Reluctant Relocator: July 2011

With apologies for the HUUUUGE gap between the actual excursion date and the posting on my blog. I think I'm going for a record in lag time.

I know, another day, another excursion. What can I say? I love going on tours. I can't get enough of them. Forget about an intervention for lunches, maybe I'm in need of one for excursions.

We, members from the American Women's Club of Shanghai (AWCS), had two destinations on this tour, Songze School and Jinxi Watertown.

I had a ~~partner in crime~~ friend who went on this tour, too.

The RR with Tamara

Best part of living here? Making new friends a.k.a. my sanity savers.

Our first stop was Songze School, famous for the museum that is part of the school.

The reception area of the school where

the administrators welcomed us like celebrities.

Old textbooks

Shakespeare in Shanghai

He does get around, doesn't he?

Old water pipe

For tobacco, folks!

These items were really cool. Can you even guess what they were used for?

These were old school Chinese versions of playpens. The chair was very similar to a high chair in function. With the "butter churn", the child was placed inside standing upright so just the head peeped out. Interesting...

After the museum portion of the tour, we met with some of the high school students and chatted with them. Tamara was the one asking all the embarrassing questions like, "Do you have a girlfriend?" The teachers frown on the students fraternizing, so her remarks were especially risque.

Part two of the tour, Jinxi, a water town about an hour away from Shanghai. Do not ask me in which direction. "West" is always a safe bet here in Shanghai. All I know is that the town was charming.

The Long Causeway of Ancient Lotus

I adore Nature now.

The monastery and other buildings from afar

beside the aptly named Lotus Flower Pond.

New "old" building

Lunch drying in the sun

Love the colour of the monastery buildings!

Boats lined up in Lingtang Pond,

just waiting for tourists like us.

Off we go!

Under the Panting Bridge

(think Chinese name, not English verb)

The main draw of the town

Tomb of Concubine Chen
The water town is also an old town with a long history. It was named Chenmu for over 800 years. The reason for this name can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). In order to hide from an enemy's attack, Emperor Xiaozong with his concubine Chen ran away and in doing so, passed through the town. Concubine Chen was attracted by the beauty of the town and could not bear to leave. Unfortunately, Chen died of illness in Jinxi and Emperor Xiaozong was very grieved and buried her body in the town's Wubao Lake. He also ordered the name Jinxi be changed to Chenmu in memory of his lover. It is said that the tomb has never been submerged even when the whole town was flooded. It is not until 1993 that the town regained the name of Jinxi.

Thank you, Wikipedia.

I can't remember what this was,

nor can I figure it out from my souvenir map.

Oh, well. Still cool to look at.