June 5th 2004

8:30am Depart from Grand Hyatt Hotel for Yu Garden/Old City God's Temple Bazaar

9:30am-10:45am Yu Garden/ Old City God's Temple Bazaar

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) is a well-restored Suzhou-style garden in downtown Shanghai, boasting 400 years of history. The complex comprises 30 pavilions linked by corridors, artificial hills, bridges over lotus pools, groves of bamboo and walls carved with stone dragons - providing a true reflection of Ming and Qing Dynasty landscape design in Southern China. The surrounding area, Old City God's Temple Bazaar, is packed with traditional and modern shops, restaurants and temples. (You can see some of these features at http://www.yuyuangarden.com/).

The Old City God's Temple Bazaar originates from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) although the current Temple was built during the Ming Dynasty (1403-1425). Both foreign and Chinese visitors to Shanghai take a great pleasure in seeing it and experiencing the myriad of quaint side streets lined with antique shops and traditional boutiques.

10:45am Depart Yu Garden/Old City God's Temple Bazaar for Shanghai Xintiandi Plaza.

Shanghai Xintiandi Plaza is a newly developed area of Shanghai and features a multitude of specialist F&B, retail, entertainment, cultural, recreational, commercial and residential facilities in restored "Shikumen" houses - a special old form of architectural style only found in Shanghai. Comprising over 60,000 square metres of floor space, Xintiandi is becoming a metropolis for visitors to the City with its "old meets new, East meets West" atmosphere.

Lunch at Soahc Restaurant & Tea Garden.

Soahc Restaurant & Tea Garden in Shanghai Xintiandi Plaza offers traditional Yangzhou & Sichuan food. The restaurant serves famous main courses including Yangzhou fried rice, Yangzhou style meatballs and Sichuan spicy chicken. Afterwards you can relax in the tea garden that offers numerous varieties of Chinese tea.

13:00 Depart Xintiandi Plaza for The Bund (Wai Tan)

13:15-14:15 Tour of The Bund

One of the most famous streets in Asia, The Bund is a tree-lined promenade along the Huangpu River. In the early 1900's the Bund sprouted up with buildings designed by architects from around the world. It remains as a record of architecture which, at the time, was the best in Asia. Night views are stunning. (You can take a virtual tour at http://www.shanghaiafterdark.com/)

14:15-15:15 Depart The Bund for Shanghai Museum

15:15-16:15 Shanghai Museum

The world-renowned Shanghai Museum, a museum of ancient Chinese art, was established in 1952 at the West Nanjing Road in what was once the club of the Shanghai horse race course; in 1959, it moved to 16 Henan South Road. In 1990, it moved once more to its present and arguably most appropriate location in the People's Square. With a collection of over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics, the museum is particularly renowned for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy.

16:15-16:30 Depart Shanghai Museum for Grand Hyatt Hotel