New Years Day Outing to Sheshan

After all the banqueting, some of us were ready for some exercise and fresh air. The closest hill to pancake flat Shanghai is a measly 100 meters and 30 kilometers away. It was one of our first expeditions when we lived in Shanghai in 2005 .

Nowadays the subway whizzes you within 5 kilometers, and a free bus covers the rest of the way. As expected, nothing was recognizable. What we didn't anticipate was shoulder to shoulder people. Turns out it's the annual "New Years Day Ascend."

Afterwards we walked to the new Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. The botanic park has three gigantic conservatories. For one who never likes desert gardens, I was pleasantly surprised by the desert conservatory. A second visit is in order we come back to Shanghai in the spring.

It was a very enjoyable day with yet another banquet in the evening.

And up the hill/mountain we go.




At the top of Sheshan are the Sheshan Basilica and an observatory. The Basilica was closed for renovation. We did not visit the observatory.




The tropical plants conservatory at the Botanical Garden.


A young girl sketching in the Desert and Succulents conservatory.


More of the Desert Conservatory.


Check out the driftwood sculpture that resembles a tree.


Sun-Ling, niece, and brother on the skywalk in the Plants Conservatory.