SHANGHAI
THE ASIAN SERIES PT7
Went to the Observatory in the Pearl Building today, thee most touristy thing to do in Shanghai it seems. Some nice views but the smog doesn’t help. Everyone is looking at the white boy wearing shorts and flip flops and I cant think why, its about 20 degrees! I haven’t had this many looks since India!
I WATCHED MY FIRST GAELIC MATCH IN CHINA!
Hopefully meeting an old Uni friend, Steve Kerr tonight or more likely tomorrow because I can’t get hold of him. His number is on my Facebook if anyone has been will know you cant access it while here!
WHERE IS SUZHOU?
Checking out Shanghai
CHINESE CITIES
If anyone wants an idea of the size of china read on. Steve is currently in another city just outside Shanghai called Suzhou. From hearing this I was expecting to get a 10 hour bus or train but it turns out there are 200 pairs of high speed trains everyday! How long does it take you ask, anything from 25-60mins!!
Checking out Shanghai
SUZHOU
Surely Suzhou cant be that big if it is so close and anyway few have actually heard of it! Having two cities beside each other is one thing, its not entirely uncommon but when the population of Suzhou is a measly 10million and the population of Shanghai 24million it helps you understand how China has a population of over a billion!
Checking out Shanghai
RELATED READ: PETROL AND FIRE AT MY FIRST FULL MOON PARTY
Checking out Shanghai
GAELIC
Met up with Steve at a rugby, football and Gaelic tournament and having lived in Northern Ireland all of my life I never thought I’d see my first Gaelic match in a city I’ve never heard of in China!
Great to see him but they got beat in every game, I would love to say the standard was quite high but I would be lying, sorry Steve! He seems to be enjoying it in China and for someone who believes in every conspiracy theory the world has heard I am surprised to see him content in staying there.
Went to some sports bar for a few drinks after and he was in top form but unfortunately I had a flight tomorrow, thanks for the hospitality bud!!
SHANGHAI METRO:
- Home to the longest metro system in the world
- 645km of tracks and tunnels
- No less than 393 stations!!
- The fastest train in the world is here, Shanghau Maglev
RATINGS….
- PEOPLE – 7/10
- BACKPACKING – 6/10
- WEATHER – 7/10
- THINGS TO DO – 6/10
- FOOD – 7/10
- VALUE – 7/10
FINAL THOUGHTS
Shanghai remained a city that ‘wasn’t for me’ it’s not why I came to Asia but it certainly does have plenty to offer, it just depends what you are after. However I did regret not staying a night in Suzhou and exploring more of it!
NEXT UP
Off to Xi-An to see one of my favourite 8th wonders! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
31/229
This episode is part of The Asian Series. Click to view episode1.
Question Time
- Do you like the chaos of Asian cities?
- What is your favourite Chinese city?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
