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We get up at 7am and head to the Shanghai Urban Planning Centre by metro to find a hop on/hop off tour bus costing only 30 yuan each (£3) for 24 hours. We decide to try and aim for the bund area and yuyung gardens today.
Stopping at Maccy Ds' (scrambled egg is too good) we have a quick brekkie and head for the bund, upon arriving at the custom house we head to the sightseeing desk and pay for a trip on the bund tunnel and world financial centre observation deck which is apparently the highest in the world. The total cost is 420 yuan.
The tunnel itself is navigated through via cable cars on rails all lit up with dodgy Chinese music. At the other side, we exited towards the oriental pearl TV tower which was stunning, we walked past it up a flight of stairs to a circular walkway bridge which looped around the busy road below providing an easy path to all the major skyscrapers.
We walked towards the SWFC, flew to the 96th floor at 8 floors per second, viewing a smoggy Shanghai through Perspex glass.
We then visited the 100th floor walking the skywalk, heading then to the 94th floor for a well-deserved pitcher of beer as we sat gazing out at the city view. We paid 30 yuan to strike a lucky bell 3 times and leave wish cards, then headed back towards to station.
Matt finally got his Buddha from a market stall at the station, the sales man was looking for 190yuan we negotiated 120 and he got a selfie stick for 45yuan. We decide to head straight to yuyuan gardens to find the Huxington tea house and further explore the bund tomorrow.
We jump back on our bus and upon arriving notice the decor and buildings to be very traditional and striking, it's a busy area with the hustle and bustle of street traders also to contend with. We follow signs to the tea house which is beautifully situated on a pond which is home to huge goldfish and water fountains. We pay 120 yuan for two teas and chill out sampling each other's selections.
We then make tracks for the temple but discover the Yuyuan Gardens firstly outside the tea house. 20 yuan each gets us access to the stoney gardens with traditional Chinese furniture, lanterns, ponds, calligraphy and seat boxes. We then made our way to the city temple costing 10 yuan each - walking through the gate we could hear what sounded like prayers, each area had a dedicated shrine to Buddha and saints which people were providing food offerings for - the biggest temple area had what seemed like modern day monks praying in unison offering up food and dressed in stunning amber coloured robes and hats. We could smell sweet incense everywhere spread by those praying who could light it from a huge circular fire pit in the centre of the courtyard.
We left and walked through a street of shops, Matt found a traditional tea set negotiated from 380-90 yuan. We got back on our bus and after being dropped on Nanjing road we found a hidden restaurant called "beyond the clouds" in an alley near the bus stop. After taking the lift to the 5th floor we were amazed as we walked in and discovered how gorgeous it was and busy with local people. It was obviously a more up market restaurant, tastefully decorated with plants and Chinese decor and so we decided to treat ourselves following a busy but successful day sightseeing. We order spicy chicken hani, which is like lemon chicken but nicer and more flavoursome, spicy ribs, which come chopped up and egg rice - it's beautiful and we devour the lot! Our most expensive meal yet at 208 yuan but it was so worth it.
We head home and crash waking around 9pm to Video call our families - it's been a great day!
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