Up at 5:00 am -- luggage out by 6:00 am then to breakfast -- no internet service at all on the boat. Cloudy today as the boat pulls up to the dock in Nanjing at 6:40 am. By 7:55 am we are on the bus moving towards Shanghai -- it is raining.
Our history lesson today: Nanjing means South Capital and Beijing means North Capital. About 600 years ago the third Ming Dynasty Emporer moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.
After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, Nanjing again became the capital until 1949 -- except during World War II when Chang Kai Shek moved the capital to Chongqing (where we boarded the Emerald way back on March 14th). During WWII the Japanese took over Nanjing killing approximately 300,000 people -- it is known as the Nanjing Massacre. The China is still very bitter toward Japan over this incident.
Today Nanjing is the Capital of the Province of Jiangsu -- and has a population of about 8 million people. We experience a real rush hour debacle on the roads -- it's Monday morning -- its raining and nobody here has any courtesy when driving -- every vehicle for itself. We finally get on the highway by 8:30 am.
At 11:15 am we arrive in Suzhou, a municipality with 6 urban districts and a population of 6 million people. Suzhou is known for gardens, canals and silk.
The local people are very health conscious -- they drink warm water before each meal to ward off rheumatoid arthritis -- they take a cat nap (15 minutes) after lunch -- everyone rides electric bikes or regular bicycles.
We stop for lunch at the "Glamour Hotel" -- typical Chinese meal with the lazy susan full of platters of vegetables and meat -- watermelon for dessert. However, the highlight of the Glamour Hotel is their five star bathroom with all western toilets.
After lunch we stop at the "Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill" --- producer of silk merchandise --- bedding --- tablecloths -- clothing -- scarves. The company store is overwhelming -- even for me. I buy nothing.
Next is a stop at the Fisherman's Garden which is 800 years old. A garden in China does not mean plants, flowers and trees only -- it consists of buildings and water and sculptures along with plantings. This garden is one acre with several buildings -- a pond and a number of outdoor spaces which are very peaceful. The property was left to the Chinese government by a wealthy individual -- maintenance is about one million RMB (more than $150,000) per year.
We are back on the the bus to Shanghai at 3:30 pm and arrive on the outskirts about 5:00 pm. Shanghai is the largest city in China with a population of 23+ million and the world's busiest container port. It is only about 700 years old (new by Chinese standards) and started as a fishing village. This was an area to which emperors would exile citizens they did not like.
Shanghai grew in importance during the mid-19th Century not only because of its port location but because it was one of five cities opened to foreign trade in 1842 following Britain's victory over China in the first Opium War. Many of the buildings along the western side of the Huangpu River were built at this time --- European influence is evident. "The Bund" (as this section of Shanghai is known) has a riverwalk which is popular with tourists and residents alike.
Across from The Bund is Pudong -- a Special Economic Zone set up by the Chinese Government in 1993. The buildings within the Pudong are contemporary and spectacular. Scheduled for completion this year is the Shanghai Tower which will be the second tallest building in the world -- the tallest is in Dubai. The evening view from The Bund to Pudong is really something with all the building lights on in various forms.
Our hotel is the Westin Bund Center -- another five star hotel. After dinner in the hotel restaurant, Phil and I walk to the The Bund. It is a flawless night -- the activity level is energetic -- ships are moving down the river -- people are walking to and fro -- a general atmosphere of good feeling surrounds us.
We find the Waldorf Astoria and their "Long Bar" which was recommended by our friends, Jill and Tag. We pop in but it is smokey beyond belief so we decide to come back tomorrow at an earlier time.
It has been a long, satisfying day --- and there is more to come.
Thanks for Reading!
Pat
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