Chinese New Year - Feb 23, 2007

The next to last day of the holiday. Many pigs were spotted. See the end of this post.

The weathernet promised clear skies and temps in the high 50's so about 11:00 AM we set off for Hongkou District where Sun-Ling grew up for some historic building viewing.

We hopped on bus #10, almost right in front of our apartment, which took us all the way to Lu Xun park in Hongkou. On the way we got a good look at Huai Hai Lu, People's Park, and North Sichuan Lu.

Pre-1939, the Hongkuo district had lots of residential housing - it was not a commercial district. There were many villas like these. You could almost imagine you were in Europe.


And many townhouses like these.


The weather was pleasant and old folks were soaking in the rays on Duolun Rd.


On Duolun Rd - the only church in Shanghai built in Chinese style architecture.


There were many cinema's in this district. Here's one, the International Cinema on Haining Lu.


417 Zhapu Lu - at the corner of Haining Lu. Sun-Ling's childhood home. Her family lived on the 3rd floor of the building at center right with the orange and blue first floor exterior. Their "space" also included the rooftop of the beige building next door which now has a small shed.


There was an historic movie theatre across the street; however, it no longer functions as a movie theatre, but is divided into an Internet Cafe, a disco, and several restaurants. The original facade is obscured by signage.


At the other end of the block was this fire station which is still used today - I think.


We stopped at Mr Pizza - almost underneath Sun-Ling's old home, for a veggie pizza. Later we stopped at the New Asia Hotel for a couple of Iced Coffees. Crossed Suzhou Creek, walked along the Bund, and rode the subway home.

There are a number of major historic buildings on the North side of Suzhou creek. We checked out all the ones in the photos below, including a quick peek in each lobby.

The Post Office, were Sun-Ling bought stamps for her stamp collection.


The Astor Hotel - since 1846.


Broadway Mansions Hotel and Waibaidu Bridge.


And some different views of the Pudong skyline. Well, the Pearl Tower remains the same but at least the foreground is different. ;-)






Ceramic pigs.


Hanging Pigs.



Giant Papercut Pigs.


more pig

and more pigs

Delivery

Getting goods delivered in Shanghai is super easy and inexpensive (or free). I think it has to do with cheap labor, population concentration, and family cars are just beginning to become popular.

A lot of the times delivery is free. It goes without saying, we get our 5-gallon water bottle for the water cooler delivered free. Among the more reasonably priced and accessible beers, John likes Carlsberg best. We get them delivered by the 12-bottle case in the 20 oz size. Our fruit vendor delivers with a phone call though they are only 150 meters away. I order on the web from our grocer (Lianhua, a huge chain). Delivery is free for 20 RMB purchases, 2 RMB otherwise.

I do quite a bit of my purchases online. Next day delivery is 5-6 RMB for the 1st kilogram 100 kilometers around Shanghai, including pickup and dropoff. Now, whenever I need to get something to a friend or relative, I use the courier service too.

The only problem with delivery is that you have to be there to receive and sign. For small things, I have them delivered to my office. In the lobby of our apartment building, there is an Ayi from 8am to 8pm. The Ayi is kind enough to sign for us. The other day we picked up a small piece of furniture when cruising the street. It got delivered and was waiting for us with the Ayi in the lobby before we even got home.

Chinese New Year - Feb 22, 2007

A slower pace.

The fireworks and firecrackers kept us up past 1:00 AM. Sun-Ling was up early. I dozed until 9 or so.

With no real plan for the day, we had some breakfast and watched the weather. When it looked like the sun might come out, I headed to Lian Hua Rd Metro station to try to shoot a photo of the new CRH bullet train as it came through. Sun-ling headed to IKEA to buy some some food.

Limited success for me as one train came by from the north at 1:41 and one from the south at 1:52. It's hard to get a good photo of a bullet. ;-)

This bullet train, known as the CRH (China Railway High-speed), from Shanghai to Hangzhou, is actually two bullet trains hooked together as you can see in this series of "coming", "joined in the middle" and "going" photos.

Coming towards you.


Two joined in the middle.


Going away.


We met at home around 2:30 and set out again at 3:00 for more historic architecture viewing. Ho hum. Not much cool stuff today.

Here's one apartment building that caught my eye on XinHua Lu.


One of the historic villas, 483 XinHua Rd is now the Hai Fei Xuan tea house. Good place for a break. Sun-Ling had a Mango Milkshake and John had a Coffee Ice Cream Snowy (like a milk shake).

Here's the historic villa.


Check out the bird carved from melon rind in SL's shake.


Rode bus 946 home. Dinner at home. Watched movie "A Sigh" by the Chinese director Feng Xiaogang. Pretty good.

Pig of the Day.

Ancestor Worship & Winter Solstice

In December, just before the Winter Solstice, we made a trip to Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple (Yifo Si) with our friends Brian and Debbie who were visiting from the US. For centuries the Chinese have been celebrating the Winter Solstice - a turn from Yin to Yang as the days get longer - with offerings to Heaven and Ancestors. However, the amount of activity astounded us. The whole temple complex was buzzing with activity.

Debbie and Brian at Jade Buddha Temple.


Crowded main courtyard.


If one has loads of money to honor Heaven and your Ancestors, you can hire monks to parade and chant. You can even put on black robes and process and chant with them(see video below).





Less expensive, one buys silver paper, folds it into the shape of silver bars, puts it in a red box or red bag, and then burns it in urns at the temple. Typically the ancestor's name is written on the outside of the red bag so the money can be "delivered".

It takes a long time to fill up several bags so if you have many ancestors, you bring your folding camp chairs and food to the temple as you will spend the whole day there.







People lined up to burn the red bags of money for their ancestors.


Alternatively, the average Chinese may just come to the temple, and burn incense and pray. This photo from a visit a few days earlier to the City God temple.



Here are some videos.







For more info on China and the Winter Solstice click here.

Finally, here's a photo of one of the two Jade Buddhas at the temple.

Chinese New Year - Feb 21

Year of the Pig: Day 4.

Plan: Forecast says a clearish day so we'll do another DIY walking your of historic buildings. Then, since it's the eve of the 5th day of the new year, we will stay up for midnight fireworks which traditionally welcome the God of Fortune/Wealth. These fireworks will rival the New Year's Eve fireworks in intensity but not duration.

Once again the Metro was full of people with gift bags and baskets. Here's a shot I took while waiting to get on the train in the Xujiahui Station. Notice the big glass doors/barriers for safety and crowd control.


Another nice winter day. Old folks were sitting in the sun. This lady was looking for a good spot to catch some rays.


We wandered around looking at old buildings. Actually it's not wandering. Sun-Ling has done some great research.

Some "soon to be renovated" historic apartments on Jianguo Rd.


The doorway of the Anting Apartments.


Greenish pre-1949 modernista home.


We popped into an antique store and bought a table for our apartment -- 100 RMB including delivery.

Stopped in Senses restaurant for a latte and cappuccino.

We ended up near Sun-Ling's Grandfather's (on father's side) younger sister's house. We call her Little Grandma. And after a call to Ma to get the exact street, we stopped in. Little Grandma's daughter and son-in-law were there and we had a good visit with lots of snacks: pistachios, tangerines, candied walnuts, candied hickory nuts, Picnic candy bars from Australia, various seeds, and hot tea. Forgot to take a group photo.

Just around the corner from Little Grandma's house was this meat shop.


Took a taxi home.

The fireworks were again more than awesome. The restaurant across the street let off a barrage. And our neighbors in the courtyard made some of the loudest noise I've ever heard. Wow!

I've been experimenting with my camera settings in an attempt to get some better fireworks shots.

From our courtyard balcony.


From our Nandan Rd balcony.


Towards Gateway Towers.


Pigs of the Day.

Chinese New Year - Feb 20

Today is the 3rd day of the Year of the Pig. The plan: Lunch with Sun-Ling's father's relatives. Try to shoot a photo of the new CRH bullet train. Catch the new 007 movie with Sun-Ling's nephews. Dinner out.

Made it to the 11:30 lunch on time today. Again, most people on the Metro were carrying a gift bag or basket. I managed to sneak a shot.


There were two tables for today's banquet. Eating. Talking. Toasting. Etc.

Packing the leftovers. Grandmother and Beckham. Who knows?


The lunch lasted until 1:30 so I missed my chance to photograph the CRH train. Maybe tomorrow.

We rode the Metro back to XuJiaHui. Sun-Ling's father's older brother, his children and grandchildren, who were all at lunch, met us at our apartment.
Father's older brother's family.


After a short visit, we took the two grandchildren - boys ages 16 and 15 - to see the new 007 movie, Casino Royale, which we all liked. Chinese refer to Casino Royale as the new "007" (ling ling chi) movie, not the new "James Bond" movie. I guess the numbers are easier to pronounce.

Gino's was the next stop for lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza; finally put the boys on the Metro about 8:30 PM. They are good eaters. Good kids.

Pigs of the Day.

Hapig New Year ;-) poster seen in at Gino's bakery.


From a poster in a bank.

Chinese New Year - Feb 19

The weather forecast was for clear skies. No family activities were planned So our plan for the day was to check out some of the historic buildings in Shanghai on a DIY walking tour.

First stop was at Gateway Towers to buy tickets for tomorrow's 4:30 showing of the latest 007 movie. We are taking Sun-Ling's nephews (the sons of two of her cousins). While waiting for SL to buy the tickets I took this shot of the mall dome with the red lanterns.



As we walked along Huai Hai Lu in the Embassy/Consulate District, the streets seemed almost deserted. The even the normally kinetic street sweepers were relaxing.


The Consulate Guards were out for a walk on a winter's day.


The famous Normandie Apartments - at left.


The famous Empire Mansions (apartments).


24 Fuxing Xi Lu (Magy Apartment) faces the corner. A super Art Deco building. One of my new favorites.


Willow Court (apartments) - the yellow building at right-back.


We made two pit stops today. First at 1:30 for iced coffees, onion rings, fried noodles,and deep fried rice balls. And again about 4:30 for 2 coffee milkshakes. Yum!

Home at 5:30. SL made a tasty spicy Thai stir-fry.

Evening: I worked on uploading photos to Flickr and writing this post.Sun-Ling watched Million Dollar Baby. We were both interrupted several times by more fireworks in the courtyard. Fun!

Pigs of the Day.

McDonald's poster by a bus stop.


Poster on the door of a restaurant.