Shanghai City Day Tour (SWFC & The Bund at Night)

6-days winter solo backpacking in Mainland China

january 26 -  february 01, 2013 saturday to friday

Shanghai City day tour (yuyuan and S&T museum)

Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) was the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest structure in Mainland China. It also had the highest occupied floor and the highest height to roof, two categories used to determine the title of "world’s tallest building". The SWFC opened its observation deck 30 August 2008 as the world's tallest at the time of its completion, offers views from 474 m (1,555 ft) above ground level.

The SWFC will be exceeded in height by the adjacent Shanghai Tower, which is due for completion in 2014. SWFC, Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower will form the world's first adjacent grouping of three supertall skyscrapers.

how to get to SWFC Observatory;
just take metro subway bound to lujiazu station which is almost 400 meters away to the building. Entrance fee cost 150 cny with opening hours from 0900H-2000H.

3 giants of shanghai

Shanghai City Day Tour (Yuyuan and S&T Museum)

6-days winter solo backpacking in Mainland China

january 26 -  february 01, 2013 saturday to friday

Shanghai Pudong International Airport at night

Shanghai subway has direct connection to airport which begins to operate at 0600H.  My 1st objective for this morning is to book 1st my train ticket bound to Huangshan tonight before doing the city day tour. I went to shanghai railway station with fare at 7 cny ($1) only at line 4 with train interchange from line 2 at guanglan road station and century avenue station. Travel from airport to shanghai railway station took almost 90 minutes, imagine how long would it take if I traveled using a bus/taxi and the fare it consumed.

After purchasing the train ticket with departure time at 2124H on this day and having a breakfast inside the train terminal, I started to Shanghai city day tour in the following format; please take note that everything below was decided in spontaneous manner due to dependency in train departure time.

yuyuan gardens

6 Days Winter Solo Backpacking in Mainland China

snowy escapade birthday celebration in shanghai - huangshan - beijing
january 26 -  february 01, 2013 saturday to friday

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius

My 15th country to visit, 21st solo backpacking trip, 3rd visa application for tourism on entire single page, 2nd winter snow travel, 2nd birthday getaway and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

After four (4) attempts of planning for winter backpacking, finally I made it this January 2013. The first plan was on a flight date last Jan. 24 - Feb. 01, 2012 via Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou for a birthday trip. Due to change of workplace, I moved this plan to December 06-12, 2012 via Shanghai-Beijing but again not pursued due to unapproved vacation leave. I moved again this plan to Dec. 24 - Jan. 02, 2013 via Shanghai-Beijing-Xi amen but still, for the 3rd time, this trip did not worked-out due to heavy workload at office, how sad holiday celebration.

Great Wall of China Mutianyu, Beijing