SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL GLASSES CITY ( EYEGLASSES)

If You are looking for the shops for eyeglasses below and beside the Shanghai Railway Station, they are gone. They moved very near to the Shanghai International Glasses City (上海国际眼镜城) in the Zhongxing Road 1688 ( 上海市闸北区中兴路1688号国际 ). 4 floors full of eyeglasses.

Glasses are usually ready in 40 minutes unless there are too much customers.

Some recommendations:

-bargain

-ask for special lenses (darkens in the sun)

-pay only at the end when you tried the glasses

Attached You find a description of how you find your way from the subway station of the line 4.

BLACK AND WHITE

Bund at golden hour and a beautiful girl from Cambodia

PLANET SHANGHAI

Some facts about Shanghai:

-Population as of 2007 census: 14.57 million officialy. This is 1% of the chinese population.

-Shanghai area covers approx 6.400 sqm (120 km north/south and 100 km east/west). Average elevation 4m (!). Which explains the name of Shanghai (上海 - above see)

-The city flower is the white magnolia (which You see everywhere in early spring) and is also one of the symbols in the city's flag.

-On the license plate of Shanghainese cars you see the sign Hù (沪) which is derived from Hu Du the name of an ancient fishing village that once stood at the confluence of Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River back in the Tang Dynasty (Hu being the name of an ancient fishing device).

-If you want to visit Shanghai try March-June and September-November (otherwise it is either too cold or too warm)

If you want to make a planet of your own follow this tutorial

http://www.dirkpaessler.com/blog/index.php/photographers-tools/2006/09/06/tutorial-create-your-own-planets/

YANGSHUO 2

Some impressions from YongShan. Beautiful scenery. Enjoy long bike rides.

GUILIN, YANGSHUO, 陽朔縣, PING AN, RICE FIELD

We had a wondeful trip to the rice fields and to Yangshuo. To visit this region is a must. It is beautiful and it offers a lot to see.

Our program was following:

Day 1: Flight Shanghai > Guilin. Drive from Airport to the rice fields (Ping An - approx 2 hours). Walk at the Longsheng terraces (Long Ji - Dragon Backbone). Spent the night in Ping An small mountain village guesthouse. (recommended - the same owner as of the restaurant in the village Country Side Cafe!!)

Day 2: Bigger tour through the rice fields (pictures above). Good lunch at Country Side Cafe Inn and than drive to YangShuo (approx. 3 hours). Walk in YangShuo. At night watch the Light Show from Mr. Liu Sanjie (the same guy who made the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Show) which was amazing (600 performers). It is the largest outdoor theatre of its kind with the mountains and the Li river as backdrop.
Our Hotel in Yangshuo is called Paradise which has a very good location (West Street) but is a little bit outdated. Anyway it is a Hotel with a great past (several Presidents of the United States spent some nights there) and has a beautiful garden. If then book a room in the new part of the hotel.

Day 3: 4h Bike tour to small villages (great!!!) along the river and in the afternoon Bamboo-boat ride on Yolong river (dont miss!!)

Day 4: Boat tour at Li river early morning (watch sunrise). Enjoy the picturesce scenery and see the exact spot which is on the back on the 20 RMB note.
Hike on Moon Hill with funny old ladies who will join You (to sell You refreshments). Afternoon walk in YangShuo and watch the night life. Very good restaurants in the small streets there (try Mimosa in the Guihua Lu).

Day 5: Countryside tour near Yangshuo to see how people live and celebrate there. Afternoon back to Airport

Dont miss the night life in YangShuo. It is a cool small town which can compete with any village on the riviera.


We had a great guide (superb) who also did take care of our kids (which is of enourmous value when You want to travel with kids in order to enjoy for example a 4h hike). She arranged everything and knows real good hiking and bycicle tours. She did also show us good spots to take pictures. We can very much recommend anybody to call her if anyone plans a trip to this region. Let her arrange everything.

Ms. Tao Ding Rong (DING)
Mobil: +86 139 77331099
Mail: ding_0108@hotmail.com
Adress: Jimmy's Cafe #101 West Street - YangShuo 541900

ALONE ON THE BUND

Who did tell You that the Bund is not accessible now? Well it is! At certain points.

And my good friend Arthur made a beautiful picture in the golden hour. He might sell it to You for a couple of RMBs.

GRILL IN BEVERLY HILLS

NANYANG LU

In the NanYang Lu (南阳路) and the surrounding You can easily spend hours even a day and night if you stay at TongRen Lu (铜仁路).