The Bund Originally posted 28th February 2015

Wednesday 25th February For the Spring Festival it is usual for Shanghai to have an organised firework display to be viewed from the Bund but because of the tragic death of 36 people on 31st December 2014, the firework display……more

 

Shopping Originally posted 27th February 2015

Over the last two of days I’ve been out shopping.  Yesterday I went out a couple of times to stock up on food and today was a bits and pieces shopping adventure at the Yu Gardens Bazaar. Following on from my…….more

 

The Chinese Cooking Workshop Originally posted 25th February 2015

I arrived late for my first class to learn how to make dim sum at the Chinese Cooking Workshop.  It would have helped if I had written down the building number as well as the intricate map I had copied……more

 

Xintiandi  Originally posted 23rd February 2015

Xintiandi is a small area within the Old French Concession which has been rebuilt and which now contains a wide range of western style bars and is particularly popular with Westerners.  We went to investigate the other day and what……more

 

The Hai Lao Hot Pot Restaurant  Originally posted 23rd February 2015

Richard is still on holiday – so we are still focused on food……… Last night we went to the Hai Lao Hot Pot Restaurant reported to be the best hot pot restaurant in town, and I can see why.  It’s….more

 

Evidence for the Origins of Some European Foods  Originally posted 21st February 2015

In our food forays in Shanghai we are coming across evidence of foods that have obviously originated in the area of the world that is modern day China and have then found their way west, no matter what the inhabitants ………..more

 

Food and The Start of the Spring Festival  Originally posted 19th February 2015

Yesterday was the eve of The Spring Festival – known in the West as Chinese New Year.  It is the night of the reunion dinner when family from far and wide return home to be with their parents.  We have been……more

 

The YuYan Garden or Jade Garden  Originally posted 18th February 2015

I went to the Yu Yuan (Jade Garden) yesterday.  It’s on the edge the Old City of Shanghai and a very famous and much visited garden.   It was built during the Ming dynasty and survived the Cultural Revolution intact because….more

 

Mrs Sun Yat-sen , Soong Qingling  Originally posted 17th February 2015

I found myself on the trail of Soong Qingling, as the next metro station in towards central Shanghai from here is Songyuan Road. This literally means the Garden of Song road, and gets its name from the Soong Qingling mausoleum……..more

 

The Heping Park, Hongkou District, Shanghai  Originally posted 16th February 2015

On the other side of the road from the hotpot restaurant, a road at least four lanes wide, the local residents were hanging out their washing and their sausages to dry – it was a warm sunny day after all. I’ve…….more

 

HotPot on the Way to Buy a Bicycle  Originally posted 14th February 2015

We set off this morning to go and find Richard a bicycle. After a bit of research he had found a shop in Hongkou District in northern Shanghai that sold “Forever” bicycles – a locally made old fashioned model –…more

 

The SaKaBaNa Japanese Cafe and The Old China Hand Reading Room Originally posted 14th February 2015

At another corner of our compound in Changning is a Japanese dining café and bar, SaKaBaNa, which sells bar food, and it is where Richard and I went on Friday night for our meal. We had been recommended the place for….more

 

The Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Originally posted 13th February 2015

Backing onto Fuxing Park – the one where we came across a man meditating whilst lying on a chain – is the former residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first president and founding father of the Republic of China, and……more

 

The Former Residence of Zhou Enlai Originally posted 13th February 2015

Just down the road from Dr Sun Yat-sen’s house on Sinan Road is the former residence of Zhou Enlai, first Premier of the People’s Republic of China.  When he lived on Sinan Road he was head of the Shanghai Communist Party…more

 

The Da Dong Restaurant   Originally posted 11th February 2015

We were due to go to the Da Dong restaurant for a social evening with one of Richard’s customers when the poor man called in sick with ‘flu. But we kept the table booking and went all the same. The….more

 

Food- It’s why we are here after all  Originally posted 11th February 2015

It’s food that brought us to Shanghai. It’s food or drink that takes us most places. Richard is a bit like a “Bisto Kid” capable of sniffing out good food anywhere. We once came across a fantastic fresh water fish…….more

 

The Temple of the Town God  Originally posted 10th February 2015

The Temple of the Town God houses the traditional Taoist gods that protected the population of the Old City of Shanghai from harm and it originally dates from the beginning of the 15th Century, during the Ming dynasty. Like most…..more

 

The Old City of Shanghai and Its Markets Originally posted 9th February 2015

It’s a while since Richard and I wandered around the Old City. We were following a route in one of my tourist guides, which took us quite quickly away……more

 

The Propaganda Poster Museum Originally posted 8th February 2015

I’ve gone on about this long enough in other posts, but haven’t got round to writing about it.  Somehow my nice plan of writing….more

 

Shanghai Transport  Originally posted 7th February 2015

When I visited Mainland China from Hong Kong in the 1980s everyone was riding around on bicycles, except for those inside the odd large government car……more

 

Some Flowers in Shanghai  Originally posted 6th February 2015

When I was pottering around in The Old French Concession the other day on my way to and from the Propaganda Poster Museum I came across…….more

 

Eating Out: The Liquid Laundry  Originally posted 5th February 2015

We’ve been having quite a lot of meals out since we got to China. It’s not like us at all and it takes some getting used to….. more

 

Settling In  Originally posted 2nd February 2015

We moved into our flat last Wednesday and since then we have been on a mission to equip it with essentials.  It is basically furnished …..more

 

The Old Shanghai Teahouse Originally posted 1st February 2015

We had been wandering around the Old City in Shanghai for quite a few hours and felt in need of a pick me up ……… more

 

The Chenxiangge Nunnery Originally posted 1st February 2015

The Chenxiangge Nunnery is in the Old City area of Shanghai and is a pool of serenity and a haven away from the seemingly endless Chinese…….more