The day after our big day in Shanghai was wetter and cooler. We had a second day on our hop-on bus pass and set off to explore some more. We linked up with a bus on the temple/shopping route, and started the day with a temple. We were not sure where we were going to find umbrellas but it turns out that when it rains all the umbrella sellers turn out. Good system.
We decided we’d see a lot more temples in our travels so we hopped-on another bus and moved on downtown. The open-top double-decker bus proved to be a good funnel and reservoir for the rain which would waterfall down the stairs when the bus slowed down. Where it would slosh around until it found a way outside. How much excitement can you have in a bus?
We were keen to see the big gardens while we were in Shanghai, so joined the throngs at the crowded and still lovely Yuyuan Gardens. While we were wandering around we were struck by the similarities with Dunedin’s Chinese Gardens. Albeit on a smaller scale in Dunedin. Then we remembered that Dunedin and Shanghai have a sister city relationship. And that Shanghai built the Dunedin Chinese Gardens. It was a nice connection.
The streets around the Yuyuan Gardens are interesting old streets – probably rebuilt for us tourists?
We wandered the streets without much purpose until we figured we’d had enough for the day and headed for the metro and our hotel.