1-schang.htm


	We chose a 26 day tour offered by Helen Wong's Tours and could not have made a better choice. China is a most interesting country and the Chinese happy friendly people. The journey started in Shanghai, *"Paris of the East".* Wide tree lined streets helped sort out the chaotic traffic. This was the situation in all cities we visited. Main streets are divided by a nature strip and have a wide bicycle lane each side. We were told there are at least two bikes per head of population in China. Our first day started with a visit to the Children's Palace. Having no idea of what to expect we were pleasantly surprised. Happy smiling children gather at weekends, in a former palace, to learn skills such as art & craft, calligraphy, music, dance, gymnastics and English. Being an only child has its draw-backs so this gives children an opportunity to mix and make friends. They can also attend during the week for music lessons and to practice. Small apartments don't have room for a piano. It is no wonder the Chinese excel at most things. Shanghai's most famous landmark is Zhong Shan Road, more commonly known as "the Bund", a boulevard along the Huangpu River lined with parks and European-style buildings constructed by former colonial concessions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Across the river, on what were paddy fields ten years ago, are many tall buildings, with the "Grand Hyatt Shanghai", tallest hotel in the world, the most outstanding. Imagine the view of the city from the 88th floor observatory. Another impressive sight is the "Oriental Pearl Television Tower building". Between the two sparkling pink, pearl shaped floors, are 6 smaller pearls each a luxury hotel suite. *Most impressive.* Alas there are also many un-finished high rise buildings, a legacy of the economic downturn. People are slowly being re-housed in high rise apartments. We could see evidence of the over-crowding as we drove across town to the Jade Buddha Temple. Two story units built in the 60's to house one family now house up to four. In the old section of the city is the Yu Yuan Gardens, famous for the zig zag bridge featured on the *willow pattern* and a walk through this peaceful place in the heart of busy Shanghai filled in the rest of the day. Next morning it was off to visit a retired couple living in the "Worker's New Residential Area." A pleasant place, with trees and open areas between the buildings. Our hosts mind their grand-daughter, a cutie nearly two, who spied our name tags and danced about with glee when we pinned one on her. She then found a stool and settled down to join in the conversation. Retirement age in China is 50 for women and 55 for men. Workers were once housed by their employers but now have the opportunity to buy the 40 square metre apartment. They seem to live comfortably on their pensions and life evolves about the family, so child care is never a problem. From there we stopped at a kindergarten and had morning tea at a retired people's centre. Like the Children's Palace there are plenty of activities for the senior citizens. Last stop in the area was a school, newly built and to be officially opened that day. Three old schools had been torn down to make room for this one that now has 2,700 students aged from five to twelve years. Their handicraft was on display and we were all very impressed with their skill. A visit to the new Shanghai Museum and fabulous evening entertainment at the Acrobat show completed a very enjoyable first introduction to China.

We chose a 26 day tour offered by Helen Wong's Tours
and could not have made a better choice.
China is a most interesting country and the Chinese happy friendly people.
The journey started in Shanghai,
"Paris of the East".
Wide tree lined streets helped sort out the chaotic traffic.

This was the situation in all cities we visited. Main streets are divided by a nature strip and have a wide bicycle lane each side.
We were told there are at least two bikes per head of population in China.

Our first day started with a visit to the Children's Palace. Having no idea of what to expect we were pleasantly surprised. Happy smiling children gather at weekends, in a former palace, to learn skills such as art & craft, calligraphy, music, dance, gymnastics and English. Being an only child has its draw-backs so this gives children an opportunity to mix and make friends.
They can also attend during the week for music lessons and to practice.
Small apartments don't have room for a piano.
It is no wonder the Chinese excel at most things.

Shanghai's most famous landmark is Zhong Shan Road,
more commonly known as
"the Bund",
a boulevard along the Huangpu River lined with parks and European-style buildings constructed by former colonial concessions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Across the river, on what were paddy fields ten years ago, are many tall buildings, with the
"Grand Hyatt Shanghai",
tallest hotel in the world, the most outstanding. Imagine the view of the city
from the 88th floor observatory.
Another impressive sight is the
"Oriental Pearl Television Tower building".
Between the two sparkling pink, pearl shaped floors, are 6 smaller pearls
each a luxury hotel suite.
Most impressive.

Alas there are also many un-finished high rise buildings, a legacy of the economic downturn. People are slowly being re-housed in high rise apartments.

We could see evidence of the over-crowding as we drove across town to the
Jade Buddha Temple.
Two story units built in the 60's to house one family now house up to four.

In the old section of the city is the
Yu Yuan Gardens,
famous for the zig zag bridge featured on the willow pattern and a walk through this peaceful place in the heart of busy Shanghai filled in the rest of the day.

Next morning it was off to visit a retired couple living in the
"Worker's New Residential Area."

A pleasant place, with trees and open areas between the buildings. Our hosts mind their grand-daughter, a cutie nearly two, who spied our name tags and danced about with glee when we pinned one on her. She then found a stool and settled down to join in the conversation.

Retirement age in China is 50 for women and 55 for men. Workers were once housed by their employers but now have the opportunity to buy the 40 square metre apartment. They seem to live comfortably on their pensions and life evolves about the family, so child care is never a problem.

From there we stopped at a kindergarten and had morning tea at a
retired people's centre.
Like the Children's Palace there are plenty of activities for the senior citizens.

Last stop in the area was a school, newly built and to be officially opened that day. Three old schools had been torn down to make room for this one that now has 2,700 students aged from five to twelve years.
Their handicraft was on display and we were all very impressed with their skill.
A visit to the new Shanghai Museum and fabulous evening entertainment at the Acrobat show completed
a very enjoyable first introduction to China.

Suzhou

Suzhou // Hangzhou // Guilin // Kunming // Emie Shan
Xian // Beijing // Hutong