many retirees and school children having fun playing with those interactive displays. Souvenir-hunters undoubtedly won't be disappointed because there are many souvenir shops (almost located at every level) that sells many mind-stimulating games and souvenirs (right photo below).



Animal World exhibition

What impressed me was this exhibition of 'Animal World' where specimens of many rare Chinese animals, such as the Clouded leopard, Snow leopard, Red pandas and Giant pandas, were displayed (photos below).





This reminded me of another museum, American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan (New York), I've visited before. Although the number of specimens and varieties here in Shanghai can't compared to those exhibited in New York, the habitat dioramas created here is definitely much impressive with its considerable number of specimens displayed in just one habitat (photos below). Visitors could also have fun in spotting those animals hidden in the artificial vegetation.

Science Technology exhibition

With the advances in Technology, theories that were studied only during the university are now covered in Primary and Secondary school textbooks. Was amazed by those interactive exhibitions that displayed difficult concepts.

For example, genetic expression in the cockscomb is controlled by two genes R and P, and this was well illustrated with photos (left photo below). Actual specimen of deformed animal that is due to gene mutation caused by environmental pollutant (right photo below). Also not to forget my worst topic 'Niels H.D. Bohr and his Quantum Theory' was also briefly described in this exhibition.



Rare gems and minerals are exhibited which highlights the importance of limited resources on planet earth (photos below).

Chinese Space Program exhibition

One exhibition that all Chinese can be proud of is their Space Program. Chinese Space Suits (left photo below) and various models of space shuttles (right photo below) are displayed.



What caught my attention was the space food consumed by the Chinese astronauts or Taikonauts. Looking at the labels of the packages, the food are very "Chinese", there's char siew meat (left photo below) and even mushrooms and Prawns (right photo below). Reading from its ingredients then I know that the dish 'Shaoerdong' (烧二冬) is made up of '冬笋' (winter bamboo shoots) and '冬菇' (mushrooms).

The admission cost was RMB 60, and excludes any IMAX shows (photo below). Cost of the other exhibitions / shows ranges from RMB 20 to RMB 40. Opening hours of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum from 0900 to 1715 hrs and it is closed on Monday (except on holidays). Recommended time to spend at this museum is about 2 to 4 hours.


Super Brand Mall (正大广场)

Decided to have lunch at this mall (again) because it was along my return route. While walking from the Metro exit (Lujiazui Metro Station exit 2) to this mall, saw a huge advertising poster from a cola-drink company (left photo below). This cola-drink company keep changing their spokespersons almost every year and this time they are Louis Koo (古天乐) and Huang Xiaoming (黄晓明).

Went into this Yoshinoya (吉野家) fast food restaurant. Ordered a chicken set for RMB 24 and a soft-drink for RMB 5 (right photo below). Taste was the same as the outlets in Singapore but what I find objectionable is the way chawanmushi was taken out from a steamer and served in a sealed plastic container. Not being fastidious, but chemicals will leak out from plastics when heated. Therefore it is advisable to take food served in such container less often.



Walked to this Singaporean bookstore 'Popular' (大众书局) located on the eighth floor to browse through its Chinese books (photos below). Books printed in China are definitely much cheaper than those sold in Singapore. No price tag is required on every book; all prices are fixed (unless additional discounts offered by bookstores) and prices in RMB can found at the back of the book, usually below the barcode.



Xintiandi (新天地)

Xintiandi can be reached by taking subway Metro line 1, alight at Huangpi South Road station (黄陂南路站), and walk for about 5 to 8-mins.

Xintiandi has become an unique Metropolitan tourist attraction that blends both historical and cultural legacies. It offers a vehicle-free shopping, eating and entertainment area. Xintiandi literally means "New Heaven and Earth" and offer a place for modern urbanites lifestyle in the 21st century.

The area is divided into two blocks. There is a glass-walled shopping and entertainment (cinema) complex in the South block (left photo below) and in the North block there are many restaurants and souvenir stores (right photo below). Xintiandi is similar to the concept of 'Clark Quay' in Singapore and 'Lan Kwai Fong' in Hong Kong.



Site of First National Congress of Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党第一次全国代表大会会址)

This site played an important role in the development of Chinese Communist Party (left photo below). On 23 July 1921, thirteen members held their first national congress here, and therefore marking the birth of the Party.

The living room on the ground floor was where the congress held and most furniture had been preserved to replicate the scene some 85 years ago (right photo below). On the second floor, exhibits told the development of the Chinese Communist Party. Among the exhibits, there is waxwork hall that vividly reproduces the scene of this significant meeting.



Usual admission is RMB 3, but was lucky that I was given free admission (photo below). Museum is located in Xintiandi area and opening time is 0900 to 1700 hrs daily. Recommended time to spend is about 15 to 30-mins.

Shanghai Postal Museum (上海邮政博物馆)

This postal museum is located across the road from the Site of First National Congress (photo below) in the Xintiandi area. Post cards, letters from the 50s /60s and post boxes are just some of the exhibits displayed in this museum. Since admission is free, so why not step into this museum to take a look. Opening time is 0900 to 1900 hrs. This postal museum is rather small and recommended time to spend is about 10 to 15-mins.


Fuzhou road (福州路)

Now this road has become a 'Cultural street' where many major bookstores are located. Chinese book lovers definitely won't be disappointed; there are at least 3 big bookstores that you can easily spend 1 to 2 hours browsing through the wide range of books.

One recommended bookstore is this 'Shanghai Book City' (上海书城) (left photo below). Claimed to be the largest in whole Shanghai, this bookstore occupied 7 storey of the building and has a wide range of books / DVDs.

The photo below showed all the Chinese books I've bought throughout my trip (right photo below). Most of these books were purchased only on the ninth day at the bookstores along this Fuzhou road. It was really a challenge to bring these 22 books back because I was backpacking and could only hand-carry some of them. Nevertheless still find it worth the effort as most of them are not available in Singapore.



Nanjing Pedestrian Street (南京路步行街)

Off-loaded my books at the hotel and then walked to this Singaporean shop 'BreadTalk' to get some bread for my breakfast (left photo below). Interestingly this pastry shop in China is named as 'mianbao xinyu' (面包新语) instead of 'mianbao wuyu' (面包物语) back in Singapore.

After which went to this Japanese restaurant 'Heluushousi' (禾禄寿司) located at basement of Hongyi Plaza (宏伊园) for dinner (right photo below).



Ordered a sushi set at RMB 35 (left photo below) and a char siew ramen at RMB 19 (right photo below). Raw fish on the sushi was fresh and taste was good, especially the ramen soup.



Food Souvenirs

Since it was my last day in China, therefore decided to spend my remaining RMB on local food souvenirs along Nanjing road. Saw this century-old shop 'shaowansheng' (邵万生) near the hotel (left photo below) and therefore bought some candies and preserved stuffs (right photo below) for less than RMB 50.



Day Ten

Woke up early in the morning and checkout from the hotel at about 7 am. After which took the Metro line 2 and then transferred at Longyong Road station to Maglev train. Since there was no discount privilege, thus could only buy the single-trip Maglev ticket at the usual price RM 50.

Pudong Airport

Reached the Pudong airport at around 8 am and checked in my luggage at the airline counter. Must comment that Pudong airport is very modern and has lots of shops available for passengers to spend their time during transit. The facilities are comparable to any of the terminals in Changi airport (photos below).





Garuda Indonesia Airlines

Varieties and frequencies of food served in Garuda Indonesia airlines GA 897 wasn't that bad compared to other airlines. Apple juice was served before flight (left photo below), and followed by peanuts and beverage of choice before main course (right photo below). Chicken noodles were served in the main course (bottom left photo). Light snack of sandwiches and beverage of choice were served before flight touch down (bottom right photo).





Was glad that the flight back to Singapore was smooth because it was raining during flight take-off (left photo below) and during landing (right photo below).



With my arrival at Changi airport, this marked the end of my ten days trip to Central Eastern China.