A day exploring Shanghai’s temples and tranquil gardens, followed by an evening of breathtaking acrobatics showcasing strength, balance, and fearless stunts.
Exploring Shanghai.
Shanghai is the fastest‑developing city in China, and today we set out to explore it on a sightseeing tour. We left the hotel at around 09:00 for our guided tour with a local coach company.
Jade Buddha Temple.
The Jade Buddha Temple was absolutely bustling when we arrived. It was a religious holiday, and the place was full of people praying, burning incense, and asking the Buddha for whatever blessings they hoped for.
I found the commercialism a bit disappointing. I understand that temples need money to operate. Still, visitors were encouraged to buy incense, wax lotus flowers, and other offerings to burn; the “bonfire” was essentially a large oil drum.
The entry fee was fair enough, but one of our group accidentally walked out through the exit and was charged again to re-enter, even after showing their ticket.
The Buddhas themselves were impressive. The reclining Buddha was lovely, but my favourite was a Jade Buddha seated with many hands raised behind it in different symbolic positions. The Jade Buddhas were imported from Burma in 1882 and were rescued when the temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. They were placed in the rebuilt temple in 1928.
Yuyuan Gardens.
The Yuyuan Gardens were stunning, tranquil, beautifully designed, and a welcome escape from the city's noise. I could easily have spent much longer there, just wandering or sitting quietly. Some of the bonsai trees were extraordinary, and the place's peacefulness was remarkable, given its central location.
We learned that the gardens are divided into six areas and cover around two hectares. The Sansui Hall features a large rockery, and the other sections, Wanhua Hall, Dianchuan Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall, and the inner gardens, include ponds, towers, rockeries, and winding paths. Each area is separated by a magnificent dragon wall, which looks even better when framed against the modern skyscrapers towering above it.
About Yuyuan Gardens.
Yuyuan Garden was built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan as a haven for his father, Pan En, in his old age. The name “Yu Yuan” means “pleasing and satisfying to one’s parents,” and the garden is also known as the “Garden of Peace and Comfort.”
Shanghai Acrobat Show.
After dinner, we attended an acrobatics show. It featured solo performers and groups alike, all demonstrating incredible strength, balance, and precision. Some performers were catapulted to the top of a human tower; the bravery involved was astonishing.
The tumblers were equally impressive, flipping through moving hoops and performing at different heights. When four or five of them tumbled simultaneously, the coordination and timing were breathtaking. It was a fantastic show and a great way to end the day.
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