Shanghai sits on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China. It is the largest city in China, the seventh largest in the world. It is also one of the world's busiest ports, becoming the world's largest in 2005. It was originally a fishing village but has become one of China's most important cities. It is the third largest financial center in the world after New York and London. And what a city it is!
Several passengers had told us that we might be docked at a sea side pier rather than in Shanghai, a few miles up river. We had seen a cruise ship docked right on the river in Shanghai when we were there in Oct, so were hoping that's where we would be docked. I guess you have to hit the tides right to bring a large ship like ours that far up river, and that's exactly what our Capt did. We woke up with a view of endless sky scrappers and construction!
A local Embroidery and Arts Center provided shuttle buses to their store from the pier. They were located in the center of Shanghai, so a great way to get started. We went into the store when we arrived and admired the gorgeous embroidered pictures. Some were very expensive, but so beautiful, guess they were worth it? We didn't buy anything, but left the place to go to the Shanghai Museum. There was quite a line, but it moved quickly. Turned out to be a security check, entrance was free. We'd been to the museum in Oct, but only had a short time to see anything. This time we went thru every room. They have some gorgeous jade pieces, lacquer, and old bronzes and ceramics. The building itself is beautiful also.
After the museum, we walked thru the adjoining park, headed to Nanjing Road for shopping. The park was very busy with locals enjoying the beautiful sunny day. Shanghai was to be our only "cold" port. It was chilly, but very nice. We had to fight thru crowds to get to where we wanted to be. It was amazing how many people were out and about! When we were at a cross walk, we left the curb and headed to a HUGE wall of people. We just had to weave in and out to get to the other side safely. We had a couple of blocks to walk and it was packed with people. I must say they ALL looked just like Mel, only with hair! I stuck out like a sore thumb, with some people staring at the "round eye".
No 1 Department Store was at the corner of Nanjing Road where the walking part starts. We decided to go in just to have a look. I was half on a mission to find some shoes with dragons on them, that we'd seen in an airplane magazine in Oct. We went up the escalators looking for shoes. I saw a beautiful jacket on a mannequin, and decided I should try it on. After debating on size and color, I chose the one I wanted. I had to give it to the sales woman, she gave me a ticket, then I had to go to the cashier to pay. There were 2 people working the cashier booth for the entire floor, what a line! And people kept going right up front and getting helped. I was finally able to pay, took my receipt and picked up the jacket. There was a big sign with "5" on it, had no clue what that meant. It was 50% off, what a nice surprise!
Went back down the escalators on our way to the basement. There was a line about 10 across, 30 ft back, to get on the up escalator. The down was on the other side of that. I just grabbed Mel's hand and said "Going in!". I pretty much pushed our way thru and we made it before being forced onto the up escalator! Quite an experience.
Back on Nanjing Road, we were looking for an address we'd been given for a knock offs building. We found the address, but no knock offs. We kept walking. A young man approached me and asked if we were looking for watches. I said yes, and off we went, following him to a side ally, then an unmarked, locked door, into a small room filled with handbags and watches. Didn't really find anything there, so he continued on to 4 or 5 other rooms just like that one. We went thru a narrow passageway to a small opening with a wash tub and laundry hanging. Too funny. At the last store, we spent quite a bit of time. They seemed to have the best variety. Mel bought a suit! And I bought a handbag.
Our friend then suggested we go to a building with a lot of knock offs, ah, the one we were looking for! We could walk or take a taxi. We told him we needed to eat since it was approaching 5 and we'd never had lunch other than some food Mel had brought off the ship. He took us to a hole in the wall place. The handrail to get to the 2nd floor was straight up and down, the stairs were so steep. We settled on the second floor and tried to order. They finally brought over an English menu with pictures. We ordered 3 dishes, he ordered 2 along with a large beer. He ordered a drink for me which turned out to be coconut juice, it was very good. All of the food was excellent. Our friend (we asked his name several times but could never pronounce or remember it) took Mel upstairs to the restroom, then me. He made someone wash the toilet before I went in then handed me a towel after I washed my hands. What service. He must have been hungry because he finished every plate we had plus my bowl of rice and his beer. It all came to just under $20.
Ten minutes in a taxi and we were at a large building, 580 WEST Nanjing. We'd been on East Nanjing. We went up the escalator to the third floor. Our friend took us to "his friends" booths first. By this time we had several packages and he was carrying them all! We spent several hours in this building. You would enter a small booth filled with handbags. They'd push on a wall full of shelves and a door would open up w/nicer handbags in the back! Some places had 2 rooms in the back. They had everything from Rolex, Coach and Billabong. Mel even found some golf clubs. Great shopping. And the bargaining, wow! It was almost sad because they were excepting prices that had to be less than their cost just to make a sale. The bad economy has hit China big time. After several hours we grabbed a taxi back to Nanjing Road where we left our friend, then went on to the ship. He had spent about 6 hours with us! It was a nice experience. Wish he had spoken English better but what we did learn is that he is 25 years old. He is paid a monthly salary by the big boss. Big boss owns almost all the stores we went to. Our friend gets credit for bringing in shoppers. What a system. We were back at the ship at about 7 pm.
Several passengers had told us that we might be docked at a sea side pier rather than in Shanghai, a few miles up river. We had seen a cruise ship docked right on the river in Shanghai when we were there in Oct, so were hoping that's where we would be docked. I guess you have to hit the tides right to bring a large ship like ours that far up river, and that's exactly what our Capt did. We woke up with a view of endless sky scrappers and construction!
A local Embroidery and Arts Center provided shuttle buses to their store from the pier. They were located in the center of Shanghai, so a great way to get started. We went into the store when we arrived and admired the gorgeous embroidered pictures. Some were very expensive, but so beautiful, guess they were worth it? We didn't buy anything, but left the place to go to the Shanghai Museum. There was quite a line, but it moved quickly. Turned out to be a security check, entrance was free. We'd been to the museum in Oct, but only had a short time to see anything. This time we went thru every room. They have some gorgeous jade pieces, lacquer, and old bronzes and ceramics. The building itself is beautiful also.
After the museum, we walked thru the adjoining park, headed to Nanjing Road for shopping. The park was very busy with locals enjoying the beautiful sunny day. Shanghai was to be our only "cold" port. It was chilly, but very nice. We had to fight thru crowds to get to where we wanted to be. It was amazing how many people were out and about! When we were at a cross walk, we left the curb and headed to a HUGE wall of people. We just had to weave in and out to get to the other side safely. We had a couple of blocks to walk and it was packed with people. I must say they ALL looked just like Mel, only with hair! I stuck out like a sore thumb, with some people staring at the "round eye".
No 1 Department Store was at the corner of Nanjing Road where the walking part starts. We decided to go in just to have a look. I was half on a mission to find some shoes with dragons on them, that we'd seen in an airplane magazine in Oct. We went up the escalators looking for shoes. I saw a beautiful jacket on a mannequin, and decided I should try it on. After debating on size and color, I chose the one I wanted. I had to give it to the sales woman, she gave me a ticket, then I had to go to the cashier to pay. There were 2 people working the cashier booth for the entire floor, what a line! And people kept going right up front and getting helped. I was finally able to pay, took my receipt and picked up the jacket. There was a big sign with "5" on it, had no clue what that meant. It was 50% off, what a nice surprise!
Went back down the escalators on our way to the basement. There was a line about 10 across, 30 ft back, to get on the up escalator. The down was on the other side of that. I just grabbed Mel's hand and said "Going in!". I pretty much pushed our way thru and we made it before being forced onto the up escalator! Quite an experience.
Back on Nanjing Road, we were looking for an address we'd been given for a knock offs building. We found the address, but no knock offs. We kept walking. A young man approached me and asked if we were looking for watches. I said yes, and off we went, following him to a side ally, then an unmarked, locked door, into a small room filled with handbags and watches. Didn't really find anything there, so he continued on to 4 or 5 other rooms just like that one. We went thru a narrow passageway to a small opening with a wash tub and laundry hanging. Too funny. At the last store, we spent quite a bit of time. They seemed to have the best variety. Mel bought a suit! And I bought a handbag.
Our friend then suggested we go to a building with a lot of knock offs, ah, the one we were looking for! We could walk or take a taxi. We told him we needed to eat since it was approaching 5 and we'd never had lunch other than some food Mel had brought off the ship. He took us to a hole in the wall place. The handrail to get to the 2nd floor was straight up and down, the stairs were so steep. We settled on the second floor and tried to order. They finally brought over an English menu with pictures. We ordered 3 dishes, he ordered 2 along with a large beer. He ordered a drink for me which turned out to be coconut juice, it was very good. All of the food was excellent. Our friend (we asked his name several times but could never pronounce or remember it) took Mel upstairs to the restroom, then me. He made someone wash the toilet before I went in then handed me a towel after I washed my hands. What service. He must have been hungry because he finished every plate we had plus my bowl of rice and his beer. It all came to just under $20.
Ten minutes in a taxi and we were at a large building, 580 WEST Nanjing. We'd been on East Nanjing. We went up the escalator to the third floor. Our friend took us to "his friends" booths first. By this time we had several packages and he was carrying them all! We spent several hours in this building. You would enter a small booth filled with handbags. They'd push on a wall full of shelves and a door would open up w/nicer handbags in the back! Some places had 2 rooms in the back. They had everything from Rolex, Coach and Billabong. Mel even found some golf clubs. Great shopping. And the bargaining, wow! It was almost sad because they were excepting prices that had to be less than their cost just to make a sale. The bad economy has hit China big time. After several hours we grabbed a taxi back to Nanjing Road where we left our friend, then went on to the ship. He had spent about 6 hours with us! It was a nice experience. Wish he had spoken English better but what we did learn is that he is 25 years old. He is paid a monthly salary by the big boss. Big boss owns almost all the stores we went to. Our friend gets credit for bringing in shoppers. What a system. We were back at the ship at about 7 pm.
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