First day in Shanghai

Today, Saturday, is my first full day in Shanghai.  As I wasn't able to get a full nights sleep I was up quite early, like 3:30 AM.  Well, I finally left the dorm around 6:00 AM and went for a walk and for breakfast.  Wanted to go to a McDonalds to see if I could get WiFi, and I think I did.  Now I am worried about paying roaming and data charges to Verizon, so I've got to check this out.  After breakfast, first went to Zhabel Park, which is near the University. Lots of people dancing, exercising, practicing their Tai Chi, and just relaxing.  The Chinese seem to exercise more freely in their parks than Americans.  I made some friends in the one Tai Chi group, and they invited me to join them Sunday morning.  Then I took a long walk downtown, spent many hours walking, and stopped in a Starbucks in the JW Marriott for a rest.  I was searching for the famous Nanjing Road East, which is Shanghai's busiest and pedestrian only shopping district in the city.  I finally found it, and boy was it crowded.  I ate lunch at a typical Chinese restaurant on a side street off Najing Rd, then walked back to People's Square, and took the subway home.  What follows are some pictures from todays excursion.
P.S. Tomorrow is a full day of orientation, and classes start on Monday.

As you enter Zhabel Park, these women are doing a group exercise.  There are many exercise groups all over the Park.

Here is a group learning Tai Chi in the park.  This is the group that invited me to join them Sunday morning.  I may go if I can get up that early.



Here are my Tai Chi friends from the park

After a long walk to Peoples Square, you will see many photos of the park.

Carousel in the children's area of Peoples Square

Part of Peoples Park and the skyline

The Shanghai Museum in Peoples Square

Children's play area in fountain in Peoples Park



Shopping on the Famous Nanjing Pedestrian Road




Getting around the park and around many areas downtown was tricky.  There were many elevated walkways and underground walkways because they didn't want so many people crossing the intersections.