Shanghai is the largest Chinese city by population and the largest city proper by population in the world. It is a global financial centre and a transport hub with the world's busiest container port. It is located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China.

We stayed here for a few days in 2008 so no trips today just doing our own thing. At least it was warm and sunny back then although a bit smoggy. Today it is cold and rain is forecast.

We took the shuttle bus into Huangpu Park which is just beside the Bund. The Bund is quite an iconic place with the globes and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and skyscrapers in the background. We walked up to where we could see the Shangri-La Hotel where we stayed previously then went to the Fairmont Peace Hotel for lunch. We retraced our steps back along the Bund to the Yu Gardens in the old town.  The gardens are the most famous classical gardens in China. The original garden was laid out in the mid 16th century and took 18 years to complete.

We really enjoyed our day even though we have walked for miles!

We're having our dinner in the Verandah Restaurant this evening to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

We will then have two days at sea before our arrival in Hong Kong.


Shanghaied

Due to the hazardous voyages at sea, especially in this region,  years ago many sailors didn't make it to the next destination and it was difficult to recruit new crew by fair means.

The boarding masters, whose job it was to find crews for ships would have the incentive of receiving blood money for recruiting new men.

The most straightforward method to shanghai a sailor was to render him unconscious,either by drugging him or simply knocking him out! He would then forge his signature on the ship's articles, and pick up his "blood money."