Memories of 14 July 2004

Shanghai + Hangzhou

The plane touched down at Shanghai Pudong airport safely at 6.15am. The plane was parked at almost right at the end on one side, so we have to walk quite a lot distance, luckily our hand carry bags are not heavy. There were still escalators, so u can stand on it if u don't feel like walking. The Shanghai Pudong airport is only 2/3 ready but it is so big, cannot imagine how big is it when it fully operate. Went through the custom. The custom people were like very fierce but still okay. Then we went to the conveyer belt, took our luggage n waited for everyone to arrive. We also call home to Dad. It was about 7.00am when the group of us had check out successfully.

[Pudong International Airport]

Since the official opening of Shanghai's Pudong International Airport on October 1, 1999, Shanghai has become the first city in China to have two international airports. As a result the flights handled by Pudong Airport are increasing day by day and the modern equipment of the airport makes for more passenger convenience and ease.

Under normal circumstances, passengers can travel from Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai Harbor within 40-60 minutes. Five bus lines leading to the airport have been put into operation. The Pudong Airport is 40 kilometers from Hongqiao Airport and 30 kilometers from Renmin Square in the center of Shanghai.

It is a 40-minute car ride from Hongqiao Airport to Pudong Airport, and the taxi fare is about 150 yuan. It is a 60-minute car ride from the city center to Pudong Airport. Passengers can also take a special airport bus from Pudong Airport to the downtown area and Hongqiao Airport. Now five bus lines have been put into operation. The bus fare is 22 yuan from Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport, 19 yuan from Pudong Airport to the Shanghai Exhibition Center, 20 yuan from Pudong Airport to Zunyi Road, 18 yuan from Pudong Airport to Dongjiangwan Road, and 18 yuan from Pudong Airport to the Shanghai Railway Station. Buses operate from 6:00 to 19:00 in downtown areas and from 8:00 to 21:00 at Pudong Airport.

The terminal building of Pudong International Airport covers 278,000 square meters, and is designed barrier-free. The broadcasting system uses three languages (Chinese, English and Japanese) to release flight information. It has eight ticket-handling islands, so passengers need not stand in line for boarding formalities.

Passengers can arrive directly at the second floor of the terminal building by car, and enter the departure hall through 18 entrances. Through the glass wall of the waiting hall, passengers can have a panoramic view of 65,000 square meters of lawn. The waiting hall has 20 check-in counters for domestic passen-gers and 25 check-in counters for international passengers.
The arrival passengers can directly enter the waiting corridor on the second floor, and take the escalator to the arrivals hall on the first floor to fetch their luggage. Going out of the terminal building, passengers can take taxis, public buses or the airport bus to go downtown.

The terminal building has installed 342 public phones, including IC-card phones, magnetic-card phones and coin-phones. Passengers can also use their mobile phones. In the building there are also Internet bars, where business travelers can surf the web.

On the third floor of the terminal building there is a shopping mall, with specialized stores selling various commodities with Chinese characteristics, including books, pharmaceuticals, handicrafts and general merchandise. The duty-free shops in the international departures hall sell four categories of commodities: perfume, general merchandise, food, and cigarettes and liquor. There are 11 restaurants and bars at the airport, some famous restaurants have branches there. The terminal building also provides hotel rooms for passengers to rent by the hour.

We were greeted by Xiao Yuan, n Mr Gong, who were also be accompanying us on the whole trip. The ride to Hangzhou, our 1st destination, was about a 4 hours ride. The bus stop at one of the rest station for us to go to the toilets n buy food. Then we continued the journey to Hangzhou. Upon reaching Hangzhou at 11+, we went for our lunch at one of the restaurant. The food was okay, not too bad. At the restaurant, we were greeted by the Hangzhou tour guide "Mr Ho". After lunch, then we proceed to the hotel.

At approx 12.30pm, we reached the hotel, known as "Wu Yang Xi Cheng Hotel" and rested till 4pm before we go to the 1st sight-seeing spot, "Hua Gang Guang Yu".

[Hua Gang Guang Yu-Red Carp Pond]

The Red Carp Pond is the heart of Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Park (Huagang Guanyu), one of the ten places of interests at West Lake. Countless carps live and play in Red Carp Pond, fascinating thousands of tourists each year.

Located west of South Su Causeway, Flower Harbor dates back to the South Song Dynasty. Originally it was a private garden near Huajia (Flower) Hill, hence the name Flower Harbor. In the year 1699 Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty visited West Lake and wrote "Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor," which was later inscribed on a stone stele standing near the pond. Emperor Qianlong also wrote a poem about Flower Harbor.

Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor has developed into a large park of over 20 hectares (about 49.42 acres) made up of five scenic spots; namely, Red Carp Pond, peony park, flower harbor, lawn, and grove.

With its winding shores, Red Carp Pond is located in the middle of the park's south end where tourists lean on the rails of a zigzag bridge. As they enjoy the antics of the swarms of carp, breezes create a picturesque snowfall of petals to float on the water.

West of Red Carp Pond is a unique peony park, with a peony pavilion centered on a rise. Around the pavilion various peonies and hundreds of herbaceous peonies are planted, classified into a dozen flower patches. Every year on about April 20 in the lunar calendar, these King of Flowers bloom. On the path to the pavilion stands an ancient plum tree. A black and white pebble design under the plum tree duplicates its shadow. The peonies contrast beautifully with the serene plum tree.

The peony pavilion affords a panorama view. To the east, lush trees extend to the Su causeway. The south view reveals the verdant Nanping Hill with a jade belt of water. An arch bridge connects shimmering Inner West Lake and Lesser South Lake, like two mirrors framed in emerald. To the north a large broad lawn interspersed with arbors provides retreat for tourists.
For centuries, like the West Lake itself, the Red Carp Pond has afforded beauty and cultural respite to emperors and poets alike who expressed their admiration through poems, calligraphy, and drawings.

On reaching there at 4.15pm, we went round the area, saw the fishes, the well-know "Xi Hu", the "Liu Shu" and all the greenery. At 6.00pm, we went for dinner at one the the restaurant which serves very good food but name of the restaurant, unknown. At about 7.45pm, we went back to the hotel for an early night.

My Thoughts:

I reached Shanghai looking blur blur cause I did not have sufficient sleep on the plane or maybe I was just too nervous to sleep. The most funny thing was that when the China Tour guide, Xiao Yuan, was introducing himself, I was don't know engrossed in what, that when he say his name is Yuan Fang, Yuan Shi Kai's Yuan and Ms Fang's Fang, I completely don't know his name is Yuan Fang until the 5th day of the trip. HaHa, what a funny me!!!

Upon reaching the hotel for the afternoon rest, actually was to take a nap lah but I was glued to the TV, so I did not take a nap. Guess what, Amy called me and tell me she could not find Macy n she got a shock when I told her I was in Hangzhou. The "Hua Gang Guang Yu" was a very nice place, we had quite some photos taken there. On the way to the restaurant for dinner, I fell asleep on the bus n there were another additional 2 tour guides who joined us, so Xiao Yuan sat behind me at the last seat which was taller than me seat, then he asked me that am i so tired that I kept moving to the left n right on the bus cause I was sleeping so, ermmm. Then i told him i did not take a rest in the hotel, i was watching the TV, then he laughed.

As this tour don't have much night activity, we were asked to consider if we want to visit additional sight-seeing places for additional S$80 per head on the way back to the hotel at night. We also went to the provision shop nearby the hotel to buy some chips. Planned to have an early night but decided to watch the TV again. Hahahahahahaha........