Shanghai Scenery, cont'd.

Not even sure what this memorial is (anyone else know?). I snapped a pic of the passing landscape as our toured through Shanghai.

(Below) Shanghai Nanpu Bridge.  Over 8300 meters in length and considered a wonder for several aspects of construction. More information here (Shanghai Nanpu Bridge)

(Below) The Superbowl stadium of Shanghai perhaps?

As our first touring day in Shanghai drew to a close the sun disappears behind the  horizon, crowned by a still Ferris -wheel in the foreground.  Recreational/leisure activities were in plentiful supply but we had a schedule to keep and the  wheel just wasn't part of it today. 

The Serenity Spire

(Below) The 'Spire of Serenity' or bottle-opener building as it is known looms high over Shanghai. I could rave on and on about the complexity, diversity and magnificence of China's architecture but I would be here for hours. Displays of grandiose nature are everywhere you look. Some more information on the Shanghai World Financial Center or Serenity Spire can be found here:

 Wikipedia - Shanghai Financial Center

I could photograph buildings forever in China, i'm sure. Hard to turn ones head in any direction without seeing some examples of brilliant building design. Feng Shui is applied to nearly everything in China, from construction to home decor and landscaping. 

Chairman Mao, taller than I remember him....

And of course what scholastic exploration would be complete without a giant statue of Chairman Mao.

Out the back door...

As rounded the far side of the university campus, an octagonal archway signaled the end of our little tour. Checking our watches it was time to head back so I took the opportunity for a photo. The airplane shown below was a WW2 fighter long-since retired, it now resides in a parking lot just outside of the university walls. Would've like to have sat in the cockpit just to get an idea of how it might have felt, oh the nostalgia bug biteth.

My fellow monk-to-be, Dyllan. Striking a pose in the aforementioned archway at the edge of the university grounds. 

A stroll through the local University...

During our morning exploration of the area around our hotel in Shanghai, we happened upon a local university campus and decided to investigate further. Lush gardens and winding walkways...

(Below) And some more trees with very distinctive bark...

The team stopped in a few spots to capture monk-like poses for historical reasons.

Barbwire on a Budget.

Barbwire is pretty expensive stuff. Why fork out hundreds of yuan when you can just cement shards of thick, razor-sharp glass to the tops of your perimeter. I wouldn't attempt it, and there are probably a few thieves of ill-renown missing fingers over poorly conceived notions.

I'm the guy with the camera...

My fellow kung-fu warriors pose for a photo outside of the soccer-field from my last post. From left to right are Dyllan, Chelsea, Mike, Aaron, Christian, and Spencer. Just behind them is a thick wall of young bamboo. I'd be happy with a whole forest of that stuff in my backyard... or as a centerpiece in a livingroom of substantial size.

More Interesting Architecture...

Outside of our hotel in Shanghai we had an opportunity to wander around and explore. Immediately apparent was the fact that the architects around here are some of the best if not some of the most imaginative people on the planet. The one shown below here was an arena of sorts, we wandered up and along the upper tier checking out graffiti and trying to peer inside the mirrored windows. The soccer field shown a couple of photos down was just to the right of this building.

(Below) How about a taller dose of 'Huh'?

Didn't smoke the Jeffrey, but I stroked the fuzzy wall.

Aaron and I stopped to marvel at the elevators deep-suede interior. There were more intricate details in these hotel elevators than hanging off the walls in some art galleries out here. Just sayin'...