Forget the Taxi, Take A Rickshaw

As I mentioned in an earlier post, taking a taxi from Old Street in Shanghai was practically impossible. It was very cold, so when we were propositioned by an elderly gentleman in a motorized rickshaw...we accepted. Of course, we were worried about whether the flimsy looking vehicle could keep us safe from the elements...and from the traffic. Despite our concerns, we jumped in and had the most interesting ride of our entire trip. It's cheap, fast, and easy...and a great alternative way to travel!

Shanghai Old Street

Another famous spot in Shanghai is Old Street. It's a street of shops and it's a great place to pick up all kinds of souvenirs. The streets are lined with food and loud and aggressive vendors trying to persuade you to come into their shops. Be prepared to be harassed and to bargain for what you want. Another thing to be prepared for is the lack of taxis leaving Old Street. It takes forever to find a taxi, and if you do, be aware that you'll literally have to fight others to get a seat. My friend and I waited so long for a taxi, that we finally ventured into a rickshaw...more details to follow...haha!

Visiting the Yuyuan Garden of Shanghai

Another stop on our weekend tour was of the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. I will be honest and admit that I'm not much of a nature girl, and parks don't usually thrill me...but this one was pretty good. The architecture and landscaping seemed was very obviously traditional Chinese style and an interesting break from the busy market right outside it's doors. It was pretty cold while we were there, but on a nice day, I'm sure it's even better!

More information can be found at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/shanghai/attraction/yuyuan-garden.htm

Hello China: Visit the Jade Buddha Temple

During my short week in Shanghai, I am determined to take in some of the sights - I don't want to spend my entire trip here in an office. Over the weekend, my favorite Singaporean travel buddy and I visited several key places in attempt to see the highlights of Japan.

One of our first stops was to the Jade Buddha Temple. The temple was quite a bit larger than I expected when entering, and had tons of Buddha statues and places for worship. There were tons of tourists and locals there...a definite see in Shanghai.

For more information, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Buddha_Temple