Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is found within the suburbs of Shanghai City and this is a very interesting place to visit for last minute China travel deals . It is popularly called as Water Town because of the numerous water passageways which run in between homes and infrastructures.

The main reason why this town is surrounded by water is because it sits right in between lakes and mountains.

The history of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is over 1,700 years. Today, it is also known as the “Pearl Stream”. Among the four ancient towns within Shanghai, it is Zhujiajiao Ancient Town which is most preserved. Despite the modernizations which were adapted by the town, it has still successfully kept its traditional beauty which is seen with the antique bridges, age-old willow trees and houses with traditional architecture.

Places to Visit
The Kezhi Yuan or Kezhi Gardens China best tours is one of the most popular attractions in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. There are three different parts in this destination which is the main hall, the artificial hill area and the garden. The main reason why this is a popular landmark in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is because it is the tallest structure with its five-storey building. Right on the roof is a beautiful pavilion.


The Qing Dynasty Post Office is more than just a depository of mail. This is very popular for the well-preserved architecture which dates back to ancient Qing Dynasty. This place also has an exhibit of old post cards and letters.

The temples in this location are also interesting to see because of the rich ancient Chinese culture that they resonate and the captivating traditional architecture. The Yunjin Monastery popular China tours is a Buddhist monastery that is found at the northern part of the Caohe Street. On the other hand, there is also the Taoist temple, The Town God Temple or Chenghuangmiao. Its construction is dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Guanyin.

The trip to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is not complete without checking out the ancient bridges. There are more than 30 bridges in this town. The most popular one is the Fangsheng Bridge which spreads up to 70-meter distance.

More others about China: Beijing attractions, Shanghai shopping, Hong Kong city guide and so on

When French architect Paul Andreu set out to design the National Center for the Performing Arts, he envisioned the project as an icon for the city, a distinctly unique structure nestled amidst a landscape of vast history.

Popularly referred to as “The Egg”, the NCPA sits at the center of a rectangular pool, directly west of Tiananmen Square on a prime piece of ancient real estate just adjacent to the entrance of the Forbidden City (must-see for last minute China travel deals).

Construction of the 5,452-seat titanium and glass ellipsoid structure began in December 2001. The main auditorium is flanked by two smaller auditorium spaces encapsulated by a nearly 12,000-sqm dome. The titanium and glass dome measures 212 meters along its east-west axis, and 144 meters from north to south. The main entrance to the center takes visitors beneath the artificial lake, where calm water floats atop a glass roof, allowing light to pour into the main entry space.

From the very beginning of the project’s almost decade long realization from concept to completion, the design fell under severe scrutiny for its starkly modern appearance within its conservatively traditional setting. On countless occasions the design team was challenged to defend their position that the NCPA was intended to be an icon, a structure that would help to define Beijing (don't miss it for your China best tours) as a modern epicenter spanning centuries of development. The muted polish of the titanium, dramatic use of glass, water and trees were carefully used to accentuate their ancient surroundings.

The three major performance spaces include the Opera Hall located at the center of the structure, flanked by a smaller Music Hall and Theater Hall on either side. Initial budgeting priced the cost of design and construction at 2.688 billion RMB, but after subsequent minor changes throughout the design process, the final price tag was more than 3.2 billion RMB.

With tickets available at a range of prices for performances, visiting the NCPA is a wonderful way to experience Chinese culture through the arts. Visit NCPA’s website for information on upcoming performances and events.

You can obtain more via chinatourdotcom such as Beijing attractions, Shanghai shoppings, Kunming tour, Guilin travel guide and Hong Kong scenic spots, etc.

The city of Urumqi has served as an active center of trade for goods from throughout Central Asia, serving as a main point of access along the ancient Silk Road. The center of Urumqi, the capital of west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (the must-see for your Silk Road tour), is home to Erdaoqiao Market, an energetic trading post that has remained active since its establishment during the late Qing Dynasty nearly 130 years ago.

The market was given a face-lift in 2002 when the Urumqi city government funded renovations of Erdaoqiao and opened a 1.2km shopping street to house the market, a Xinjiang International Bazaar, and a Xinjiang Ethnic Products Street. The area attracts an outstanding number of traders, local shoppers, and wide-eyed visitors on a daily basis.

The area has become known as the "golden shopping district", showcasing ethnic minority goods and handicrafts from China, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and other neighboring countries, serving as a cultural epicenter of trade for various goods unique to Central Asia's minority populations.

Some of the most unique and popular goods that can be found among the markets thousands of stalls include "three treasures of Hotan" jade, hand-woven silk and carpets, copperware, exquisite Yengisar daggers, traditional clothing, Uygur embroidered hats, musical instruments, and cashmere scarves. A variety of locally made dried fruit and herbs is also available here. Be sure to bargain when buying anything at the market; all prices are negotiable and vendors expect you to challenge their prices on everything. The market is an option for China travel deals.

The market is also home to dozens of traditional Xinjiang restaurants and food stalls that provide a much needed boost of energy after a long day of shopping. At nightfall, stall venders illuminate the market with hurricane lamps, transforming Erdaoqiao into a bustling night market enlivened by entertainment, street food, and dancing.

To experience the exciting activity of the market to the fullest, the best time to visit is Sunday, when the market overflows with the daily vendors, as well as other sellers who set up shop only once a week.

You will have a different experience here by comparison with Hong Kong tour or Kunming tour.

Beijing Zoo is located in Xizhimen Street of Xicheng District in Beijing (famous travel city for your affordable China tours). It covers an area of about 90 hectares. It was built in 1906, which is the premier public zoo in China, and the largest one as well. More than 900 different kinds of animal live here, and totally of them is about 20,000. The zoo receives more than 6 million visitors each year, including locals and tourists. Throughout 90 years history, Beijing Zoo becomes hugely influential zoo in Asia even in the whole world by high technology and various kinds of animals.

Beijing Zoo has 16 animal exhibition halls, including Giant Panda, Amphibian and Reptile House, Giraffe, Elephant, Gorilla, Aviary, Nocturnal Animal, Rhinoceros & hippo hall, Golden Monkey, Beijing Aquarium, Antelope & Takin zone, Lion and Tiger zone, Crane Island, Pheasant Garden, and Waterfowl, etc. Beijing Zoo often holds variety of theme activities and volunteer activities. It is not only the Paradise for animals , but also the best place to relax and get close to nature in this big city for your top China tours.

Giant Panda Hall the Giant Panda Hall can be divided into two parts, Asian Game Panda Hall and Olympic Game Panda Hall. The Asia Game Panda Hall was built in 1989, covers an area of about 10,000 square meters, the whole building was built according by Chinese Classical architecture style. It is bamboo shaped, has 11 arch rings like the bamboo joint around each other. 1989 is the year for the eleventh Asian Game held in Beijing, this unique design to show the best wishes for the Asian Game. Giant Panda is the national treasure in China, the number of them is extremely rare. Therefore they belongs to the national fist class protected animals. According to the latest statistics in 2006, the existing wild Pandas in China is only about 1596.
 

When you enter it, through the thick glass, you can find some of them walking slowly around the hall, some of them are sleeping. If you want to take a picture, it probably back toward you or cover its eyes with their paws seems to blame you to broke their sweat dreams. As a national treasure, Giant Panda has been send to many countries as friendship messengers.

Waterfowl lake No matter when you come, you can always see a prosperous scene. Some of them you can recognized easily, but some unusual ones maybe you do not know. More than 30 kinds of water birds are living here, the ones you generally can meet are more than 10 kinds, such as Swans, Mallards, Red Sheldrake, Mandarin Duck, etc. These waterfowl can be divided into two categories, wading birds and swimming birds. The swimming birds have the webbed feet which can help them to swim. Duck, swans and pelicans are belong to this class. Another is called waders, these bird has three common feature, which are long legged, long necked and long beak. They are not good at swimming, usually standing in the Shallow water with their long legs and picking little fishes in the water . White-Napped Crane and Night Heron are belong to waders.

Amphibian and Reptile House Amphibian and Reptile House was founded in 1979, the building area is 4712 square meters. After three times transformation, now it has more than 130 kinds of animals. It is the exhibition hall with most species of amphibians and reptiles in China. It has 6 parts, such as crocodiles, terrapins, frogs, salamanders, lizards, python and snake zone. Here, you can find some animals you never seen, e.g. Thailand crocodile. The adult Thailand crocodile is about three or four meters long, their mouth can swallow a kid definitely. If you observe carefully, you can find several pairs of eyes moved in the dark, a lots of baby Thailand crocodile hidden beneath the calm water, are you scared? There is another disguise king in the house, the green haired terrapin. Different with other terrapin, it fully covered the green algae. If you look down at the water from top, it seems like a bundle of algae grows in the water. With this good disguise, they can avoid predators traces easily, even us have almost been deceived by them.

Beijing Aquarium (an option for your popular China tours) is located in the north shore of the Beijing Zoo. The main building is divided into two layers, the total construction area is about 4,2000 square meters. It is the largest inland aquarium with highest level of modernization in the world. Its appearance is exactly like a big conch. It has six display parts, including the Rain forest Wonders, Touch Pool, submarine travel, sharks, Whale Bay and Ocean theatre.

The Rain forest Wonders is the unique venue with Amazon rain forest characteristics. In this venue you can find over 100 kinds of freshwater fish in rain forest and inland river. One strange thing is a pile of bones in one display tank. These bones related to the gray fish. Those gray fish looks lovely, but actually it is very dangerous. They are Piranhas from Amazon. Its length can reach 15 to 20 cm, with sharp teeth and developed jaw with prickles. The animals which drop into its water field can left nothing but bones in just a few minutes. There is no exception, even people.

Submarine Travel has 32 display tanks to show the most typical, ornamental marine fishes all over the world. You can have a wonderful undersea world traveling without leave Beijing. The one called Bibcock Fish, which is kind of fish doctor in the sea, it can eat the parasites from other fish, and disease their pain. Because these fishes live in different area, so the temperature and salinity of seawater in the display tanks should be different. All the tanks used the artificial seawater, the usage amount of artificial seawater is the largest in the world.

Ocean theater is the largest one in the world, which can accommodate 3000 spectators. It consists of 10 animal stars. Every day you can see wonderful performance. Look, the sea lion on the show, under trainer’s guide, its movement is so cute! It can throw the wasted bottle into the bin, look like it has more environmental awareness than us. Every time the dolphin come on the stage always make people excited, dolphins are the most smart one in the whole marine animal family. According to experts, its intellectual as same as the 3to 4 years old kids. And it very willing to get close to people. Come to see its water ballet show, i am sure you won't disappointed.

Many local families would like to take their kids to visit the Beijing Zoo in spare time. So why not follow them, you can show your kids the lovely animals and their habits. I am sure it will be the unforgettable experience to you and your kids.

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1. Shenzhen town - Futian District

I did not take pictures when i was around this town, i somehow kinda scared of getting snatch or something.

The reasons i went to futian district is to get a cheap 2nd hand notebook. i walk around this busy district and there are lots of shopping mall selling electronic stuff. from china brand to a brand you never heard of and goes to very famous brand, the price for the new item is almost the same price i can get in Malaysia, so i did not get the new items as the warranty is not a world wide warranty (only for some items) so i am planning of getting a 2nd hand notebook, so it worth if the warranty is not applicable in my country.

When i was walking around the town for my China tour deals, i only found one mall that selling 2nd hand computer, the rest of the mall selling new items with local warranty. so i decided to get one from the mall, i forgot the mall name but you'll find it just about 2 block from the huaqiang road, its in brown color and the entrance very small too.

2. 7 wonders of the world in Shenzhen

On that day, i woke up very early, it was at 8.30am, I was still tired over dragging my huge luggage and my backpack, it maybe because of my room mate from new york was making a little noise, also it was super bright too. I went there during winter and the day was early, it wasn't that cold on that day but i still carry around my light sweater.

I start my day with proper coffee from starbucks and it was my first coffee since i take off of Malaysia, so it was my 8th days then, i can't live without coffee for a day, it feels like something missing somehow. Then i get some fruits for breakfast and then started going out for sigh seeing. I dont know where i walk, the direction given by the hostel receptionist was not all true, so i was lucky to stop a chinese girl and she speak a little english, i show to her on place i wanted to go and she said it was near by (by short cut path) we had a little conversation along the way, she is so nice and very kind, she told me that there is a 7 wonders of the world that worth of visit. i walk with her and i am being an obvious tourist, i cant stop taking picture, she was waited for me even she was a little late for meeting up with her friends. That was very kind of her. Don't miss this place for your popular China tour package.

She show me the place and she left me there, so i was just walk around and there were a huge fountain with huge naked human effigy all around the 7 wonders park. I did not enter as i have to pay around RMB150/entrance which is almost USD20/entrance. its quit pricey for me so i just walk around the entrance and still had lots to see. Also lots to tells there.

3. Exploring A Soviet Aircraft Carrier in ShenZhen

If you're a regular military buff and interested in the (former) mighty Soviet War machine, then go to this military themed park off the coast of Shen Zhen. There's a huge aircraft carrier over there that has been sold off as scrap during the period of economic uncertainty in Russia. Now, it's been given a new coat of paint and passed off a floating amusement park that comes complete with a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 fighter, armed helicopters, dud missiles and staff dressed up in mock-military uniforms.

Where: Minsk World (Min-Si-Ker) military theme park in Sha tou jiao. It's about a 15min ride from Luohu to Shatoujiao in a cab (80-100RMB)

How much : Admission price is 120 RMB.

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Im a nomad/tourist/student in the Kunming/Lijiang area for the past 8 months! I'll see what I can help a bit here!

here's a recap of what you typed earlier:
Day 1 : arrive Kunming at 3pm to begin Kunming travel. Walk around Kunming town.
Day 2 : morning flight to Diqing (Shangri La). Arrive at 9am. Walk around and spend 1 night.
Day 3 : after lunch, afternoon overland (?) transfer to Lijiang. (Anything to see enroute?) Walk around Lijiang town.
Day 4 : Snow Mountain/Black Dragon Pool
Day 5 : cycling around outlying villages
Day 6 : morning flight back from Lijiang to Kunming.

I think your Day 1 is a bit constrained, but with your time, you can hang around downtown, enjoy some modest spring city weather. There is a temple called "yuantongsi" temple an old buddhist temple closes at 5-6ish. But since your day is limited here and Day 6, there's not much to see but enjoy the flowers. DO NOT GO TO BIRD AND FLOWER STREET. it has no birds. Shilin Stone Forest is one of the attractions of outer Kunming, pricey but a one-time 70% day go is all that's needed. inner Kunming has flowers... esp Cuihu Green Lake.
Shangri-La (must-see for top 10 China tours) is gorgeous.
Lijiang is amazing! I will help you modify a bit on the Lijiang side...
Jade Dragon Yulong Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Lake (Lanyuehu) are near each other, should be good and sunny in April, save that for 70% to a whole day. Ride a yak too! (FYI don't waste money enroute to Jade Dragon on O2 bottles(80rmb) or a big winter jacket rental (40rmb) on ground kiosks if you don't need it. On site, on top of the mountain and a kiosk just before ascent, there sells it for much cheaper (60rmb, 30rmb respectively)
Lijiang Dayan old town, elephant mountain and black dragon pool are closer to each other than the Snow Mountain, so that would save you some time and physical energy. There's a neat Naxi museum near the black dragon pool, among other sites to visit and crawl. You may also like to visit Shuhe Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town is much quieter than Lijiang old town, so you can hear the peaceful horseclops and river flowing adrift, with a daily dance in the theatre at 730pm (only if it's a good night). BIG but playful dogs happily stroll these streets. (Can you tell which one I like better :P) Located west of the highly anticipated and gorgeous ACCOR GROUP Pullman Resort and Spa [(answers your original #3 question!) (They're open April 1st, so check for their opening promotion ~ i think it's 3 nights, 1 free..)]
Day 5 is further exploration, or you can spend approx 50~80RMB (from Lijiang) to go up to Tiger Leaping Gorge, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to visit from many many foreigners, friends and myself! Go early, or spend the night there too. (It is approximately enroute from Shangri-La to Lijiang, so plan accordingly, if interested.)

Contact me if you'd like. I try to help people here and everywhere.

Cheers on your trip! Make a Story out of Everyday. Share life.

Andrew Ames AKA Darwin
Canadian.

Location: Lijiang

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This morning I got very good news from my lab back in San Diego. A project I’ve been working on for six months just produced the results for which we were hoping. I actually had to fight back tears when I read the news from one of my colleagues. . .our research team has put in so many long hours (12. . .sometimes 15 hours days, month after month after month), working on weekends, missing meals and precious, precious sleep. But it was all worth it in Beijing (always contained in affordable China travel packages). What a great way to start out the day!

The work here is also going really well. We were able solve some big problems today. I feel very confident that this endeavor is going to be productive and successful. Plus there is the added benefit that the people I am working with are so kind and friendly. The girls, Sun and Hong guo (Amy) are planning a trip for us to the Great Wall (must-see for top 10 China tours). This will be Danbo’s first trip to the Great Wall as well. I don’t know if we are taking a guided tour or just exploring it ourselves or both. I’ll do some research and include some of the more interesting facts with the pictures and my blog entry for the day we visit it.

Not much else happened today. . .lots of lab work and different reports to prepare. I did go to a little shop near work to buy some gloves. . .the wind has picked up a bit in the past couple of days and the temperature is around 40oC. . .I don’t know what it is with the wind chill factored in. . .let’s just say it’s cold enough that my finger nails are often blue. I bought the gloves, a bottle of water and a bottle of diet coke for $1.00!!!!

On the way out of the shop there was a little local street dog. . .it was the weirdest looking thing ever. I could not tell at first if it was a dog or an extremely large cat (it looked a lot like the Cheshire Cat in the recent movie Alice in Wonderland). I’ve never seen a creature like it before (I wish I’d snapped a picture. . .seriously. . .this animal was so unique in appearance). In many of the countries I’ve travelled to I’ve seen ‘stray’ dogs. They are mostly local dogs that the restaurants and people in the neighborhood feed but they don’t belong to a specific person. Of course. . .big softie that I am. . .I always want to ‘rescue’ them and bring them home with me. I’m sure my cats would be very unamused.

Okay. . .I’m signing off for today. Take care everyone!

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1. Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum

This museum in Hangzhou (famous tourisy city for your China travel deals) is the only state-level professional Chinese medicine museum in China. Hu Qing Yu Tang was a Chinese pharmacy which began business in 1874. People regarded it as the 'King of Medicine' in southern China. Hu Xueyan, the first boss of the pharmacy, was not only a successful businessman but also a high-class official in the imperial court. In China's feudal society, people doing business were widely looked down upon whereas state officials were highly respected.

The museum consists of five parts: the Exhibition Hall, the Medicine Preparation Hall, the Chinese Health Care Clinic, the Restaurant of Medicinal Diet and the Sales Department. The Exhibition Hall introduces the development of Chinese medicine, including its origin, the life of well-known doctors in its long history, famous books of medical science and China's medicine exchange with foreign countries, etc. In the Medicine Preparation Hall, the museum's staff also performs the arts of traditional pharmaceutics. If you are interested, you can even try it yourself. In the Chinese Health Care Clinic, visitors have the opportunity to receive Chinese-style health care served by experienced doctors. The Restaurant of Medicinal Diet provides visitors with numerous medicinal diets which are good for human health. The Sales Department sells Chinese medicine from almost all parts of China.

2. Dreaming Tiger-Dug Spring

It's said that there was a monk living here but there was no water nearby. The monk planed to move out but in one night, he had a dream, in the dream God asked him don't move out and promised to help him to solve the water problem. Then he saw two tigers come and dig on the ground, soon spring water came out. So it's named as Dreaming Tiger-Dug Spring in the new 10 scenes of West Lake (must-see in Hangzhou for your top 10 China tours) in 1980s.

It's said best to drink the Dragon-well tea with the tiger-dug spring water.

On the 2nd photo, it shows it's the third spring in the world. How come is the third in the world? This is named by Emporor, since the emporer came from Beijing. In Jinan, he first saw the Baotu Spring, so he named it as the best spring in the world. Then he named another spring in Wuxi as the second spring. Since whatever the emporor had said could never be changed, so the Tiger-Dug Spring had to be named as the third spring in the world.

3. Yuefei Temple

Since the northern barbarians Jin occupied capital city Kaifeng and captured the emporer and his father, some officials flied south and set Hangzhou as new capital. It's called South Song Dynasty in History.

During the time, there were many famous generals had tried to recover lost norther land. Yuefei is the most famous one among them. He had won many battles with Jin and won a fatal victory in Zhuxianzhen, which is only 20 kilometers from the old capital, Kaifeng. However, at this time, he got 13 consequent orders from the emporer to order him withdraw his troop and go back Hangzhou. As soon as he went back Hongzhou, he didn't get any reward but got executed with his son and another general.

It said before Yuefei join the army, his mum wrote a tattoo on his back, "Jing Zhong Bao Guo", which means "serve the country loyally".

In past thousand years, whenever the country is in crisis, people will remember him and the famous poem he wrote, "Man Jiang Hong".

4. Sunset Glow over Leifeng Pagoda

This scene is also on South of the West Lake, it's in middle of Orioles Singing in the Willows: and Viewing Fish and Lotus Ponds at Flower Pond.
Literally, it means watching sunset over Leifeng Pagoda.
The Leifeng Pagoda got famous also because of the story of Lady White. After Lady white lost the battle to Monk Fa Hai, Monk Fa Hai moved the Leifeng Pagoda on top of her so she won't be able to come out again. In 1924, the old Leifeng Pagoda collapsed due to lack of maintenese. Even though everyone knows the story of Lady White is merely a story, people are still interested to check out if there is Lady White under the pagoda, and most people also rather to believe the pagoda is collapsed because Lady White has gained more strength so she could break the pagoda and freed herself.
The Leifeng Pagoda was rebuilt again in year 2000 and finished on Oct 2002.

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1. Duolun Culture Street

Duolun Road in Hongkou district of Shanghai (where you leave China after affordable China travel packages), north of Suzhou Creek, was home to many of Shanghai's most famous left-wing writers and intellectuals in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, the road was just outside the formal boundary of the International Settlement, and between 1932 and 1945, under the de facto Japanese military occupation. Consequently, many left-wing writers who lived here felt fairly safe from persecution by the Guomindang government at that time. The road has now been pedestrianised, and most of the historical buildings along it preserved. Some of the more interesting one are: a French-style mansion at no. 145 where the League of Leftist Writers was founded in 1930; the former residence of HH Kung (Finance Minister during the Guomindang government) at no. 250; and the Old Film Cafe at no. 123.

Duolun Road is off Sichuan Bei Lu (Sichuan North Road) in Hongkou. The nearest metro is Dong Baoxing Lu on Line 3.

2. Longhua Temple and Pagoda
 

Longhua Temple (an option for your best tours of China in Shanghai) has a long history and has survived the many turmoils of Shanghai in the past hundreds of years. Its construction, including its wooden pagoda, can be traced back to 997 AD, during the Northern Song dynasty, though earlier versions of the temple may have existed. The temple complex was enlarged in the subsequent Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It was severely damaged during the Japanese bombing of Shanghai in 1937, and again in 1966 when thousands of Red Guards stormed the temple to destroy its treasures, including Ming dynasty Buddha statues and sacred Buddhist scriptures (all gone). The temple and its pagoda were saved from total destruction due to the intervention of local residents. Today's Longhua temple must be a shadow of its former self, but remains the largest working temple complex in Shanghai. There are several halls dedicated to various deities, separated by tranquil courtyards. Its 7-storey pagoda has striking orange walls and a metal spire at the top. Longhua Temple is located near Longcao Road metro station in southwest Shanghai.

3. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum located in Pudong is a huge, modern, and exciting museum for people of all ages. This museum has 12 exhibition halls and 4 theatres (including the IMAX theatres). It was one of the best science museums I have ever visited. There are lots and lots of hands-on activities to do, including very fun and meaningful physics experiments. The "World of Robots" exhibition was very cool; you get to communicate with and control robots. There is also an impressive man-made tropical rainforest inside the museum where you will get to learn about bio-diversity, ecology, and genetics. There are lots of live demonstrations and presentations inside the museum like a robot show and an earthquake simulation, so be sure you don't miss them. I strongly recommend this museum. As of summer 2006, admission tickets are 60 yuan per person. The museum is easily reached using Subway Line 2, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station.

4. Talk to Chinese people in People's Park

On Sundays a group of Chinese people meet in a corner of People's Park (walk through by the fern flowers and trees at the city end) to talk English. We came across them by accident, just walking through. About twenty of them, all meeting up to talk Enlish to each other - and to any native English speaker who happens to walk by.

It was really nice, everybody very excited, practising their English and enjoying themselves hugely. They had an organiser (who they call the Teacher) who was himself a tourist attraction - big and bouncy, with limitless energy. So if you walk through that corner of the park and a big bouncy man rushes up and asks you to talk with his English students, don't be too afraid - it is genuine, and enjoyable.

5. Fuzhou Lu - Books and Stationary

Between the Nanjingdong Lu pedestrian shopping street and Yuyuan Gardens (must-see for popular China tours), running parallel to Nanjingdong Lu, is Fuzhou Lu. This is side street famous for its bookstores and stationary/office supplies shops. In the pre-Republic era, this place is also famous for brothels. Brothels are gone now, but the bookstores are still around.

Stroll down this street and visit all the specialty stores. Take the side alleys to discover out of the way street vendors. This road connects the southern side of Bund to the east and southern side of People's Park/Square to the west. It is not a large street with a nice mixture of feelings of west and east. It's a nice break from the too westernized parts of Shanghai and from the too touristy Oriental parts of Shanghai.

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