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The tour ended at Leifeng Pagoda. I bided goodbye to my parents and headed back to Shanghai with ktula and his family. The tour guide arranged a van to take us back. For most part the ride was comfortable. Upon entering Shanghai city, the driver started smoking inside the van. China is the worst place to be if you hate 2nd hand smoke and inconsiderate open-mouth coughing and hacking.

Our tour program covered 4 cities in 5 days was very rush. We didn’t spend enough time at points of interest; but too much time wasted at shops and tourist traps. We were aware of 3 shopping stops we’d make. It’s a common practice taking tourist groups to pre-selected local stores to shop. Tourists are encouraged to shop. However, it’s considered malpractice if tour guide pressure tourists into buying. Our local tour guide didn’t do such thing. However, toward the end of the tour, she gave a full hour speech condemning tourists whom chose not to buy or don’t buy enough at shopping stops. That was in my opinion unprofessional and uncalled for. Also, it felt like a 5-day brainwash camp listening to each local tour guide’s “Look at China’s awesome progress” propaganda. Why not just let me experience the new China myself?

Ktula and I were dropped off at Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel. With ktula’s Starwood platinum elite status, we were given a room located in the club member level.

Like all the nicer hotels we stayed in China, the bathroom has a blind that can be retracted all the way to the top. I’m not sure exactly what’s the purpose exposing the entire bathroom like that. One thing for certain, the new China has a open mind at just about anything.

Before dinner with Michelle, James, and the rest of the Yong family, we made a quick stop at the club lounge for a sip of wine, also courtesy of elite status. From the lounge window was this uninterrupted night view of Shanghai.

Going home
Toward the end of the trip, both ktula and I were more than ready to go home. We missed Mango terribly. We flew from Shanghai to Tokyo, then to Los Angeles, and finally Seattle. The journey home was long and tiring, but it’s good to be back.

Suzhou (蘇州)
Before coming to China, I was already very much looking forward to this portion of the tour. I grew up reading poem and stories of Suzhou. The thought of visiting what was romanticized for hundreds of years was simply too good to be true.

Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) and its surrounding area were very well maintained. But I can’t help but wonder how much were the original remaining.

For those whom enjoyed being pampered, massage in China are a heck of a deal. Different from spa massage, Chinese foot message is about stimulating acupuncture points for healing and health benefits. This technique can be applied to the entire body. I am not a fan of massage but am curious why people like it so much. While in Suzhou, we were taken to a foot massage center right off a busy street. The center has over 200 masseurs working 13 hours a day, 7 days a week. Personally I found the experience painful and nerve breaking. I had to constantly reminding my masseur to go easy on me. The masseurs at the center were probably too young to master the techniques.

The hotel we stayed at Suzhou was Sheraton Suzhou Hotel and Tower. It made up for the disappointing accommodation in Wuxi. Looking out from any hotel window was this stunning view of Chinese garden built exclusively for hotel guests.

Wuzhen (烏鎮)
The water town of Wuzhen turned out to be the highlight of this trip. The unearthed cultural relic revealed people began living in the area as early as 7,000 years ago. The town itself has 1,800 years of history.

Time seems to have stopped here in Wuzhen. Walking on the ancient stone-paved street, we were surrounded by aged houses and shops well-preserved from its original forms. And the sounds and scents of local residents living their everyday life – the cling-clanks of mahjong pieces hitting each other; the splashing of water from a bucket; the smell of wine aging in wine jars…. This place felt more real than anywhere we’ve being to during this trip.

Hangzhou (杭州)
Hangzhou has something new and something old. And that makes it special. We didn’t have the fortune to spend more time there.

December night in Hangzhou required heavy winter gears. That’s how we dressed to attend Impression West Lake, a show performed outdoor in the beautiful West Lake. With Zhang Yimou onboard as one of the director-in-chiefs, the show maintained certain esthetic quality that brought spectacular experience to the audience. People watching the show were quite stingy with applause even at the end of this outstanding performance.

According to the tour guide, dining at Lou Wai Lou was a big deal. Only the rich or the government officials have such privilege. Few years ago ktula traveled to Hangzhou and also dined in Lou Wai Lou. He was happy to return to the restaurant. He can try more dishes this time than the last time when he was here by himself.

My dad’s schoolmate Mr. Liang joined us for lunch. They go way back, more than 65 years. During the meal, dad shared their fond moments in school and as roommates. After lunch, Mr. Liang left quickly with tearful eyes. Over decades of friendship is indeed something to be cherished for.