Travel to shanghai: Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, and Century Park
July 20, 2009Oriental Pearl TV Tower
The 468 meters high tower, which is the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world, was put into construction on July 30th, 1991 and completed on October 1st, 1994. It faces the Bund across the Huangpu River. With eleven steel spheres in various sizes hanging from the blue sky to the green grassland, the body of the tower creates and admirable image, which is described in an ancient Chinese verse as: Large and small pearls dropping on a plate of jade. a. The Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World The Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World has many wonderful and exciting entertainment items for both the young and the old. The entertainment list includes Journey through the Forest, Trip on the South Pole, Travel in the Fancies, Disney Theatre, Laser Theatre, Bliss Square, Three-dimensional Movie and Hot Balloon. b. Shanghai Municipal History Museum The Shanghai Municipal History Museum is located in the tower’s pedestal, which is a museum on the development of Shanghai over the past century. Tourists can learn Shanghai municipal history in a vivid way through the display of valuable relics, documents, pictures and advanced audio-visual devices. The show is made up of six parts: Leased territory, old municipal construction and street scenes, urban economy in modern Shanghai, modern culture, city life and political changes, which fully displays a profound change happened in every aspects of shanghai.
Yuyuan Garden
complete with beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. This small park is located in the heart of Shanghai’s old Chinese quarter and links to Yuyuan Market.
Built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty in the Suzhou style by a high official Pan Yunduan in honor of his father, the garden has maintained its classic beauty over the centuries. The Yuyuan Garden was considered the best garden in Southeast China.
The Pavilion of Spring in the northeast section of the park is famous for being the headquarters of the anti-imperialist “Little Sword Society”, who in 1853 led an uprising against Qing rule and occupied Shanghai for 17 months. Weapons, coins and other objects used by the society are now housed in an exhibition hall.
A large-scale restoration of the Yuyuan Garden was conducted after the establishment of PRC and it was opened to the public formally in 1961.
Yuyuan Garden’s Huxin Ting teahouse is very popular and numerous stalls sell delicious Chinese snacks and desserts.
Century Park
Century park is the largest echo-city park with natural characteristics. It covers an area of 140.3 hectares and is designed by British LUC Company, which embodies the combination of eastern and western cultures, human and nature and with a feature of Chinese gardens. With large areas of grassland, forests and lakes as its main part, there are scenic spots like islands in the lakes, meeting square, country gardens and grasslands and facilities like birds reservation, scientific experience and experiment, children’s park etc. Tourists may enjoy fishing, kite-flying and picnic to the farthest extent.
