CHINA 2010 TUESDAY 28th SEPTEMBER

Another dull day but more humid as we found out when search down the alleyways for three gardens adjoining each other. I was interested in visiting the ‘Crane Garden’ which I hoped would contain live species of this bird but somehow we missed it and came to the ‘Zigzag Garden’ but were not allowed to visit for some reason. At one junction we came across a very large blue and white sign fastened to a pole and pointing in the direction of the shops stating ‘Maple Tree Garden and Tea House Art Gallery’ so weren’t quite sure which direction to take. I chose that we go down the narrow alleyway and half way along came to a large white wall with a double doorway which was closed. I had noticed on the corner of the high wall an artistic dull grey sign so edged my bets that this was the Garden. It was only 10am so perhaps we were expecting too much for it to be open at such an hour, but then this is China and people do get up very early. I enjoyed walking down these roads with barrows of vegetables and fruit and stalls with fish, cigarettes, bike repair shops, mah-jong halls (well 3 tables due to the size of room) and passages leading to very small housing. Some residents had made an effort by placing colourful plants in their yards. We found another ancient building where we could hear a lot of chatter presumably from the older generation as we had seen a few emerge from the entrance but again we were not allowed to have a look.
As we left our hotel this morning we noticed two very large red and gold lion dogs by the side of a green and white inflated hoop outside the Bank of Suzhou and all around the car park were helium filled balls and squares flying up towards the sky and rows of coloured banners hanging down the walls of the building. As we ate our early lunch in the hotel restaurant I couldn’t see these lions but Keith said it was because we were sat low down. When it came to leaving the lions, the hoop and the inflatables had all disappeared – now you see it, now you don’t. I think if I hadn’t taken a photo I would have thought I had imagined it.
When it came to packing I couldn’t understand why everything wouldn’t fit into the holdall – we hadn’t bought anything and I was wearing Keith’s spare belt to keep my new trousers up that are fall too big now and I only bought them 2 weeks ago! So our soap bag had to go into my shopping bag which was already heavy. At least everything is packed ready for our departure back to the UK tomorrow and we have managed to book our seats online although we cannot sit together but have aisle seats on the same row.
A member of the hotel staff waved down a taxi for us to take us to the Railway Station. Thankfully the car was allowed to drive up to the entrance so we did not have the long walk that we had on our arrival. Inside a vast hall we checked the information board but couldn’t find our train. Checking at enquiries the official told us to wait by Gates 1 and 3B. We found seats next to a young man from Shanxi Province who was going to meet his friends in Shanghai and then at 7pm they would all travel to his home town to celebrate the 7 days of the National Holiday. He was catching an earlier train to Shanghai so we said goodbye and waited until it was our turn to go down to platform 10 for the 14.21.
We were in coach 1 and had seats 20 and 21. Keith was in a window seat a row in front of me and in my seat was already a young man. Without any fuss he moved and although I too should have had a window seat I didn’t push for the other young man to change. He was very polite and said “hello” and then began talking in Chinese. As usual I apologised and we were both quiet for a time. Then he plucked up courage to speak to me in English and in no time we reached our destination. I had missed the information board stating we had reached speeds of over 300km and didn’t notice the tilting of the train, but 30 minutes to travel from Suzhou to the centre of Shanghai is very good and in very good seating with a cleaner in attendance at all times. Before we said goodbye he asked for my email stating that he was going to teach me Chinese because he couldn’t believe we have visited China so many times and I cannot speak the language. I wished him good luck in his attempt!
As we began to leave the station we had another problem - should we leave by the North or South exits. We chose the south but would not go through the gates if we couldn’t see Mr. Liu who was going to escort us to our airport hotel. Thankfully we got it right and both he and Mr. Nee were waving frantically to us and had big smiles on their faces at seeing us. Mr. Liu was anxious to know if we had enjoyed Suzhou as he had been there so we told him of some of our adventures during our long journey out to the airport. Our journey seemed to take forever due to traffic and distance but we did pass the ‘Expo Centre’ where we saw a mass of colour in one corner – tour buses! Along the streets between the European Halls it was just a mass of people and Mr. Liu said approximately 50,000 people a day were visiting the site which was due to close on 31st October. But said they have decided to extend it as so many foreigners were now coming, and goodness knows how many Chinese will visit next week during their National Holiday. Already the Chinese were queuing for up to 8 hours to enter their Pavilion.
We arrived at ‘Motel l68’ in between terminals 1 and 2 and got checked in with the help of Mr. Liu and Mr. Nee. There was nothing to pay, not even for our beers, and all we had to do was sign for everything. We went down to the small bar for a beer and a coffee and watched a number of men coming in for a massage. There was a range of facilities available including hairdressing, foot soak and a ‘timed 30 minute guest room to take a shower’.
I suggested we go down to the lower level to check out how long it will take to reach Terminal 1. As we exited the lift we found ourselves in a large hall with the ticket office for the ‘Maglev’ and directions for the underground Metro. How about a trip on the Maglev, but Keith was tired and not really bothered?
We went to eat in a lovely dining room with a large rectangle shallow goldfish pool in the centre. Mr. Liu had arranged for us to have the buffet and as I looked at the dishes available a member of staff asked me if it was okay. Fine thank you but afterwards we wished to had asked for the menu and paid the difference. By this time Keith felt refreshed and up for going on the Maglev but VIP - why not we must spend our money on something.
The tickets for a return trip cost 160 each for this class, and 80 for economy. On the platform we were escorted to the carriage and taken into the gold section behind a gold curtain. Sitting in very comfy gold leather seats we set off reaching speeds of up to 300km in no time. We had hoped to be able to get a good view of the city lights but there was too much reflection in the window. 8 minutes later we were at the end of our journey in the centre of Shanghai. Hoping to return on the same train an official asked if we would take the next one as a large team of people had gone into the VIP section and were setting up stands and producing bundles of cables out of suitcases. The young official said they were carrying out tests – how many tests can you do in 8 minutes? So we waited for the next train and sitting in seating behind the female driver Keith peered through the door window. He watched as she set the computers and when we were underway went to film a small part of our journey. It was an experience and it would have been better in daylight and before 7pm then we would have reached speeds in excess of 400km. I told him we would be back by 9pm when he was reluctant to go.
We returned to the bar and chatted to a man from Belgium who was now living in Ningbo a seaport over a bridge from Shanghai. It was 11pm when we returned to our room.