Part #15: Ancient Shanghai

Part #1: Off to China
Part #2: The Joys of Hilton Gold
Part #3: Getting a Chinese Visa
Part #4: Exploring the Hutongs
Part #5: A Walk in the Park
Part #6: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Part #7: The Great Wall is Truly Great
Part #8: Beijing’s Art District
Part #9: Bulletting Toward Shanghai
Part #10: Radisson Blue Shanghai – A Review
Part #11: Family History in Shanghai
Part #12: Breaking News: I Did Not Find a Husband in Shanghai
Part #13: Traveling Like a Local to Zhijiajiao
Part #14: Traveling Solo and the Great Tea Festival Scam

Yuyuan Gardens in located in the ancient city of Shanghai. When I got off of the subway, I didn’t know what to expect, and all of a sudden, the modern malls give way to ancient architecture.

I love the contrast between the soaring Shanghai Tower and the ancient Chinese buildings.

As I walked over to the gardens,  I meandered through narrow alley ways jam-packed with stores and people.

I finally found the gardens and paid my 30 RMB admission fee. It was a chilly day, but the blue skies, gentle landscape, and the emboldened sense of freedom warmed my spirits.

The gardens were beautiful and incredibly peaceful. I would have definitely spent more time there on a warm day, luxuriously taking pictures and stirring in my thoughts. Instead, I put my gloves back on and walked the 30 minutes back to my hotel.

The walk back was an opportunity to see less touristy parts of Shanghai. Instead of massive boulevards and modern buildings, I navigated through tiny streets that were not meant for cars and people and bicycles. I wandered through traditional street markets, and successfully avoided getting trampled on. All in all, it was a pleasant afternoon for my first solo international adventure.