Wednesday, April 10, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Shanghai, China

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Shanghai, China, in Southeast Asia.

SHANGHAI, CHINA
THE METROPOLIS IS ONE OF CHINA’S BEST-KNOWN TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Superstitions are like culinary specialities: every part of the world has its own, and discovering those of new countries
is always an experience, if not a tasty one, then at least a fun one. Shanghai and China are no exception, and the land
of Feng-Shui has some amazing superstitions that you can observe with a smile, or take home with you if they bring
you luck…

Let’s move on quickly to the importance of certain numbers. Here, the 8 is particularly valued. A symbol of prosperity
and fortune, you’ll do anything to have one on your number plate, your telephone number or even in a prize. On the
other hand, 4 is avoided like the plague, because it sounds like the word “death”. So we avoid having a fourth floor and
we don’t offer 4 gifts, among many other examples.

In Shanghai, as elsewhere in China, it’s frowned upon to have a wiggling leg, or even to shake it: the belief is that
this action – rather inelegant, let’s face it – betrays an unstable person, who is therefore incapable of handling money.
To put it simply: shaking your leg makes you poor. So avoid it. Also to be avoided: cutting your nails at night. Why?
It makes you die because the soul can then escape through your fingers. Go figure… In contrast to Western beauty
criteria, here, having floppy ears and large lobes are a plus in life as they are a sign of intelligence and fortune. As a
reminder, Buddha is depicted with large ears, which perhaps explains this. What’s more, in Chinese medicine, the ears
are linked to the kidneys. Having big ears is a guarantee of healthy kidneys.

The ears are also the equivalent of the European little finger that knows everything and whispers secrets. In China, it’s
the same thing, but it shows up when the ears turn red. And if they’re big as well, the message might be more obvious.
And then there are those Chinese superstitions we tell children to make them behave, without being able to explain
them. So, don’t lie down just after eating or you’ll turn into a snake. Also after dinner, never go straight to sleep: you
might never wake up. You could go and play outside, for example. No, because if you do that after 6pm, the ghosts
will take you away. Take a shower then? Yes, but make sure you blow-dry your hair if you don’t want to go mad. The
best thing to do might be to go and see a show at the theatre or watch a good film on your TV in your suite after dinner.
It’s safer.

SHANGHAI OLD STREET
Shanghai Old Street, historically called Miaoqian Dajie, is an old business street that has a combination of tourist attractions, shops, entertainment and cultural exhibits. It owes its special social attractions and rich commercial background to the fact that the earliest bank, gold shop, jeweler’s store, wine shop and teahouse of the city were all to be found here.

SIGHTS

• Shanghai History Museum
• Zhujiajiao Water Town
• Waibaidu Bridge
• Shanghai Botanical Garden
• Shanghai Grand Theatre
• China Pavilion

Today’s Excursion – The Maglev Train & New Shanghai

Experience the modern face of Shanghai on this half-day excursion that features an eight-minute ride on the fastest ever
Maglev Train and the spectacular panoramic view from the top floor of Jin Mao Building.

Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train

Departing the pier, the coach takes you to the Long Yang Lu Station in the Pudong New District, where you board the Maglev
Train for an eight-minute ride to the Pudong Airport. Made with ground-breaking German technology, the Magnetic Levitation
(Maglev) Train is the new state-of-the-art mode of transportation in Shanghai. The Maglev has no wheels; it floats on an
electromagnetic cushion propelled along a guideway at incredible speeds. Built at a cost of over one billion U.S. dollars, it runs for over 20 miles (33 kilometres) from Long Yang Lu Station to the Pudong International Airport. It can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hours (430 kilometres per hour), the highest speed of any operational ground transport.
During your ride, experience the sensation of flying as the train instantly accelerates to maximum speed. Afterwards, pause for a short while before the train returns you to the Long Yang Lu Station.

Pudong New District

Re-board the coach and drive to the Lujiazui Area of the Pudong New District. Developed from farmland only a decade ago
and now home to numerous high-rise office buildings, this area has become the financial centre of China. Stop for photos at
the futuristic Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the highest TV Tower in China and third-highest in the world. Then, continue to the
famous Jin Mao Building, take an express elevator to the observation deck, and enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai and
Huangpu River.

Check out today’s Chronicle.