Yesterday we visited a Green Tea Factory before moving on from Hangzhou. It was a most beautiful city. We travelled for a couple of hrs on the bus onto Shanghai, wow, such a contrast of old & new. It really shows the past as well as a thriving & optimistic future for China. After a delicious Mongolian BBQ lunch we then checked out a beautiful silk carpet & art factory. Such beautiful quality & lovely to see the past being nurtured & preserved for all to enjoy. There certainly were some amazing pictures but as you can imagine quite pricey. From there on into the central town section of Shanghai. Here is a thriving economic centre with every imaginable popular western culture shopfront. Then very close by was the old section of Shanghai where vendors of the many small shops & stalls were eager to bargain with you! Shanghai's population is over 30 million, more people than I can comprehend! It's been quite funny, since we have been here many Chinese have asked 4 a photo of mostly Kay or myself, mostly with one of them, we have taken on some notoriety, think it's the lighter or Breyer hair. I now sympathize with Angelina Jolie & her paparazzi issues! I will happily resume my former life as a nobody! also for the 1st time in my life some ladies referred to me as tall! that will be a once off I am sure! in the late afternoon yesterday we did a beautiful river cruise here in Shanghai, the lights were amazing, hopefully the photos will do justice to our experience. Finally after dinner we arrived at our Hotel, the Sheraton, which was superb, unfortunately all of the 5 star Hotels have been brief stays given our very tight sight seeing schedules! No matter our 1st experience of China has certainly been both impressive & insightful! Today after packing, (that has proved to be a challenge given some astute purchases made here) the 4 of us have headed into Shanghai for one final wander in both the old & new sections of the City Centre. This
Afternoon it's back to the Hotel where we will meet up with our Tour Group & take the very fast train to the airport. Tonight we shall fly home to Australia after our whirlwind tour. Has been a great experience all round & hopefully a great trip home on our plane. Photos still to come when I get some time.