Old Shanghai Town and Yuyuan Gardens

One of our trips was to sightsee at this very tourist-y place. It was pretty much Old Shanghai, and inside we visited the City God Temple and the Yuyuan Gardens. There are shops and food stalls within this walled plaza, and they were decorated with lanterns and displays for the Chinese New Year. We had gone on the last day of Chinese New Year.

Old Shanghai Town

outside shots


inside Old Shanghai

City God Temple

(L-R) the doors to the main temple; a burning pyre for gifts to the gods


(L-R) Gloria and I in front of the temple; the gods [I wasn't supposed to take pictures out of respect, but I got a couple of shots in first and then stopped...=P]


(L-R) Another temple behind the main one for the other city gods; a hallway full of smaller gods that you're supposed to pray to depending on your zodiac year to make sure you have good luck for the new year


(L-R) on the way to Yuyuan Gardens; crossing a bridge for good luck - it was insanely crowded because everyone wanted a little bit of luck. The displays on the water depict the fairy tale of the Cow Herder and Weaving Maiden




Yuyuan Gardens
The Yuyuan Gardens were built by a Chinese Official back in the Ming dynasty. He was super rich (of course) and built it for his parents as their retirement home...

If I get rich - I'm not building a garden for you, Mom - just a penthouse ok?!






A picture of the roommates: Gloria, Emily, and Lara