Shanghai

During the Spring Festival (the week off after Chinese New Year) we decided to go check out Shanghai.  The kids and I hadn't been yet, and we heard rumors that there was a Krispy Kreme donut shop there :)  And sometimes it is all about the food :)  Plus, Shanghai is a bit warmer than Beijing this time of year.

We hopped on a short flight there and rode the famous Maglev train from the airport into town.  The Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) is a high speed train that uses magnets to lift and propel the train, so you're kind of floating along the track.

We went 300km/hr (about 186 mph).  Although I read that it can go even faster than that.  Fun!

In front of the Jing 'an temple.

Donuts are the one treat the kids (and Rob) have missed the most. There are some places in Beijing that try to make donuts, but so far we haven't been able to even finish one of these imposters!  I'm pretty sure we ate at least one donut a day while we were there!

 

 

 

We were able to meet up with some friends of ours from Austin who moved to Shanghai just a couple months ago.  It was so fun to see them!! 

 

 

AND to make things even better we happened upon a Stubbs Bar*B*Q restaurant!  An Austin, Texas original!

Street shopping for Tibetan treasures.

Hmmmm...that panda looks a little familiar...

My favorite place in Shanghai was an area known as the French Concession.  The atmosphere here was so quaint and inviting - I could have spent the whole day here if the kids would have cooperated.  They were ready to go swim at the hotel, go figure.  But this area was full of small shops, restaurants, cafes, and small narrow roads that you could wind your way through all day long.

We had some crepes with Nutella at this little cafe (although the kids said my crepes were better). And the cheesecake was amazing!

"The Bund" is Shanghai's most famous mile.  Here we walked along it and you have a great view of the skyline.  Shanghai is a cleaner, more modern city than we are used to seeing in China.

Yes, fireworks are still going on.  This was the view out our hotel window at midnight.  I wish I had taken a panoramic photo because this was just one side.  You could see several more firework shows throughout the city looking the other direction.  I can't believe the kids didn't wake up!  It sounded like a war zone!

 

 

My favorite photo of the trip - snuggling at the hotel :)