Monday 7th March
We write this after dinner when one member of the team had sweet and sour pork for his third time. We have had to change our plans as the container ship, MS Hanjin Geneva, has had its itinerary changed and consequently there is no other way for us to cross the Pacific except by aeroplane. All other cargo ships are departing well into April and not going to the west coast of the USA. We have found a flight to San Francisco but that is not until next Sunday so we are able to travel by train tomorrow to Xi’an to see among other things the Terracotta Army.
Today we crossed the river by tunnel to explore the district of Pudong. The tunnel is called The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel and gives a psychedelic view as to how this part of the world was made.
When we surfaced we were at the foot of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower which is a 468m high tripod which has become the symbol of Pudong and Shanghai’s growth.
Close by is the elevated walkway above and alongside Century Avenue which itself has surfaced from its tunnel under the river and cuts through a ‘park’ of skyscrapers. Until recently the tallest of these was the Shanghai World Financial Centre at 492m in height which has a hole at the top that resembles a bottle opener but its height has now been beaten by the Shanghai Tower at a height of 634m which has a mesh-like spiralling outer wall.
Just in time for lunch we strolled along the riverside promenade which, according to the guide books, is the best walk in Pudong as it features a 180 degree view of The Bund and its Art Deco buildings. Lunch was taken as the world’s ships passed our table.
To return to the hotel we went underground again and saw some more amazing transport architecture.
P.S. Just look at the mini orange I found at breakfast!
