One of the highlights during Mom’s visit was our outing to Yuyuan Gardens. Nestled in the center of the Shanghai’s sprawling metropolis, these ancient buildings and lush gardens offered a tiny pocket of peacefulness.
After the Cultural Revolution, little is left in the way of longstanding or traditional architecture in Shanghai. In fact, if you are driving through the city, there is really no indication that you are even in China, other than the Chinese street signs. So, when you enter Yuyuan Gardens, you are treated to a true glimpse into the past…
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Well, until you run into this… consumerism is everywhere!.jpg "yuyuanblog02")
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Beauty existed everywhere your gaze fell within the gardens. And though we were often shoulder to shoulder within the masses of vacationing Chinese tourists, wandering through the gardens was quite a peaceful and enjoyable experience. We were especially taken by the incredibly detailed stone work in the walkways. Below foot, hundreds of thousands of tiny stones rested on their sides, creating fluid, scale-like patterns..jpg "yuyuanblog12")
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Dragons were everywhere within the gardens. Even the walls, snaking through the foliage, mimicked the serpentine creatures..jpg "yuyuanblog44")
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Sweet little birdie… I simply love this!.jpg "yuyuanblog53")
Another favorite of the day…
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As we exited the gardens, the crowds thickened, pulling us through shop-lined alleys, filled with just about every trinket imaginable. We took our time looking at the stalls, partook in a little friendly bartering, and walked away with some fun Christmas presents.
Perhaps the most exciting part of our day was stumbling upon this bustling Chinese cafeteria. Not knowing what we were doing at all, we allowed ourselves to be swept into the crowd. Trays in hand, we walked along the never-ending buffet, examining the myriad of food choices before us. Taking care to avoid the glistening black snails and truly unrecognizable matter, we began selecting various plates along the way, and before we knew it we had enough food to feed a small army. Oh well, sampling was half the fun! The dumplings were tasty, as were the sauteed green veggies. The most surprisingly enjoyable item was fried rice wrapped in mild melted cheese…. mmm!
The long tables were packed full of people, so we had to hover for a while with our loaded trays for a few spots to become available. Then, we slid right in alongside the locals and began to chow down!.jpg "yuyuanblog56")
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