All posts by Cassidy Tse

50 Moganshan Road Art Gallery in Suzhou

By inArts & Crafts

On the Banks of the Suzhou river is a thriving artists’ district, visible at 50 Monganshan road, known as the M50 art community in Shanghai. Once an ancient textile mill, it is now home to galleries, studios, art Spaces and cafes and restaurants, where you can find the cream of Shanghai’s contemporary artists and emerging talent.

A group of artists opened a shop in the old factory building, which gained international recognition and became a tourist attraction. That’s because artists display and sell their art and often talk to visitors, and Shanghai’s main art galleries are in the complex.

You may find it exciting to wander through sometimes chaotic areas, in and out of work studios and exhibition Spaces large and small.

The scope of the media is also different. It includes a wide variety of paintings, sculptures using various materials, photographs, textiles and experimental works. It is an interesting place and provides an interesting contrast from the more traditional perspective that tourists tend to focus on China. The best modern work is amazing.

Many artists thrive in a place where they can interact with other artists, communicate, brainstorm and meet their audiences. They also needed a place where they could show their work to interested tourists and sell it to customers to make ends meet.

As a result, opening shops in fashionable Shanghai and the moganshan 50 art center is a priority for many modern Chinese artists. They benefit from international exposure by showing their work to international visitors. It is said that most of the 400 or so tourists who come every day are foreign tourists.

Ding yi, zhou tiehai and xu zhen are some of the best-known artists who have set up shop there. Some cafes and restaurants are in the complex. You might meet Chinese artists there, or at least other art lovers.

Yuyuan Bazaar, Which Is Outside the Yu Garden

By inOthers

Yuyuan market, located outside yuyuan garden, is located in the center of old Shanghai, close to the old chenghuang temple. There are many traditional Chinese buildings that are now used as commercial stores to sell local products, snacks, jewelry, souvenirs, antiques and so on.

There are a variety of shops inside the market, and tourists can meet all kinds of needs. They can enjoy traditional Chinese architecture, taste local snacks, and buy antiques and silk products as gifts for friends or relatives. The market is well worth a visit when the bright lights at night give a pleasant atmosphere.

The market offers tourists the best local food. Nanxiang steamed buns  are known for their unique ingredients and are known as the best steamed buns in China. Another famous restaurant is lyublang, where crab buns, crab tofu and shortbread are the most popular dishes. Many world-famous politicians and tourists have come here, such as former US President Bill Clinton. Visitors can also sample some local snacks, such as yangchun noodles, Fried steamed buns, crab cakes and rice cakes.

There are many small lanes in the market, and the lanes are full of shops. Yuyuan street, located to the north of yuyuan market, sells a variety of traditional Chinese products. These products include household items, handicrafts and holiday items. In addition, yuyuan fashion street is completely different from the old street. It mainly supplies daily necessities, modern handicrafts, leisure food and coffee drinks. Besides, the gold and jewelry industry is very prosperous in this area, so tourists can also buy gold earrings, necklaces or rings. Both locals and tourists strongly recommend Shanghai old temple gold store and Shanghai ya yi gold store.

When night falls, visitors have ample opportunity to take some beautiful photos at the jade rock market. All the old buildings are decorated and illuminated with colorful lights. Their beautiful reflections on the clear water in front of yuyuan garden are definitely worth a look. The natural combination of modern light and ancient architecture is another beautiful sight.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

By inArchitectures

Shanghai urban planning exhibition hall is located in people’s square. It covers an area of more than 3,600 square meters (4,306 square yards) and stands 43 meters (142 feet) tall. There are five floors above ground and two underground. It opened to the public in 2000.

The Shanghai urban planning exhibition hall was built to showcase the achievements of urban planning and construction. It has exhibition, reference, research, communication, entertainment and other functions. The main body of the building covers the development history of Shanghai from ancient times to the present. The theme of the building is “city, people, environment and development”. There is a model of the city made to the scale of 1/500. The emergence of the old street in the 1930s reminds people of the old days in Shanghai. The future of Shanghai will be shown through virtual reality, fantasy and other high-tech means. Vivid model of big city planning to show you the future vision of the city.

The design and style of the main building add beauty to the surroundings. Its designers draw inspiration from traditional Chinese gateways and follow the Chinese aesthetic ideal, emphasizing central symmetry and combining tradition with modernity. The top of the building is designed in the shape of magnolia, the flower of Shanghai. The design of the building has won the “magnolia cup” and the “luban cup”, China’s highest architectural award.

Since its opening, the Shanghai urban planning exhibition hall has received many visitors from home and abroad, including Chinese leaders. After years of development, it has become a national base for science education, patriotism education, environmental protection education and vocational training. The Shanghai urban planning exhibition hall is a window for Shanghai to communicate with the outside world.

Shanghai Portman Acrobatic Show, One of the Best Acrobatic Shows in Shanghai

By inArts & Crafts

The Shanghai portman acrobatic show is one of the best in Shanghai. Currently, it is performed at the Shanghai center theatre (uptown acrobatic performance center) and Yunfeng theatre. The Shanghai portman acrobatic show is a typical acrobatic show that USES traditional folk art to tell the story of Shanghai’s history.

The Shanghai acrobatic show was performed by the Shanghai acrobatic troupe. They have performed for many foreigners from all over the world and gained a good reputation and popularity among tourists. Watching Chinese acrobatic shows has a great impact on your body and mind. You will truly have an unforgettable experience.

The Shanghai portman acrobatic show, also known as the spiral, consists of three main parts: autumn sun, moon shadow and rosy clouds. It has a total of 15 performances: shaking thick stick, blowing bamboo, balancing chair, one hand stand, rolling circle dance, jumping circle, nose bridge balance, turning plate, shaping, rolling flowerpot, hanging rope, martial arts performance, bowl tower, big springboard, fishing net dance.

“Unique bowl flip” – the pagoda of the bowl, requires mastering several skills simultaneously: riding a unicycle with one foot, balancing a higher and higher, more and more rickety pile of bowls on his/her head, kicking and catching several bowls simultaneously on his/her head. Each successive flip was done with more bowls, and the bowls that had been caught were piled high over her head. As the stack of bowls above her head grew higher (and therefore more unstable), the performer had to be very careful not to let them fall. At some point, the performer must blindly grasp the flipped bowl because he/she cannot hold up his/her head without letting the bowl that has already landed on his/her head fall.In the scene of the Shanghai portman acrobatic show, the big gangplank, also known as the manmade ladder, is famous and popular. It won three gold MEDALS in the acrobatic competition. The reviews for the Shanghai acrobatic show were fantastic!

Shanghai People’s Park, Renmin Park

By inPopular Spots

People’s park, also known as people’s park, has a total area of 98,200 square meters (24.3 acres). It starts from xizang middle road in the east, reaches huangpi north road in the west, reaches nanjing west road in the north, and reaches people’s square in the south. The park has eight gates; The main gate is located at number 10. It’s on nanjing west road.

The park can be divided into three regions: the eastern region, the central region and the western region. The most notable event in the east is the commemoration of the May 3rd movement. The South Pole stone, the Shanghai museum of contemporary art, the teahouse, the amphitheatre and the dance hall are all situated in the vast middle ground. In addition, visitors can rest in the jungle, play chess or have a picnic on stone tables and benches. Compared with the eastern and central regions, the western regions have a lot of landscape architecture, including pavilions, cloisters, rockeries, pools and awnings.

The memorial to the May 3rd movement (the anti-imperialist movement of 30 May 1925) is located in the northeast of the park. On May 30, 1985, it was founded to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the May 3rd movement. The memorial was inaugurated on 30 May 1990. Covering an area of 4,000 square metres (1 acre), it is made up of a main stainless steel sculpture, a bronze sculpture and three pieces of granite.

The main sculpture is 15.6 meters (17 yards) high, 21 meters (23 yards) wide and weighs 50 tons (55 short tons). It says “May 30”. These shining inscriptions reflect the optimism and enthusiasm of the Chinese people. The bronze statue is 3 meters (3.3 yards) tall and 4 meters (4.4 yards) wide. The two workers in the picture look serious, showing the courage and determination of the Chinese workers. The granite in the middle is 5 meters (5.5 yards) high and 24 meters (26 yards) wide, with inscriptions of Chen yun and lu ding who participated in the May 3rd movement. In addition, the history of the movement is inscribed on two other stone tablets, 4 meters (4.4 yards) high and 12 meters (13 yards) wide.

 

Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup

By inFood & Drinks

In Chinese, Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup is a local dish popular throughout shaanxi province, especially in xi ‘an, where it is considered a traditional tonic meal. Not only do the locals often enjoy it, they are often admired by visiting celebrities.

Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup give the snack a good taste and taste. This dish is sure to warm you up when it gets cold! Many restaurants in xi ‘an serve minced mutton buns, but the most famous are the Lao Sun Jia and Tong Sheng Xiang, which were founded in 1898 and have been serving delicacies there for nearly a century. Both are recommended if you want to try this special dish.

Lamb braised with shredded bread. This custom is very unique and interesting. When you order, you get a large bowl and some round, flat matzah bread. The amount of bread depends entirely on the size of your stomach! You have to break the bread into small pieces so that it can absorb the taste of the liquid. Note that the bread is hard, which is a strength test for your fingers, but the smaller you break the bread, the better. Once you have prepared your bread, you give your bowl to the cook, who will stir it into a pot of hot mutton soup. After about five to ten minutes, he will ladle the soup and bread back into your bowl and put in some mutton. Add chilli sauce, coriander and a special marinade of sweet garlic to make the dish even tastier. These behaviors help reduce fatness and are often associated with lamb.

Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup may not sound like a favorite, but if you want to experience the regional cuisine of western China, it’s definitely worth a try. If you want to taste its best, remember to come to xi ‘an. In addition to these famous restaurants, you can enjoy lamb braised bread in many restaurants in the Muslim quarter. There are also some on the streets of the city, which may bring you more surprises.

Hengshan Road, A Road Full of Exotic Atmosphere

By inOthers

Hengshan road, with a total length of 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles), is an elegant passage between Xujiahui, a commercial center in the south, and Huaihai road, a fashionable shopping street in the former French concession in the north. These two prosperous areas were built by the French in the 1920s. Hengshan road is flanked by thick trees and european-style buildings. At present, many buildings on Hngshan road are used as bars, making Hengshan road a famous bar street. It is close to the embassy district and is popular with overseas tourists and expatriates.

Leafy trees, european-style crosswalks, russet crosswalks and european-style buildings built along the street in the 1920s and 1930s add an exotic feel to Hengshan road.

The bars in Hengshan Road vary in size and style, but they are all exquisite and unique: the American-style “Bourbon Street” is full of passion; “Sasha” is a pure English-style bar; “La Cocina” reveals a neo-classical Chinese style, “Time Back” makes you feel like you are in a small tea house in Shanghai of the 1920s and 1930s; “Baidu Club” is a bar full of heavy metal rock with a little hippop music; the “Little Red House” in a combination of Chinese and Western style is elegant and quiet. The “M-Box”, “Vatiis” and “O’Malley” bars are full of energy.

In addition to the bars, Hengshan Road is also home to a wide variety of other so-called “bars”. There are book bars like “Farming Garden” with a special savour, cloth bars like “Primary Color Art’ full of personalities, coffee bars like “Good Luck” persuing warmth, flower bars like “Outstanding Artistry” full of fragrance. Also, there are lots of famous restaurants with special Chinese and western food like “Abbey Road” specializing in American Western cuisine and decorated with the theme of the Beatles; “Gorgeous Cottage” specializing in Guangzhou and Shanghai cuisine, and “Peace Official Residence” specializing in Shanghai cuisine.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Symbol of Xi’an

By inArchitectures

As a symbol of ancient xi ‘an, the big wild goose pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for buddhists. It is located on the southern outskirts of xi ‘an city, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the city center. Standing in the grand cien temple complex, it attracts countless tourists because of its buddhist reputation and its simple but attractive architectural style. The big wild goose pagoda has been rated as a national key cultural relic protection unit and an AAAA tourist attraction. On June 22, 2014, it was added to the world heritage list along with other sites along the ancient silk road.

The whole scenic area includes the big wild goose pagoda, the great ci ‘en temple, as well as various surrounding squares, gardens and other facilities.

Built during the reign of emperor gaozong of the tang dynasty (652), the pagoda was used to collect buddhist materials that xuanzang had brought from India.

Xuanzang set out from chang ‘an, followed the silk road, crossed the desert and finally arrived in India, the birthplace of Buddhism. Over 17 years and more than 100 countries, he acquired buddhas, 657 buddhist scriptures and several shrines. Xuanzang was the first abbot of the great ci ‘en temple. He received permission from emperor gaozong (628-683) to supervise the construction of the pagoda. With the support of the royal family, he invited 50 ranks of people to the temple to translate the Sanskrit buddhist scriptures into Chinese, totaling 1,335 volumes, opening a new era in the history of translation.

Originally built at a height of 60 meters (197 feet), the big wild goose pagoda has five storeys. It is now 64.5 meters (211.6 feet) high and has two more. It is said that “saving one life is better than building seven towers”. From the outside, it looks like a square cone, simple but magnificent, a masterpiece of buddhist architecture. It is built of brick and has a strong structure. Inside, the stairs curve upward, allowing visitors to climb up from vaulted doors on the four sides of each floor to get panoramic views of the city. The wall is carved with the exquisite Buddha statue of yan liben, a famous artist in the tang dynasty. The stone tablets of famous calligraphers also add to the beauty of the pagoda.

As to why it is called the big wild goose pagoda, there is a legend. According to ancient buddhist stories, there are two branches, one of which eating meat is not taboo. One day, they couldn’t find meat to buy. As a flock of geese flew by, the monk said to himself, “there is no meat to eat today.” I hope the compassionate bodhisattva can give us some. Just then the lead goose broke its wings and fell to the ground. All the monks were surprised and thought that the bodhisattva showed his spirit to make them more pious. They built a tower where the geese fell and stopped eating meat. Hence its name.

Former French Concession in Shanghai

By inChina History

Shanghai, the former French concession, is nothing like the modern, crowded, busy, high-rise metropolis you might expect. It is quiet, laid-back and full of early-20th-century european-style villas and buildings. It’s a great place to learn about the history and unique beauty of the city and escape from the bustling city for a while.

The French settlement in Shanghai dates back to 1849. It was the earliest and gradually developed into the largest and most prosperous French concession in China. In the 1920s, it was the best and richest residential area in Shanghai. The Chinese government took it over in 1943 and ended its history as a French concession nearly 100 years later. As time went on, the area had no definite boundaries. But generally speaking, the former French concession Shanghai is south of yan ‘an road, north of xujiahui road, east of huashan road and west of huangpu river. This very large area is almost in the center of Shanghai. A complete tour to cover every corner is impossible and takes about a whole day. If you want to take a break, grab a cup of coffee or a few gourmet dishes at a sidewalk cafe or restaurant. If you want to make it shorter, you can start or end anywhere you like.
The French concession maintained a high degree of independence in the old Shanghai. The whole Shanghai French concession is the highest residential area in the old Shanghai, with a neat and uniform architectural style. The reason why it is called phoenix tree in China is also because it was first introduced to China by the French and planted in the French concession in Shanghai. Shanghai’s reputation as the “Paris of the east” is also derived from the French concession, as its architectural style is independent of the public concession and the Chinese concession, and is almost identical to that of Paris thousands of miles away. The French always maintained great control over the French concession. In the battle of Shanghai, the Japanese invaders occupied the public concession area around hongkou, bringing the public concession north of suzhou river into the Japanese DE facto sphere of influence.

Pearl River, the Third Longest River in China

By inPopular Spots

The Pearl River in Guangzhou City is picturesque, adorned by charming views along the river. The Pearl River cruise in Guangzhou has become a must-see for tourists. Whether you choose a daytime or an evening cruise, it will be a highlight of your trip.

Origin of Name

It is named after “Pearl” not because of valued jewels but for a rocky island in the river, which is scoured to be very smooth by the water years after years, hence, the island is seen as a huge pearl in the river, so comes the name.

There is another legend about the naming of the ‘Pearl River’. It was said that a Persian businessman stole the valueless pearl of his country and came to auction it in Guangzhou. Since it was the treasure of the nation, the Persian State sent people carrying lots of money to Guangzhou and buy the pearl. When they took out the pearl for appreciation on their way back by ship, the precious pearl flew up suddenly and fell into the river. Later the pearl changed into a huge stone, shinning. People called it Sea Pearl Island, thus the name of the Pearl River.

Pearl River Cruise Scenery

White Goose Pool

The White Goose Pool, also called ‘Night Moon over the Goose Pool’ is regarded as one of the eight famous attractions in Guangzhou. Since ancient times, it has been an important transportation channel. It features in a beautiful legend and is also famous for its charming landscape. The pool is the widest place for the river in Guangzhou and the water here is deep and torrential. As the water is of green jade color, the sun during the day and the moon by night, are reflected in it in hues that charm both locals and visitors alike.

Xinghai Concert Hall

Located on the charming Ersha Island on the bank of the Pearl River, Xinghai Concert Hall is like a swan flying on the river bank. Guangdong Art Museum and Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum are just to the east. The concert area consists of two halls – the Orchestra Concert Hall that can hold 1,500 spectators and the Chamber Hall with 460 seats. This concert hall is multifunctional and equipped with advanced facilities, raising it to the level of international standards.

Guangzhou Tower

Guangzhou Tower, which stands 125 meters from the southern bank of the Pear River, is a largest urban infrastructure of Guangzhou functioning as both tourist site and television broadcasting. Completed in September of 2009, this 600-meter-high tower took the place of the CN Tower of Canada and becomes the highest self-standing television tower in the world

Architectural Complex on Shamian Island

Located on the northern bank of the White Swan Pool, Shamian is an oval alluvion considered to be the most European style place in China. On this 0.3 square kilometer land there stand about one hundred buildings of neoclassical, neobaroque and Gothicstyle. Some 19 countries have had consulates there over the years. Shamian is renowned as the ninth most famous historical attraction in Guangzhou.

Tianzi Wharf

Hailed as “the first wharf of Guangzhou”, the Tianzi Wharf located in Yuexiu District works as a tourist wharf at present, where most night cruise ships set sail. Being the oldest wharf of Guangzhou, the wharf could be used by officials only. It was the wharf which Lin Zexu departed to Humen to burn opium as well as the place that Dr. Sun Yat-sen started the northern expedition against feudal separationist rule in China.

Haizhu Square

Located north of Haizhu Bridge, Haizhu Square was built in 1954 covering an area of 35 thousand square meters. In 1959, a monument for liberation in Guangzhou was built in the middle of the square. In 1963, the square was regarded as one of the eight attractions in Guangzhou called ‘Red Heart of the Pearl River’.

Different kinds of trees are planted in the square including banyan, ceiba, redbud and palm. It is also a good place to admire the beauty of the Pearl River. South of the monument is Haizhu Bridge. The Exhibition building of Chinese Export Commodities Fair (CECF), the Guangzhou Hotel and some new architecture are to be seen also near the square.