Shanghai home of Great Silk Shopping. Near the ancient water city of Suzhou

Shanghai is often referred to
as the New York City or the Paris
of China!
Shop till you drop!!






Ancient Water City - Suzhou with more ancient canals and bridges than any other Chinese city Much of this city has remained unchanged from the 8th century.



















The Grocery Market has many interesting selections













When I think of old v.s new or east meets west the city of Shanghai definitely comes to mind. I don't have any current census numbers but Shanghai is for sure one of China's largest most populated cities. Shanghai is a beautiful port city that historically has had numerous altercations with raiding pirates from Japan documented as early as the 16th century and ending with the first opium war.

At the end of the first opium war a treaty called the Nanking treaty allowed western merchants to lease land and open trade in Shanghai. Shanghai quickly became a leading trade center in the east attracting industrialists and merchants from the west. Among these industrialists were many Jewish business men who brought with them western ways. During WWII many Russian and European Jews went to Shanghai to escape Nazi persecution because this was the only place in the world they could go without a visa and there was already a Jewish population there. With the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 the Jewish population pretty much dwindled. However some people remained keeping to this day a small Jewish presence in Shanghai.

During the Chinese cultural revolution1966-1976 many people were sent to work in the fields to grow food and were not allowed to receive a higher education. During the post revolution people who had labored and had limited education had to continue working hard in factories or whatever work they could find. This explains why the Chinese parents of today insist that their children study, study, study. In fact many of todays Chinese children may appear immature to westerners because they study so much they don't have a lot of time to learn social skills as the children of the west do. We had a tour guide in Shanghai who said she as well as a lot of Chinese young adults had never learned to cook, clean or do laundry so they relied on their parents to help them with these tasks long after graduating college.

While in Shanghai you must go shopping. Shanghai is like the New York or Paris of China. Trust me you will find many fashion bargains in Shanghai. If you like sewing or crafts that include textiles Shanghai is a great city to find good prices selection and quality.
Check out the food markets for another cultural insight on the lives of the Chinese people. You may be amazed at the things you can find at a open air grocery market.

If you have time take a day for a bus ride or taxi to a water city. Suzhou is a beautiful water city of canals and it is just a bus ride out of Shanghai (plan on taking the whole day).
Suzhou has more historical bridges and canals than any other city in China. This city has remained relatively unchanged since the 8th century you will have many good photo opportunities here!.

Try to schedule yourself so you will have time to stop at a silk factory. It is amazing to watch how they unwind the silk worms cocoons and spin it into lovely silk fabric. The factories that offer tours will have a shop at the end of the tour where you can buy beautiful finished silk items. I think the best item we bought was our 100% silk comforter this is a hand selected silk duvet filled with layers of silk threads we even watched its assembly. What a fabulous treasured memory we are reminded of each day when we wake up in luxury.
Have fun in Shanghai and if you would like me to help you plan a great cruise vacation to china let me know I would love to be of assistance!
Contact me: Shirley
http://mwolfe.cruiseone.com/