Last Day in Shanghai and first day in Chengdu (think baby Pandas)!

We had a very nice last day in Shanghai.  Our lovely guide, Ariel, took us to the Water Village, a lovely, more rural area.  We did some amazing shopping (and yes, I have had to break out the Bagallini!) .  We took a boat ride on one of the canals.  We also went to the Shanghai Museum and saw original ethnic costumes, ancient coins, ancient calligraphy scrolls on rice paper and magnificent Ming, Tang and the Qing  Dynasty pottery.  The Quing Dynasty was the last of the great dynasties.  

Unfortunately, Duffy ate something that disagreed with her and she went back to the hotel for the afternoon not feeling well.  However, she was AWESOME by this morning!  Maybe the most spring I have seen in her step since we've been here!  Maybe she needed a little "spring cleaning! :). Whatever happened, she was full of energy today as we left Shanghai and our new friend, Ariel and our driver, Monk!  Ariel was truly our "angel of mercy" yesterday when Mary wasn't feeling well!  Ariel ended up having dinner with Bill and I at the hotel last evening and then She took us on a night walk to see the amazing lights!  As Bill said today, it looks like a lot of Chinese visited Vegas and came home and said, "I have an idea...."  You will see that every building is lit Vegas style in both Shanghai and Chengdu!

After a 3 hour plane ride, we were warmly greeted in a huge, very modern airport (finished a year ago) by our new guide, Rebecca and driver, Mr. Pan.  We had our luggage delivered to the hotel and we took off sight seeing.  Chengdu is the Capitol of Sichuan province.  There are 6 million people in the cityCenter. There are two rivers here which were excavated by hand over 2,000 years ago to prevent flooding during the rainy season.  The system still works today.  The name of the River our hotel is on is The Nan (south) River also called the Brocade River.  This was the beginning of  the "Silk Road" into India and South Asia about 1000 years ago.  It was written that even Marco Polo visited Changdu.  It was the silk Capitol back then.. It is the only city over 2000 years old that still has it's original name.. Chengdu means "Capitol City".

Chengdu, like Shanghai, is beautifully clean -- no litter anywhere in the city that we've seen...there are a great many new buildings, but it does not have as much new construction as Shanghai.  Arlene was here about 10 years ago and she said it has changed dramatically -- beyond recognition in many ways.

We visited the Wu Hou Shrine that has a magnificent Bonzai Garden, and then a private park -- so peaceful and tranquil!  There are no sounds of traffic even though it is in the city center-- just chirping birds!  And talk about exquisite weather!  This was easily the most beautiful weather day we've had--- sunny and 70! No wind and blue skies made it picture perfect!  There is a GREAT deal of rainfall here so today's sun was quite unusual!

Our Shangrilah Hotel suite is gorgeous and it connects with Mary and Arlene's room!  We did a quick unpacking and left for an early dinner at a beautiful Chinese Restaurant on the waterfront. We have adopted a cute little girl Panda named Gaby who keeps showing up in the most fun places!  I have a feeling we will continue to see her for a long while to come!  :) 

I am still sending this by email because the blog site is blocked by the government...

In the Water Village outside of Shanghai.

The local pet store, and NO these are not food!

However, the snails to,the left are on the menu...

This is the artist who does the MOST AMAZING embroidery on silk!  It is so fine, they look like photos instead of embroidery!

Artist at work!

And no, I'm not really embroidering!  :)

Our boat ride!

Selling the days catch .

Lunch back at the Peninsula Hotel!

Our visit to the Silk Museum where they explain the process of the silk worm!

Different stages of the silk worm life cycle.  They only live 2 months.

Stretching out the silk cocoon the worm has made. It is super strong!

Helping stretch a thin layer of silk over a mattress!

Ethnic costumes and masks in the Shanghai Museum.

Shanghai at night...

Being introduced to Gaby Panda!

Shrine in Chengdu.

There she is again!

A lovely dinner at the Ginko Restaurant. The Ginko is the national tree of the city.

Duffy made a friend!

Hmmm.  Hitching a ride in our van!

There are 160 species of bamboo in this park!

Duffy's friend whi is 20 months old!

A lone lotus blossom blooming .

And a sweet goodnight from Chengdu.. Remember, I can't post to blog or get on Facebook. Tomorrow we visit THE PANDA breeding center where we all get to hold a baby Panda!  Can't wait!!!!