Week five of eight has just flown by. Literally flown by. Christmas has passed, New Year’s has passed and now we’re already a good week into the New Year. I was fortunate enough to be given Christmas holidays so had the entire week to do as I pleased. Others were not so lucky and could not experience the bliss I enjoyed but they tried anyways. Ricky’s turned into Perry’s and days flew by like a blur as we celebrated Christmas and New Year’s perhaps a little too hard. Sleep took over in the daytime and I recall spending Christmas in bed, getting energised for another Perry’s night ahead.
Despite living it up almost nightly in Shanghai and being too tired to function daily, I still managed to fit in some sightseeing and exploration of the city. We ventured to Tianzifang, a popular tourist destination hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city itself. It promised many souvenir shops and quirky bars set up in the mazed brick alleyways of a residential area in the heart of Shanghai itself, a spot alive in culture and atmosphere.
We followed this with a trip to Xintiandi, or the Former French Concession as I had found it to be called. Also at the heart of Shanghai, this urban tourist attraction combines the city’s cultural and historical legacies with the modern 21st century lifestyle atmosphere and brings it alive with its shopping, eateries and entertainment. One attraction worth nothing was the Kissing Tree – a spectacular light show requiring two persons to come to the stage and kiss under the tree made of lights whilst holding the flower wreath. The entire yellow tree would glow red and then back to yellow when the two persons had finished kissing. Such a cute thing to see!
The Yuyuan Gardens are also something not to be missed whilst in Shanghai. Once off the metro and heading towards the gardens, I was completely immersed in the beauty of the historical buildings that lined the streets, hence why people call it “The Old Shanghai”. It was a phenomenal sight, to see the ancient architecture against the modern backdrop of the city. The actual gardens itself continued this phenomenal sight, as well as embracing you in a sense of tranquillity and happiness away from the busy life of Shanghai.
Trips to East Nanjing has also become a weekly thing, namely for the shopping. This time however, on one occasion we discovered M&M World (yes it’s a thing!) and on a second occasion, it was my friend’s last night in Shanghai so she took in the hustle and bustle, the colourful lights, the buzzing shops, and the street food for one last time.
The blissful week ended sadly with two airport trips – Hongqiao and Pudong – to farewell two of the interns, and since the start of the journey, two of my closest friends. Time really does go fast when you are having fun and surrounded by good people, and I found myself at the airport a second day in a row, farewelling a friend again. Many tears were shed and hugs exchanged, but here I am now, a week on, still surviving Shanghai with those who are left with me.
Time to enjoy the last three weeks here before it’s my turn to stand with luggage at the airport.
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