Things to do in Shanghai - Part 2

We had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in Shanghai - Southern Beauty.  It is a chain of restaurants serving Sichuan style food.  But this venue, at the Superbrand Mall in Pudong, closest to Lujiazui subway stop, offers a view overlooking the Bund.  The view is not often very clear, but is often best at night.

At the Superbrand Mall, there was a display of Harry Potter movie memorabilia, including the actual car used in the movie (or so the placard said)

The massive Superbrand Mall, one of about 70 or 80 located in Shanghai.

YuYuan - one of the original tourist attractions in Shanghai, which is a preserved mansion of a wealthy local aristocrat, dating back to the 1600's.  A teahouse in the center of the large shopping complex has a long list of famous visitors.  However, it seems that among the locals that the most famous visitor was Bill Clinton.  I remember visiting this attraction nearly 20 years ago, and the place was surrounded by very aggressive hawkers selling DVDs, silks, and handbags.  Today, handbag hawkers still abound, but heavy police security presence assures tourist a more hassle free experience, at least within the well defined shopping district boundary.

 The tea house at YuYuan

 Another shopping mall near XinZhuang subway station, in the MingHang district.  It is close to friends, and we had a wonderful dinner here at one of my new favorite restaurants - Shanghai Nin.

Santa at the mall!  It was Christmas eve, after all!

 A dear friend took us to Hangzhou in nearby Zhejiang province on Christmas day.  It was a 2 hour drive outside of Shanghai, but is also accessible by train.  It was overcast and cold, but this very ancient famous city is popular with tourists from spring through fall.  Our friend took us on a tour of some canals, and also took us to the fabled West Lake, where Dragonboat races occur.

 A map showing a the beautiful walk we took across West Lake

Here is a link to see video of our tour of Hangzhou

The exit of the People's Square subway stop, marking Nanjing road East

Nanjing Road East, the "Times Square" of Shanghai.

Nanjing Road East viewed from above.  It ends at the Bund at the top of the screen

 

The rooftop lounge at the Radisson hotel

The financial towers in the financial district in PuDong.  The new financial tower is not open to the public as of yet, but I can't wait to go up to the top of that one.  Next time!

 The 101st observation floor of the Financial Tower.  The weather wasn't completely cooperating (and it was clouds this time, not smog), so the skyscrapers below were not completely clear.

Shanghai lit up at night is absolutely awesome (but be sure to see it before 10pm, when the lights all go out)

Shanghai preparing for the opening of Disney theme park near PuDong airport.  It is set to open in 2016, but I'm sure I won't want to go near it until 2017.  It's sure to be jam packed.

Here is some video of street food and wandering around Shanghai at night.