China: Shanghi
Shanghai's population is nearly equivalent to the State of California's - 34 million.
The skyline is interesting and very modern.
On this warm sunny day the residents waved what our guide called the "national flag" - laundry.
The Chinese feel it is healthy to dry their laundry and air their quilts in the open.  We think it wise.
Just a daily commute in Shanghai.  Traffic consumed quite a bit of our time in this city.
OK, so maybe we shouldn't complain about the traffic.  This fellow must have thunder thighs.
The entrance to the sadly neglected Shanghai Zoo.
One panda yearning for a mate.  The other panda yearning for bamboo shoots.
This isn't the charming ivory & ebony animals we normally see in the tourist brochures.
The Museum is noted for its collection of Ming Dynasty furniture.
Exquisite Ming Dynasty furniture.
This is a test.  Which dynasty does this furniture represent?
The Museum had ethnic minority exhibits.  This is a Miao ceremonial costume.
This outfits is made of salmon skins.  Hmmm - I love a man that smells of fish.
Ceremonial mask of the various ethnic groups.
This beautiful canoe is reminiscent of those found in America's northwest.
Inscriptions on Oracle Bones were the beginning of the Chinese written language.
The museum exhibited ceramics, jade, celadon, calligraphy & bronze antiquities.
The fabulous silk rug factory. Each thread is individually woven and tied by hand. 
The Ming Dynasty Yu Gardens are located in central Shanghai near the Bazaar.
We were continually amused by the juxtaposition of old and new.
The garden is a maze of walls & paths making it feel larger than it actually is.
  The zigzag bridge protects the Huxington Teahouse from evil spirits - thus, Susan cannot proceed.
The Shanghai Bazaar is an excellent site for serious shoppers with well honed bargaining skills.
This is a concentrated shopping frenzy.
Of course, every Chinese bazaar needs a DQ.  The Bazaar also boasted two Starbucks and a Mickey Ds.
Silk factory workers pulling strands from the silk cocoons (in the bowls) to spin into threads.
Double cocoons are made into comforters.  Here the silk is stretched to the proper size.
The worlds only Maglev train in revenue service enters the Shanghai Station.
The train reached 430 kph on our 7.5 minute ride to the airport - talk about a rush.
We started our long trek home at the architecturally interesting Shanghai Airport.
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Shanghai Museum's impressive interior. The museum's exhibits span more than 5,000 years.