Shanghai

Having just enjoyed my first decent nights's sleep, I was awoken by the alarm. Breakfast summoned and what a fabulous breakfast it was - Chinese, Japanese and European were available. 

The hotel is an outstanding  example of 1930s architecture. Originally it was named the Cathay, renamed the Peace Hotel in 1950s and only reopened in 2010 after extensive renovation. 

  

There is a constant stream of non residents  coming in to view the hotel so cleverly one can't use the elevators to the upper floors unless one is a guest with a key. 

All bedrooms are decorated in 1930s style and the suites have a view of the Bund, Clinton stayed her as did Charlie Chaplain to name but a few. 

We decided to take a stroll along the Bund.   

 It was a lovely morning, if smoggy.!! The weather was very pleasant as it was warm 16• and the sun was attempting to shine through the smog!!  Luckily, the architectural gems on the Bund survived the Cultural Revolution. Now the origin of each building is explained on a plaque outside each building. 

The Bund only rekindled its old grandeur in the last 15 years with a display of the remaining 22 heritage buildings. Among the most prominent are 

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank  Building (1923), 

        

             The Custom House (1927), 

    Former  Palace Hotel (1909 ) now                                         Swatch Peace Hotel and Fairmont Peace     Hotel (1929)

As we walked, two Chinese young people asked us to take a photograph of them and  they  reciprocated. They said they were going to a Tea Ceremony so we joined them. It was most interesting- different teas required different pots- earthenware, china and glass. We were invited to smell each tea before it was brewed and then one had to drink it in three sips. It took half an hour. At the end, we were invited to buy tea at ¥300 (€43 per small packet) . We declined. Young men are warned not to be lured by women to drinking establishments where they will be required to pay the expensive bill.  I was wondering if this was a set up, though I don't think so as there was no problem when we declined to buy tea.

We left our 'friends' and returned to the hotel. After a brief rest we went shopping or intended to shop on Nanking  Road, 

adjacent to the hotel. 

All goods here are more expensive than in Europe.  One shopping centre exuded 7 floors of luxury. 

Every international brand was available and in the Food Hall - international brands of food. 

There are obviously high taxes on luxury, imported goods- a large jar of Nescafé cost ¥ 175 (€25) It is obviously a two tier society but with such a large population, a small percentage earning high salaries would sustain this economy. I was surprised to see so few Westerners here in Shanghai. Our hotel is mainly patronised by the Chinese and now I think I know why. It is more expensive than Japan and I thought Japan was expensive.   

Tonight we plan to eat in the French Quarter and tomorrow we must cross the river to Pudong (we're in Puxi). We intended to climb the Shanghai Tower, supposed to have been completed last year but, surprisingly for the Chinese, it is not yet complete.....