Shanghai Thanksgiving

Heading out the evening before Thanksgiving from Beijing Railway Station (wearing my traditional winter holiday vest).


I love these 2-person sleepers. Nothing fancy, but they're clean, and each berth has its own bathroom.


Thanksgiving morning, getting close to Shanghai.


Jade Buddha Temple is "one of Shanghai's few active Buddhist monasteries." Lots of renovation going on there, but still well worth the visit. The highlight is definitely seeing the Jade Buddha, which is almost 6-feet high and carved from a solid piece of pale-green jade.






This is the first time I've seen a working robot in a hotel.


There it is taking a break back at its post in the lobby.


Again wearing the holiday vest.


Though Dawn didn't think this would be a good photo, it's one of my favorites from Shanghai.


Dawn suggested we take an early-morning walk along Shanghai's Huangpu River, which turned out to be an excellent idea.




That's Shanghai's famous Pearl Tower in the center. From our hotel room we had a partial view of it.


Photo taken at Shanghai's wonderful Yu Yuan Gardens.


Old fashioned Shanghai picture show at Yu Yuan Bazaar. Cost: 10 yuan (about $1.40).


The first room I've ever stayed in where the bathtub was the centerpiece.


Photo taken during our 50-minute night cruise on the Huangpu River. (That's the Pearl Tower on the left.)


We took the super-fast train from Shanghai back to Beijing. 670 miles, 4.5 hours, reaching speeds up to 240 mph!

Guilin

Guilin, in the southwestern part of the country, was the first tourist city in China, and is famous for its karsts. ('Karst is a landscape formed by the dissolution of soluble bedrocks, featuring sinkholes, caves and underground streams. Karst topography creates fabulous and unique landscapes, for example Guilin’s hills and caves.')


I really liked this big old hotel in the heart of Guilin. Every evening a crowd gathers to watch the waterfall show at the back side -- water cascades down the building (there's also fountains, lights, and music).


View from our room of the lake, pagoda, and front of the hotel.


Guard at Solitary Beauty Peak in Guilin.


Downtown Guilin.


There were 3 of these capsules near the hotel's indoor pool, so thought I'd try one out. After climbing inside, you can set a timer then choose various options: heat, vibration, music, aroma (though this scent option did not seem to work).





Lots of people out and about early Saturday morning.


Practicing callgraphy with a giant water brush.


Guilin's famous Sun & Moon Pagodas.

Setting out for the Two Rivers & Four Lakes night tour, which I really enjoyed.