Shanghai Mama: Tourists

We have been in Shanghai for two months now and today we played tourist so that we could get to know our city better.

DD, DH, the stroller, three bags (I had to prepare for any possible weather situation as you never know when it is going to rain), and I piled into the car at 9:15 and headed off to our first destination, The Jade Buddha Temple where we would meet up with our guide, Keven.

The Jade Buddha Temple was a peaceful place where Keven was able to provide me with information on the different Buddhas as well as a history of the temple. DH was given a tour by DD, who ran all around and stopped only for rooster sitings (DD was born in the year of the rooster) found in carvings or other pictorials around the temple.

Inside the Grand Hall, Keven found each of our lucky Buddhas where we stopped for a photo op.

As we walked around the grounds we noticed the red ribbons tied on the temple doors, outside carvings/statues and bonsai trees. Keven explained that these were wishes or hopes (I interpreted it as prayers) that people had left behind in hopes of good health, prosperity, etc.

After visiting the Grand Hall and the Four Heavenly Kings, we stopped by the carp pond and bought what we thought was expensive carp food for 28 RMB ($4) but Keven told us to hold onto the change (two 1 kuai coins). After DD fed the fish, she threw one coin into the pond and made a wish, and the other coin went back into the fish food envelope and we were instructed to place it under her pillow so that her wish may come true.

After the carp, we moved onto the main attraction, The Jade Buddha. As pictures are not permitted I do not have any. There are two jade Buddhas, both are carved from a single piece of jade and are quite amazing to see, knowing that it is one piece and has survived war, revolution, and pollution. After paying our respects, we jumped back into the car and headed off to our next destination, Yu Garden.

To get to the garden we had to move through a wall, and I do mean a wall of people. Keven said it was like that most weekends and holidays. While it was a bit scary with a toddler, it was worth braving the crowds. Oh yeah, you may notice Starbucks in the picture below - they are everywhere here.

Once inside the garden walls we enjoyed the scenery and a few less people.

After spending the morning touring we worked up an appetite and headed off to a "famous Shanghaiese" restaurant for soup dumplings, which are truly a Shanghai treat, that and hairy crabs - which we didn't try yet!