2011 Backpacking to Shanghai (18 days: 29 Nov to 16 Dec) day 13,14


China Railway High-speed (CRH) rail system operated by China Railways from Taian to Shanghai.
 
Day 13 (11.12.2011) Taian 泰安 by CRH train to Shanghai 上海
 
Had breakfast at MacDonald and took a taxi (Y28) to the new Taian Railway station for the 12.03pm CRH train (Y375 pp), 3.5 hour journey to Shanghai arriving at 3.30pm at Shanghai Hongquiao railway station. 
 
Took the Metro subway (Y5) line 2 to Nanjing West Railway station. Ching Neng Bin's friend Frankie Yap met us at the exit No.3 gate and took us to his place to stay and used it as the base to travel around Shanghai. We had a delicious home cook curry chicken with rice prepared by Frankie Yap. We all had a good rest and chitchat until 12 midnight before going to sleep.

Temperature: 0°C (min) and 6°C (max)
Accommodation: Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai


Taian 泰安 by CRH train to Shanghai 上海 costs CNY 375 on a second class seat.


A single ride from Taian 泰安 by CRH train to Shanghai 上海 costs CNY 375 on a second class seat. Presently, 21 bullet trains run daily from Shanghai to Taian and 15 vice versa with the journey time of about 3.5 - 4.5 hours. The operating distance between the 2 cities is 853km.


The country side view on board CRH train ride 853km from Taian 泰安 to Shanghai 上海.


The country side view on board CRH train ride 853km from Taian 泰安 to Shanghai 上海.


This is the CRH station in Shanghai - notice the numerous lines and network.


Lane 333 Weihai Road is a modern apartments enjoys a prime location in downtown Shanghai suited on Weihai Road, close to Chongqing Highway. It was built in 2005 and consists of 18 high-rise buildings offering 1,000 units. It holds the record of having the biggest artificial lake in a residential compound in the downtown area which makes it very attractive in the market. There are lots of different apartments with different layouts for you to choose from. The most popular units are the 2 bedroom apartments sized around 140sqm and the bigger sized 4 bedrooms units with the 270 angle round windows placed around 230sqm.


Our beautiful apartment accommodation at Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai.


Our beautiful apartment accommodation at Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai.


Our beautiful apartment accommodation at Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai.


Our beautiful apartment accommodation at Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai.


Good view of Shanghai City skyline from Lane 333 Weihai Road apartments.


Good view of Shanghai City skyline from Lane 333 Weihai Road apartments.


Good view of Shanghai City skyline from Lane 333 Weihai Road apartments.


Good view of Shanghai City skyline from Lane 333 Weihai Road apartments.


Good view of Shanghai City skyline from Lane 333 Weihai Road apartments.

Day 14 (12.12.2011) Shanghai – day trip to Suzhou 苏州

After breakfast in the apartment we met up with Bernard's friend Ivy Tan who was on holiday in Shanghai. We all walked to the metro subway (Y5pp) to get to Shanghai Hongquiao railway station (Y40 pp) to Suzhou. We took the No.K202 bus to visit the Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan) another World Cultural Heritage site - admission is Y50 pp. 
 
Had delicious wanton noodle for lunch at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden. We then took the No.Y1 bus (Y2) to the Tiger Hill (Y40pp) and No.Y2 bus back to the railway station for Shanghai. Had dinner at The Soup Expert and went shopping at Uniqio a Japanese shop. We had Yang’s Fried Dumpling for supper.

Temperature: 6°C (min) and 9°C (max)
Accommodation: Lane 333 Weihai Road, Shanghai
 

L-R: Chew Leng Soon, Ching Neng Bin, Tay Seok Hooi, Bernard Lee, Ivy Tan at Suzhou Museum. Suzhou has more than 2000 years history and a center of trade and silk weaving for more than 900 years starting in the 10th century when the newly opened Grand Canal linked the Yangtze River delta with Beijing.


A small dog at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


L-R: Chew Leng Soon, Ching Neng Bin, Bernard Lee, Tay Seok Hooi, Ivy Tan at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan) another World Cultural Heritage site - admission is Y50 pp.garden was built around 1509AD during the Ming Dynasty by the imperial inspector. The whole garden features in water scenery, green hills, delicate pavilions and lush flowers and trees forms a poetic picture of classic Jiangnan.


A well at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan).


The loquat tree with flowers at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


Elegant furnishings of hardwood furniture of the Ming Dynasty at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


The Hall of Distant Fragrance is the main building at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


The Hall of Distant Fragrance is the main building at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


Elegant furnishings of hardwood furniture of the Ming Dynasty at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


A lake in the center of Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden. The garden is divided into the middle, eastern and western parts and a house is at the south end of the garden. Some of the buildings are: Hall of Drifting Fragrance, Loquat Garden Court, Peony Pavilion, Listening to the Sound of Rain Pavilion, A Pure Mind Thinks Deep area, Magnolia Hall, Orange Pavilion, Hall of 36 Pairs of Mandarin Ducks, Hall of 18 Camellias, With Whom Shall I Sit? Pavilion, Stay-and-Listen Pavilion, Pagoda Reflection Pavilion and Far Away Looking Pavilion.


The Small Flying Rainbow Bridge (Xiaofeihong) at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


A lake in the center of Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


We were sitting on the hardwood furniture of the Ming Dynasty at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


A canal at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan) another World Cultural Heritage site.


Heavenly Spring Pavilion in Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden.


Had delicious wanton noodle for lunch at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan).


Had delicious wanton noodle for lunch at Suzhou Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan).


A view from the entrance gate with Huqiu Tower at the top of the Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Yunyan Pagoda, also called Leaning Tower of China is situated on the top of Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Ten senior citizens sitting by the rock wall along the road to the Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


The canal at Tiger Hill or Huqiu (虎丘) in Suzhou.


The canal at Tiger Hill or Huqiu (虎丘) in Suzhou.


The canal at Tiger Hill or Huqiu (虎丘) in Suzhou.


L-R: Ching Neng Bin, Bernard Lee, Tay Seok Hooi, Ivy Tan, Chew Leng Soon at Tiger Hill or Huqiu (虎丘) in Suzhou.


At Tiger Hill or Huqiu (虎丘) in Suzhou.


At the top of the hill, the octagonal Tiger Hill Pagoda (also called Yunyan Pagoda) has a history of more than 1,000 years and is a landmark of Suzhou City.




A peaceful canal with trees by the side of the Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


A peaceful canal with trees by the side of the Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


The Hanhan Well is said that the spring water could cure eye diseases at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


A rock beside the Hanhan Well at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


The Yunyan Pagoda, also known as the Leaning Pagoda, stands on top of the hill. Today this 1000-year-old pagoda has become a symbol of Suzhou. It is seven stories in height and famously leans much the Leaning Tower of Pisa.


Hanshan temple drum at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Hanshan temple bell at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Yunyan pagoda has seven floors with a total height of 47 meters at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Yunyan pagoda has seven floors with a total height of 47 meters at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


Yunyan pagoda has seven floors with a total height of 47 meters at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


In clear waters and blue sky lies a happy life at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


The hardwood furniture of the Ming Dynasty at Tiger Hill in Suzhou.


We took No.Y2 bus back to the Suzhou railway station for CRH train ride to Shanghai.

At Suzhou railway station for CRH train ride to Shanghai.


At Suzhou railway station for CRH train ride to Shanghai.


Had dinner at The Soup Expert in Shanghai.


Had dinner at The Soup Expert in Shanghai.


Had dinner at The Soup Expert in Shanghai and later had Yang’s Fried Dumpling for supper.


This Japanese Uniqlo brand offers a number of basic and comfy designs for all age groups with quality and affordable prices. Their designs fit all occasions, ranging from office, casual and home wear. We bought a lot of the Heattech T-shirts and long-john for our traveling wear.


Yang’s Fried Dumpling in Shanghai. “Fry Dumplings” are called Sheng jian bao in Chinese. It’s small bao filled with pork and soup inside and are pan-fried till the skin became perfectly crispy and golden - taste really good.


Yang’s Fried Dumpling in Shanghai. The meat inside was tasty but beware of the hot soup when you bite into it as it’s really juicy. I accidentally broke the skin and the juice leaked out onto the tray and also splashed all over. The shop is always full and they do not allow to eat outside the shop so we had to walk away to a corner to eat it.


Total expenses for day 13+14 is Y418 or RM209 per person

Day 01 (29.11.2011) AirAsia Kul - Hangzhou D7-306 17552225 hrs
Day 02 (30.11.2011) Hangzhou (West Lake walking)


Day 03 (01.12.2011) Hangzhou (West Lake cycling)

Day 04 (02.12.2011) Hangzhou by bus to Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake)
Day 05 (03.12.2011) Qiandao Lake - ferry - Shendu - bus - Tunxi (Huangshan City)


Day 06 (04.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - day trip to Mt.Huangshan

Day 07 (05.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - day trip to Hongcun & Xidi

Day 08 (06.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - by train to Nanjing
Day 09 (07.12.2011) Nanjing
Day 10 (08.12.2011) Nanjing by train to Taian (Shandong)


Day 11 (09.12.2011) Taian (Shandong) - day trip to Qufu

Day 12 (10.12.2011) Taian (Shandong) - day trip to Mt. Taishan

Day 13 (11.12.2011) Taian by train to Shanghai
Day 14 (12.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to Suzhou


Day 15 (13.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to The Bund
Day 16 (14.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to Zhujiajiao the ancient water village


Day 17 (15.12.2011) Shanghai - Tian Zi Fang, Yuyuan garden & shopping
Day 18 (16.12.2011) Shanghai by train to Hangzhou AirAsia D7-303 to K Lumpur 14101910 hrs 


///Backpacking to Shanghai 18 winter days in China 29 Nov - 16 Dec 2011

Day

13 a. B'fast - McDonald 77.50 39


b. Taxi - hostel to Tai'an new train stn. 28.00 14


c. Metro - Shanghai HQ - Nanjing West stn 20.00 10


d. Room - Ivy's IYH (FOC) 0.00 0


e. Dinner - curry chicken @ Ivy's IYH (FOC) 0.00 0






125.50 31.38
14 a. Metro card top-up 120.00 60


b. CRH train tickets - Shanghai to Suzhou 200.00 100


c. Bus fare to Humble Administrator's Garden 10.00 5


d. Entrance fees - Humble Administrator's Gdn. 250.00 125


e. Noodles at shop outside garden 80.00 40


f. Bus fare - Tiger Hill 10.00 5


g. Entrance fees - Tiger Hill 200.00 100


h. Bus fare - Tiger Hill to Suzhou train stn. 10.00 5


i. CRH train tickets - Suzhou to Shanghai 200.00 100


j. CRH train tickets - Shanghai to Hangzhou 312.00 156


k. Dinner - Soup expert Restaurant 154.00 77


l. Room - Ivy's IYH (FOC) 0.00 0






1,546.00 386.50

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