Up to China (mostly Shanghai) - May 31st-June 21st 2009

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June 19th 2009: Urban Planning Center, and dinner


Page 1 of 1.
Click on images below to enlarge:
Urban Planning Center
A model of Shanghai as seen from the west looking across Huangpu River 
toward the glowing skyscrapers in Pudong.
The same model as seen from the north.  In person, I liked the fun 
they're having with the lighting.  In the picture, I'm not so sure.
A very high resolution picture looking down on the model.  North is up; 
Pudong and its distinctive skyscrapers are at right.  People's Square, 
the Shanghai Museum within it, is the obvious green splotch at left.  I 
think Yuyuan Garden is around the small blue pond in bottom mid-center.  
(It would be easier to identify if something on the map were labeled.)  
North of Suzhou Creek (the creek that runs obviously across the mid-upper 
part of the picture) is North Shanghai.  If you find where the creek 
hits the river, then look up 7/8ths of the way to the edge of the image, 
you'll be roughly where my apartment was this summer.
A high resolution image looking from the north straight down Huangpu 
River.  Pudong is on the left.  If you look at the full-sized image, you 
can see the details on the models.
A model of Shanghai as seen from the west looking across Huangpu River toward the glowing skyscrapers in Pudong.
The same model as seen from the north. In person, I liked the fun they're having with the lighting. In the picture, I'm not so sure.
A very high resolution picture looking down on the model. North is up; Pudong and its distinctive skyscrapers are at right. People's Square, the Shanghai Museum within it, is the obvious green splotch at left. I think Yuyuan Garden is around the small blue pond in bottom mid-center. (It would be easier to identify if something on the map were labeled.) North of Suzhou Creek (the creek that runs obviously across the mid-upper part of the picture) is North Shanghai. If you find where the creek hits the river, then look up 7/8ths of the way to the edge of the image, you'll be roughly where my apartment was this summer.
A high resolution image looking from the north straight down Huangpu River. Pudong is on the left. If you look at the full-sized image, you can see the details on the models.
A panoramic movie of Shanghai and Pudong, taken to show the full scope 
of the model (which I didn't think was fully reflected in any previous 
pictures).  The pan starts looking at North Shanghai, then looks toward 
Shanghai proper (Puxi), then across the river to Pudong, then a lot more 
Pudong than was seen any previous photo I took.
A different model, showing all the famous colonial buildings on the 
Bund.   Though I saw the buildings in person, it's too bad I 
couldn't walk down this riverfront because the whole thing was closed 
for reconstruction.
Taken from the highest floor in the Urban Planning Center, a panorama of 
the green People's Square / Renmin Square and its surrounding 
skyscrapers.  The squat building in the center with arches is the 
Shanghai Museum.
A close-up of the part of People's Square park with flowers.  Sorry 
about the dirty window in the way.
A panoramic movie of Shanghai and Pudong, taken to show the full scope of the model (which I didn't think was fully reflected in any previous pictures). The pan starts looking at North Shanghai, then looks toward Shanghai proper (Puxi), then across the river to Pudong, then a lot more Pudong than was seen any previous photo I took.
A different model, showing all the famous colonial buildings on the Bund.
Though I saw the buildings in person, it's too bad I couldn't walk down this riverfront because the whole thing was closed for reconstruction.
Taken from the highest floor in the Urban Planning Center, a panorama of the green People's Square / Renmin Square and its surrounding skyscrapers. The squat building in the center with arches is the Shanghai Museum.
A close-up of the part of People's Square park with flowers. Sorry about the dirty window in the way.
Dinner at Jishi (Jesse)
Jishi's understated entrance.
The packed, lively dining room, which was on the second floor.  I'm glad 
we made reservations.
Jishi's famous for its red cooked pork: long-cooked braised pork dishes 
in brown (soy-based) sauce.  This one was officially called hong shao 
rou (hong2 shao1 rou4).  It had chunks of fat attached to chunks of 
meat.  We generally ate the meat, which was great, but even the fat has 
a pleasing, meaty texture and we didn't mind eating them by accident.  
This was a revelation to me! (fat presented so that neither its texture 
nor taste made me grossed out)
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "braised pork 
with egg in brown sauce."  The Chinese translates as red (hong2) roasted 
(kao3) meat (rou4) (actually, the last two words together are usually 
used for barbecue) roasted (kao3) egg (dan4).
Jishi's understated entrance.
The packed, lively dining room, which was on the second floor. I'm glad we made reservations.
Jishi's famous for its red cooked pork: long-cooked braised pork dishes in brown (soy-based) sauce. This one was officially called hong shao rou (hong2 shao1 rou4). It had chunks of fat attached to chunks of meat. We generally ate the meat, which was great, but even the fat has a pleasing, meaty texture and we didn't mind eating them by accident. This was a revelation to me! (fat presented so that neither its texture nor taste made me grossed out)
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "braised pork with egg in brown sauce." The Chinese translates as red (hong2) roasted (kao3) meat (rou4) (actually, the last two words together are usually used for barbecue) roasted (kao3) egg (dan4).
Eggplant.  Decent. I preferred it cold.  Di Yin says its the best 
eggplant she's ever had.  She liked the sauce.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "mixed 
eggplant."  The Chinese translates as cold (leng3) mixed/tossed (ban4) 
eggplant (qie2 zi).
Sauteed shepherd's purse with tofu skin.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "saute 
shepherd's purse with shredded beancurd sheet."  The Chinese translates 
as shepherd's purse (ji4 cai4) many (bai3) sheets/pages (ye4) shredded 
(si1).
Eggplant. Decent. I preferred it cold. Di Yin says its the best eggplant she's ever had. She liked the sauce.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "mixed eggplant." The Chinese translates as cold (leng3) mixed/tossed (ban4) eggplant (qie2 zi).
Sauteed shepherd's purse with tofu skin.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "saute shepherd's purse with shredded beancurd sheet." The Chinese translates as shepherd's purse (ji4 cai4) many (bai3) sheets/pages (ye4) shredded (si1).
For dessert: a red bean pancake.  Good.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "sweet 
pancake with bean paste."  The Chinese translates as 
sweetened-bean-paste (dou4 sha1) pan (guo1) round-flat-cake (bing3).
Near Jishi, Xujiahui (the up-scale mall / shopping district) at night.
For dessert: a red bean pancake. Good.
The menu entry for the previous item, named on the menu as "sweet pancake with bean paste." The Chinese translates as sweetened-bean-paste (dou4 sha1) pan (guo1) round-flat-cake (bing3).
Near Jishi, Xujiahui (the up-scale mall / shopping district) at night.
Fodder for Panorama of Renmin Square / People's Square