Zhujiajiao (朱家角) and the Bund, Shanghai, China

My first posting of 2013 is from China. Zhujiajiao is an ancient town located in the Qingpu District of Shanghai. The population is about 70,000. It is a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, and was established about 1,700 years ago

Archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found

It was a cold and early misty morning when I arrived

36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao, and many ancient buildings still line the river banks today

Already bus loads of Chinese tourists were arriving

Beautiful colours on either side of the waterways help to make this ancient town an enchanting place

This area was not so full of people

The old town is thoroughly connected by the 36 delicate bridges in different shapes and styles, from wooden to stone to marble

The water is an integral part of the way of life of the people who live here

Endowed with another elegant name - 'Pearl Stream' - the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai

As you would expect there are many boats taking tourists on scenic trips around the town

This chap kept his beady eye on me while pretending not to be there!

There are temples, museums, gardens to see as well as walking around the town along the many waterways

I only had a short time so I will have to return to explore more fully what the town has to offer

An artist at work. She painted everything that was for sale in her shop

Unfortunately I couldn't get closer. Kissing the bride on the crossing seemed to be an important photo to have! We are now in Shaghai

I don't see these beautiful colours in Singapore!

The famous Shanghai cityscape view. The sun had come through but the smog never went away

I really liked the facade of this building

You can't take just one photo! As the late afternoon was setting the reflections kept changing

A close up view of part of the riverside

The Bund. European buildings are the sign that this part of China opened up to foreign trade more than others

The word "bund" means an embankment or an embanked quay

The Shanghai Bund has dozens of historical buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium

Sunset on the Bund....

....and a final shot of that beautiful view

Guangzhou China - Pearl River

Welcome to the first of a series of photos taken during my recent trip to Guangzhou in Southern China.

This first set is dedicated to the Pearl River which runs through the heart of Guangzhou. It is the third longest river in China. The Pearl River is named after a sandy or stony island in the middle of the river called "Sea Pearl". This island is now part of the bank of the river, due to the river's change of course. It is 2,200 kilometers in length and flows into the South China Sea between Hong
Kong and Macau.

The weather was very hazy and hot. No brilliant blue skies. The light was a challenge when taking photos. But it does provide its own "atmosphere". The next set in a couple of weeks will show you the lovely people I came across as I discovered Guangzhou.

I was only in Guangzhou for 3 days, one of which I was working. I really liked the feel of the city. It doesn't have the sights of Beijing, but it is a friendly, bustling, human city. I would like to go back.

Don't forget to click on the links in the text to get more information.

Come back to see the human side more closely.

Alan















Very smooth surface to the river taken at
the hottest time of day. On the opposite bank
is the Guangzhou hyperboloid TV &
Sightseeing Tower.






















A closer view of the Tower.
I'll show you clearer photos of
this tower in another edition
In the distance you can see
the Liede Bridge.
















Modern buildings on the bank of the river
more in the centre part of Guangzhou.
















A striking building. I guess it's like Marmite,
you either love of hate the architecture, but
can't ignore it!
















I was standing on the Haizhu bridge taking
this shot. The bridge you can see is the
Jiefang (Liberation) bridge.
















This is the Haizhu bridge. It is 7o years old.
Not exactly a pretty sight/site! It has a
rather unenviable reputation of being a suicide
bridge. In one month alone eight people
committed suicide on the bridge and numerous
others had climbed up threatening to commit
suicide before changing their minds.
















City officials, after trying more conventional
means to prevent would be suiciders,
employed Chinese workers to smear the
bridge with butter. Apparently it has worked!
It is too slippery to climb. Traffic has often
been held up for hours "pushing people"
to desperate measures. Click the link above
to read the story!
















View of the bank of the river from Haizhu
bridge.
















Boatman near the Jiefang Bridge.
















A rare moment when nobody was around.
















The river in the centre of Guangzhou.
















A scenic shot! The river links Guangzhou to
Hong Kong and the South China Sea. It is
one of China's most important waterways
and one of the centres of its world trade.















Going on a pleasure boat is one of the "must
do" activities. Especially the night cruise.
Unfortunately I did not have the time.
















But I did take a couple of photos of the boats!






















The river has been very
polluted. Measures have been
taken to clean it up, but there
is still a long way to go. To
persuade people that it is OK
to swim the Mayor arranged
a swimathon of health officials
but had difficulty finding
recruits! I believe the mayor
did go for a swim and survived.
Clearly some people feel it's
ok, even for their children.






















A meeting place for the locals.
One man is flying a kite.
















The river at dusk

Images of Singapore

Hello, and a warm welcome (back) to my blog.

I saw an exhibition of Steve McCurry over the weekend called "The Unguarded Moment". If I ever got to be half as good as he is I'd be smiling! Wonderful photos.

An inspiration for me!

I have chosen some photos of Singapore for this edition. This photo was taken on the island of Sentosa, south of Singapore. It is the underside of the Tiger elevation tower that is 110m high. You can see both Malaysia and Indonesia from the tower. It is sponsored by Tiger Airways.

Have a good two weeks and hope to see you again

Alan












Clarke Quay, away from the water has a
covered street with outside air conditioning,
to keep people cool. You can see AC panel
where the air blows out on the right, There is
a boy playing with the fountain.













Another view. The street has a central square
with the fountain. It is a street of restaurants
and bars.














Recently the Government arranged for the
bridges in the central tourist area to be lit up
at night. This bridge is on Boat Quay.
















Singapore is constantly renewing itself and
doing everything it can to attract tourists and
business.













The Fullerton Hotel on Boat Quay used to be
the Post Office before the Second World War.
When the Japanese invaded they made it their
central command.
















I have posted photos of the Arab Street area
before. Here's a few more on a sunny day. The
golden dome of Sultan Mosque is a striking
feature




















There are some interesting shops in the Arab
Street area. This lovely Vespa is standing
outside a shop that specialises in retro objects.
















Sultan Mosque


















Daniela with the Vespa. She used to have
one of these when she was a younger girl
in Italy!





















Masjid Sultan is the biggest
mosque in Singapore.
















This is Bussorah Street. Great shops and cafes.
The Arab Street area is on the edge of a larger
district of Singapore called Bugis, Bugis used to be
famous for its prostitutes. When my Dad was in
Singapore with the RAF in the early 1950's
Bugis was a no-go area. It was compared to the
Patpong area of Bangkok. Now it is one of the
biggest shopping areas outside Orchard Road