Walking tour of Shanghai

Howard showed us the sights from the sidewalk, where we passed outdoor ballroom dancing lessons, antique vendors, the French quarter, and a pet market. There were a lot of random things to be seen, including the building where Chairman Mao had a meeting to essentially lead China to Communism.

Just a small part of the Shanghai skyline.

Lots of glass in the city, and very different from Beijing.

Check it, a store in the French Quarter that's almost my sister's name.

At the pet market. Insects, birds, kittens, turtles, almost anything was here.

In the afternoon we took a high-speed elevator up the Jin Mao Tower to see the Shanghai skyline. I thought the Chicago and New York City skylines were epic, but the view from there was just absurd. Buildings stretching literally as far as you could see and no shortage of skyscrapers.

Approaching the Jin Mao Tower.

Looking out from the top towards the Oriental Pearl Tower, a TV & radio broadcasting antenna.

Felt like SimCity with all the color-coded rooftops.

We spent the evening at an acrobatics show with contortionists, hoop jumpers, a motorcycle ball of death, and a very eclectic mix of music (the Tatooine cantina music from Star Wars and Celine Dion…).

I didn't believe it until they dropped a few plates.

They fit 5 motorcycles in their Ball of Death!