Shanghai has a certain charm to it, whereas I always associate it with the 1920s and 1930s where the heyday of the republican era is so imprinted especially in movies and series. The city is cosmopolitan, never sleeps and never wait for anyone.
With Shanghai city as the base for bullet train, it is easy to use it as a base with day trips out of the city.
Suzhou
Suzhou is known as a canal city within the Nanjiang region. Imagine scholars with their books running amok in the ancient city.
Also a city of silk, pop in any of the silk shops. There are factories which gives insight into where silk comes from, while new trendy brand tends to be more prevalent in main shopping streets and shopping centres. If you intend to get silky duvet, trust that it keeps you warm and comfortable.
Suzhou is also a city of gardens, many in ancient times put effort to landscape their garden to reflect a relaxing environment.
Suzhou is a pretty small enclosed ancient city, with canals everywhere. The city centre is protected to ensure no development of high rise building. Hence the ancient town does retain an ancient charm to it.
Precisely due to this, there seems to be many tourists who dressed up in various ancient costumes to take pictures in the canal city. Make-up and accessories are popular with different costumes from Song Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and to a lesser degree Qing Dynasty. Interesting how most are women, who are happy to endure the heat to take photographs.
Food in Suzhou brings sweet flavour. Dessert choices are aplenty with many old brands.
It takes less than 30 mins from Shanghai to Suzhou via the bullet train. There are many trains serving the day, almost 10 to 15 mins interval.
Qibao Town
The town is an easy subway ride away, about 45 mins from town centre. Subsequently there is an estimated 1km walk to the town. Town has many restaurants which are not open for lunch but more for dinner. Tea houses are aplenty and pretty expensive but we decided to rest at the teahouse to avoid the heat.
There are many other watertown easily accessible via Shanghai including Wuzhen watertown, Zhujia Jiao watertown, Zhou Zhuang watertown and many more. Take your pick and just stroll along the canals.
Nanjing
Nanjing is actually a capital city for many a dynasty throughout China’s history.
In the middle peak of the city lies Purple Mountain. The drive up the mountain is serene with lots of green tall trees at the side, providing shades as the vehicles zooms upwards. The mountain is residence to Mouseleum of Dr Sun Yat Sen and Soong Mei Ling and Ming Dynasty founder Emperor Hongwu Xiaoling’s mouseluem.
The city preserved part of the wall from the ancient city, rebuilding the walls for travellers to experience the feeling of guarding up the city wall.
Being a Nanjiang city, what can’t be missing is the canals – Qinhuai Canal area. Nearby you can also find Confucius temple. And lots of restaurants and shops selling souvenirs & snacks.
Nanjing is a 2+ hour train ride away from Shanghai, makes for a slightly cramped day trip.
Nanxun Ancient Town
Nanxun ancient town is a renovated old canal town, about 1.5 hours drive from Shanghai, enroute to Hangzhou. There is no direct access by train not bus. Your best bet is to hire a private vehicle.
Of all the day trip cities, Nanxun seems less authentic, isolated and even deserted. Very few shops are open and I am wondering how long the township can last with so few visitors.
There is no entrance fee (as the case for the canal towns) but do take the short boat ride up the canal. From the top, take a stroll down the canal while window shop for souvenirs, snacks and drinks.
What are you waiting for? Take your pick and do the slow day trip out from metropolitan Shanghai.
Cheng's Musings 