Day 23 - Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha and Cruise on the Bund

Today we went to the Shanghai Museum to look at artifacts and pottery and such. People say you can spend days here. For me, it was not the case 2 hours tops. There were different exhibit sections such as the jade gallery, pottery, bronze and ancient currency. Each section showcased what appeared to be many versions of exactly the same thing. The bronze section had wine jug after wine jug that all looked the same. The currency area had different types of currency but there was an abundance of coins that all looked the same with the exception of the coins shaped like spades and dagger and the paper currency that was the size of half a legal sized sheet of paper. My favourite section was the jade gallery where there were many different jade carvings made into belt buckles, rings and dishes.

Next stop was the French Concession area where I went to go see the "Memorial for the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China" (yes it is actually called that). It was interesting. Everything was centered around General Mao with a lot of propaganda. After this we tried to find the Propaganda poster museum but was unsuccessful. It was listed in the Lonely Planet but everyone we asked had no idea where it was. It probably doesn't exist anymore especially because it had been listed in one of the most popular travel books.

The Jade Buddha cost about 20 Y to get to from the French Concession. Upon entry we stumbled upon a religious ceremony/funeral offering which turned out to be a rich family that had paid the monks to conduct it. They burned 2 large paper boats filled with fake money and an effigy of a servant for the dead to have on the other side. The ceremony lasted about 30 min.

There are actually 5 large Jade Buddhas in existance that were brought over from Burma. Only 3 of which reside at this temple. During the cultural revolution the boxed Buddha's were covered in Mao propaganda posters so they would not be destroyed. The sitting Buddha was had an arm broken during transport and was fixed with a gold arm band. The other 2 Buddha's here are the reclining Buddha and one with many arms. They are magnificent and to think they were each carved out of a
single piece of jade.

In the evening we went on a cruise down the Huangpu river. From the boat there was a fantastic view of the Bund and the Shanghai skyline.

Tonight was the last dinner the group had together and we had a feast. In addition to playing a game called "Who is the Captain" with the loser eating hot chilli peppers. Definitely a great game. We'll have to play it when I get home but with alcohol instead of hot chilli peppers!

To end the night, I got a foot massage for 110 Y ($17) that lasted an hour. It was great! I'll be back tomorrow for a full body massage.