This document provides an overview of a trip to Shanghai and the surrounding Hunan province in China. Part one focuses on sights in Shanghai like People's Park, the Yu Garden, the Bund waterfront area, and iconic skyscrapers. Photos show local activities like dancing, markets, and street scenes. The group then took a 3 hour bus ride from Shanghai to Shaoyang County to begin exploring Hunan's natural wonders as outlined in part two.

1. In Hunan, the Heat is On!
Stepping into Serendipity
A Talking Travel Destination Presentation
Part One:
Shanghai
Part Two:
Natural Wonders
Part Three:
Ancient
Cities...and more

2. Part One:
Shanghai

3. Exercise in the People's Park: Dancing, Tai Chi, Badminton, Walking

4. Above and Below: The Lotus Pond in People's Park
On the Left: Umbrella Dating Service. Drawing
attention to advertisements leading to matrimony

5. Poster for the Children's Museum

6. The pedestrian mall and (inset) the Jazz Corner.

7. Ballroom Dancing for exercise and enjoyment on the pedestrian mall

8. The iconic view of the waterfront in Shanghai, on a cloudy day. This is taken from the
Bund, the waterfront area known for its historic buildings and boardwalk

9. Arturo di Medica's Bund Bull is about twice the size of New York's Wall Street 'Charging Bull'.
The bull represents perseverance, diligence and wealth in Chinese culture.

10. A small street not far from the tourist area by the Yu (Yuyuan) Garden

11. Getting closer to the crowds, restaurants and shops outside the Yu Garden

12. Yes, that's me (Steve Gillick!) taking photos of me.

13. Yu Garden-Top: The Zig-Zag
Bridge. Right- some of the scenic
pavillions.

14. One of the carved
windows evoking
thoughts of nature,
and love

15. Vase-Shaped doorways can be
found throughout the Garden,
which dates back to 1559.

16. The Dragon brings good luck and good fortune. The Frog (inset) causes the dragon to salivate and then it
captures the saliva so it can spread monetary gain, wealth and good health.

17. The crowds pour into the Yuyuan Garden area on weekends.

18. The straw in the pork dumpling allows you to slurp up the juices (soup) before eating the dumpling.

19. Left: Jinmao Tower Middle: Shanghai World Financial Center Right: Shanghai Tower

20. View of Puxi and the Oriental Pearl Tower from the the Observatory of the Financial Center

21. Local Specialties for dinner

22. The lights of the Bund from the evening cruise on the Huangpu River.

24. The neighbourhood of the Central Hotel (Jiujiang Road) in the early morning.

28. The Bund was only about a 20 minute walk from the Central Hotel

30. The Riverside 'boardwalk' --across the street from the historic buildings of the Bund

31. Pudong (literally, the Huangpu River East Bank) home to Shanghai's famous skyscrapers

32. The early morning is the best time to get a
photo of the Bund Bull without the crowds
trying to pose for photos (like I'm doing!)

33. Dismantling the
"living wall' on the
bund--and saving
the flower baskets
for next Spring

34. It was a bit windy but still the warm weather provided a good opportunity for a Fan Dance practice.

36. Walking back to the hotel, we passed a few street markets

38. We returned to the Central Hotel, said
our farewells to Shanghai and then
headed out to the airport for the flight
to Changsha.
We met our guide, Johnson Lin and
departed for the 3 hour coach trip to
Lang Shan in Shaoyang County,
Hunan Province

39. Please see
Part Two:
Hunan's Natural
Wonders

40. Steve Gillick
Travel Writer, Speaker, Photographer
steve@talkingtravel.ca
www.gillicksworld.ca