You remember my photos of Fuxing Park from my post on the September French Concession Tour? Of course you do! We saw the same people doing the same things, but this was a new one.
Flying tops! Ku! (Mandarin slang for "cool")
We looked around the park some more, saw the singers, the dancers, the men playing cards and the kids on the playground equipment and mini-ferris wheel. We exited the park and walked along Fuxing Lu, stopping at a cafe to refuel.
I love the art and the colour of the wall.
We marched onward towards Xin Tian Di. On our way there, we saw this:
Tarted up TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) store.
Aimed to attract tourist attention, but locals shop there, too.
We arrived at Xin Tian Di. Yes, you've seen this area before as well. I refer you to the post from September, Elizabeth has dinner at Xin Tian Di. We had a poke around and then lunch at a Cantonese place.
This restaurant had a gorgeous interior.
The bathroom sink. I had to! Look how pretty it is, complete with a water-spewing toad!
Lunch time over, we made our way to Tian Zi Fang, an artsy, boutiquey area off Tai Kang Lu. It's the narrower, hipper, denser version of Queen Street West in Toronto. Unfortunately, it, too, is becoming unattractively touristy. Still, Tian Zi Fang does retain a ton of charm and is certainly worth a visit. I do want to go back and really spend time there.
I also want to see more of this museum which is on Tai Kang Lu.
It features many glass exhibits and was celebrating its 25th anniversary that day. Hence the bunting, the staff waiting with scissors on red cloth clad trays and these drummers hanging around, waiting for the dignitaries to arrive.
Into Tian Zi Fang proper we dove.
This was one of the more open areas.
Another alley scene
Wendy liked Tian Zi Fang.
I liked Tian Zi Fang.
What's not to like about a neighbourhood that has a teddy bear cafe?
We left Tai Kang Lu wanting more. In the words of a very wise man, you want to leave while you're still having fun. Besides, we had to get cleaned up and ready for dinner.
We started with cocktails at the newly reopened Fairmont Peace Hotel on the Bund. This is the same chain that owns the Royal York in Toronto. The hotel in Shanghai has a very rich history and has been refurbished in splendid style.
Here's a blurb on the Peace Hotel from their website:
Proud, legendary and lavish, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, overlooking Shanghai’s Huangpu River, boasts a history that overshadows that of any other hotel in the Far East. With its origins dating back more than eight decades, this beloved landmark served as a glamorous playground for the elite of Shanghai, where every night was an extravagant gala event and veritable Parisian fashion show. In the 1930s—the grand hotel’s golden decade—diplomats and celebrities from across the globe made its luxurious suites their home, and turned its lore into legend.
In other words, eeewwwww, fancy.
Here's another interesting tidbit on the hotel. It was constructed in 1929 by Sir Victor Sassoon whose family dominated Shanghai business and real estate in the early part of the century. The building housed restaurants, offices, Sassoon's personal apartment and the Cathay Hotel, considered to be the best in its day. Thank you, Wikipedia.
Now for the photos.
The lobby
There are bas reliefs on each of the four walls.The musicians are only there in the evenings.
Art Deco detail
We had a couple of drinks in their cozy Cin Cin lounge and then walked along the Bund to the restaurant, M on the Bund. Yes, the same one where Rakesh and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. This time I had my camera and took lots of shots of the view from the restaurant's terrace.
Looking over to the Pudong side on a misty evening, tour boats and a barge.
More skyscrapers on the Pudong side. Rakesh always refers to the Aurora tower as a giant screensaver.
It was advertising Coach when I snapped this.
Looking down the Bund with the iconic Customs House and its imitation Big Ben clock.
Close up of a cupola near M on the Bund which has been turned into a private dining room. Nice.
I love this photo.
For those of you on fashion patrol, yes, this is the same dress I wore for our anniversary.
Same dress, same restaurant. I like to keep things simple.
Dad and Wendy
Rakesh and me
After dinner in the glamourous Glamour Bar
Dad and Wendy looking glamourous
After dinner, walking along the Bund.
Dad and Wendy were so exhausted from all that I had subjected them to that they uncharacteristically slept in 'til 9:30 on Wednesday, October 13, the day they were leaving Shanghai. We had a quiet day, just lunch out in the neighbourhood, followed by the drop-off drive to the airport. Controlled projectile crying this time, not because I was happy. I couldn't even let loose because I didn't want to traumatize our driver with full-out bawling.
Dad and Wendy better visit again, the sooner the better.
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