Thursday, March 8, 2018, Shanghai (1 of 2), China

 

                                

The largest city in China and one of the world’s most important ports, Shanghai began as a tiny fishing village 5,000 years ago.  Because it has long welcomed people from all over the world, it has a history of being an open-minded city with a freewheeling character.  Today it is a modern metropolis and financial center which is rich in history and culture.  The famous Bund, the city’s elegant riverfront promenade overlooked by colonial-era banks, stretches along one bank of the Huangpu River while the futuristic skyline of Pudong rises on the other.  Shanghai’s fascinating old quarter retains the narrow lanes and street markets of times past.  Its renowned Shanghai Museum contains an excellent, world-renowned collection of ancient Chinese art.  

 On our way to the Shanghai train station.

Construction of new buildings everywhere, thanks to US money!

 Shanghai’s Modern World 

We stepped into the future, riding a high-speed Maglev train and exploring the modern, skyscraping landmarks of Shanghai.  At the Long Yang Lu Station we boarded the Maglev, a magnetic levitation train that has no wheels but floats on an electromagnetic cushion propelled along at incredible speeds.  Built at a cost of over one billion US dollars, it runs for 21 miles to Pudong International Airport and can travel at 200 MPH, the highest ever for any operational ground transport.  During the 8-minute ride to Pudong, we experienced the sensation of flying as the train instantly accelerates to maximum speed.  Afterward, the train brought us back to Long Yang Lu Station where we continued to the 88-story Jin Mao Tower.  

The train was designed by German engineers and first install in Germany in the early 1970s.  Unfortunately they had a train wreck in its infancy so the government made the engineers stop production.  So they shopped in other countries to find where they could continue with the trains concept and development.  The current and only line is the one in Shanghai; its construction was completed in 2002.  Although we only traveled at 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph) this morning, the early morning and late afternoon trains travel at 430 kilometers per hour (267 mph).

Arriving at the train station.

Maglev short for magnetic levitation.

 Notice the rails (or lack thereof).

Arrived at airport 21 miles away in 8 minutes!

Three photos taken at 186 mph.

 Back at the Shanghai train station ..............

Magnetic coils under the "tracks" that raise the train above and provide propellant energy.

Photo of a Chinese bus.  We are sure they make their own since they have major military manufacturing.

On our way to the new downtown.

 Apartment buildings with six floors are government owned.  Note laundry hung out to dry.

 Afterwards we saw the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the tallest structure in China until 2007. We boarded our coach again and rode through the Lujiazui area in the Pudong New District, the futuristic financial center of China.

The lower larger "ball" contains a fun zone for kids with a roller coaster inside.

 The above office building was designed with a twist to reduce the shear effects of strong winds; locally referred to as the dragons tail.  This had been the world's tallest building until the folks in Dubai out did this.

Office building built by the Japanese to look like an upside down torch.  Torches heat and melt metal.

 Office building with the upper 30-35 floors as a Hyatt Hotel.

 We rode a fast elevator to the top; it took one minute to ascend the 88 floors.

From top of observation deck there is a port hole to look down the center of the building.  Note the 30 or more floors of hotel rooms.  The outside of the building is an octagon but the inside is circular.

 Note our cruise ship across the river.

 Note the government apartment buildings with red roofs on the "old" city side of Shanghai.

 Meanwhile back on the ground ................... We walked around at the base of the radio tower area.

On our way by bus back to cruise ship.

 Expandable outdoor clothes drying rack.

 Back on our cruise ship; heavy barge traffic in the river.

 Our ship's photographer flying drone to take pictures of the cruise ship.

 Rehearsal for Viking Sun christening this evening.

 Site of evening dinner prior to christening; photo taken from our stateroom veranda.

 Decorations for christening.

 Shanghai at night; prettier than in day light.