This past March, I spent one day in Shanghai as part of a work trip that took me to China, Japan and Guam over the span of a week.

Trips to Shanghai are difficult to come by for junior flight attendants like me, so I made sure to visit as many sites as possible during my short stay and take advantage of my mini work-sponsored vacation as best I could.

With a population of over 23 million, Shanghai is the world’s seventh largest metropolis and one of Asia’s leading economic and financial hubs. Yet, despite its global prominence, Shanghai is a challenging destination to visit. The language barrier, the lack of English signage and the sheer size of the city make it intimidating for even the most seasoned travelers.

Perhaps I should have known better. When I visited mainland China with my family in 2005, I remember how difficult it was to communicate with people in English.

But after my recent return to Hong Kong, where I had little to no problem communicating or finding my way around, I naively expected Shanghai would be similar due to its prominence as one of Asia’s most modern megacities.

But I was wrong.

From the moment I left my hotel and set out to explore Shanghai, I ran headfirst into communication roadblocks at every turn–from asking for directions, to finding a map, to ordering food. I had originally hoped to discover Shanghai on foot but, given that asking for directions and obtaining a map seemed nearly impossible, I reluctantly bought a Hop On Hop Off bus pass to help me navigate the city’s streets.

I started my self-guided adventure with a visit to the the Bund–a waterfront area of Shanghai that offers postcard-worthy views of the city’s modern skyline.

The Bund sits along the western bank of the Huangpu River. The area is renowned for housing colonial architecture that represents artistic styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque to Romanesque to Renaissance. The Bund was established as a a trading port by the British in 1846. A subsequent economic boom in the 1920s and 30s led to the construction of banks and embassies in the area and established the Bund as a political, economical and cultural center of the city.

I spent about half an hour walking along the Bund and marveling across the river at the dramatic skyline that rises into Shanghai’s hazy skies. Then, I hopped back on the bus and journeyed back in time, to the traditional Yuyuan Garden that lies just a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the waterfront promenade.

The Yuyuan Garden is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, pink-flowered trees, koi ponds and footbridges that are enclosed by an undulating dragon-shaped wall. The shrines and pavilions in the garden are prime examples of traditional Chinese architecture–with their upswept roofs, intricate carvings and decorative motifs. Though flooded with throngs of tourists, walking through the garden is a peaceful and aesthetically pleasing distraction from the concrete and glass buildings that dominate much of Shanghai.

The Old Town Bazaar that surrounds Shanghai’s most famous garden contains Ming Dynasty teahouses, stalls of street food, shopping pavilions and the beautiful City God Temple. And while some might call it a tourist trap due to its conglomeration of restaurants and kitschy souvenir shops, I found it a fantastic place to get a feel for what Shanghai’s architecture must have been like before the city’s rapid industrial and economic boom.

I spent a few hours exploring Old Shanghai, before heading a few blocks East toward the upscale and chic French Concession–an area of the city that gives legitimacy to Shanghai’s claim as the Paris of the East.

The French Concession is an area of Shanghai that was administered by the French government between 1849 and 1946. With tree-lined avenues, western-style brick buildings, cozy boutiques and outdoor cafes, I felt worlds away from the manic bustle of Shanghai and its 23 million inhabitants.

And for once, I didn’t feel completely lost in a maze of illegible street signs and unnavigable streets.

In the late afternoon, I hopped on the bus one last time and headed toward Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is to Shanghai what Shibuya is to Tokyo. It is a frenzied shopping district full of advertisements and lights that is a delight for those who, like me, enjoy watching daily life unfold before their eyes.

Filled with everyone from teenage shoppers to camera-toting tourists to families taking a casual stroll down the city’s premier pedestrian avenue, Nanjing Road is a beehive of activity. Since I wasn’t interested in shopping, I sat down on a bench, observed the chattering passersby and watched the neon signs flicker on, one by one, as dusk enveloped the city.

Finally, when my eyelids grew heavy from a mixture of jet lag and lack of sleep, I pried myself away from the bench and wandered down Nanjing Road toward my hotel–returning briefly to the Bund for a glimpse of the city’s infamous skyline at night.

And once again, the view of Shanghai’s skyscrapers and its iconic Pearl Tower did not disappoint.

Though at times difficult and frustrating to navigate, the Pearl of the Orient is a fascinating and rewarding place to visit. The city’s modern skyscrapers rise out of clouds of industrial smog and lie just blocks away from ancient temples, colonial relics and historic neighborhoods that are waiting to be explored.

I wish I could have spent more than one day in Shanghai but, alas, it was time to go back to work. So I went to bed and prepared for leg two of my week-long work trip across the Pacific–trading in my winter coat for a swimsuit, my walking shoes for flip-flops and one of the world’s largest cities for the tiny Micronesian island where America’s day begins.

The post One Day in Shanghai appeared first on Erika's Travels .

When crew scheduling assigned me a 24 hour Hong Kong layover, I was ecstatic. Hong Kong is, with out a doubt, one of the world’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Its modern architecture rivals that of New York, while its culture is deeply rooted in Buddhist tradition. To add to its appeal, Hong Kong houses world-class restaurants, renowned tourist attractions and a vibrant mix of people from all corners of the globe.

When I visited Hong Kong as part of a larger trip to China with my family in 2005, I remember being struck by the sheer size of the city, its towering skyscrapers and its futuristic architecture. Yet, what fascinated me even more about Hong Kong, were its refuges of peace and tranquility.

Hong Kong is a city replete with natural, historical and modern treasures. Amidst its maze of high-rises, lives a city that is replete with shrines, temples and large city parks.

24 HOURS IN HONG KONG

Hong Kong is a complex and dynamic city that cannot possibly be discovered in a mere 24 hours. One of Asia’s major metropolitan areas, it is teeming with things to do and see.

With limited time, I decided to construct an itinerary that would bring together the country’s storied past and vibrant present. I started my Hong Kong layover adventure with a trip to the Tai O fishing village. Tai O is a small community on Lantau Island that is sometimes referred to as the Venice of Hong Kong. It provides a glimpse into what Hong Kong must have been like before its rapid modernization.

Following a visit to Tai O, I took a gondola to the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island.

In the evening, I concluded my quick layover trip with a visit to Victoria’s Peak—the city’s most iconic viewpoint.

TAI O FISHING VILLAGE

Tai O is home to the Tanka people—a community of fishermen who have built stilt homes above the Lantau Island tidal flats for generations. There are no neon signs or multi-story office buildings rising form the surrounding waters. Just fisherman cruising up and down the rivers, local residents selling dried fish from their shop windows and visitors looking to escape the chaos of nearby Hong Kong.

I spent about two hours exploring the narrow streets and markets of Tai O and walking around the harbor to the historical Heritage Hotel. Wandering amongst the patchwork of houses made me feel as though I had stepped back in time—to a time when Hong Kong itself was nothing more than a small fishing village on the shores of the South China Sea.

It was hard to believe that one of the world’s largest cities was just around the corner.

In recent years, economic hardship has plagued Tai O, causing younger generations to flee to Hong Kong in search of opportunity. As a result, the fisherman lifestyle is slowly dying out. As I walked through the community, I wondered how long it would be before high-rises and office buildings replaced the charming stilt houses.

TIAN TAN BUDDHA

From Tai O, I took the local bus across Lantau Island to Tung Chung, the launching pad for visits to the famous Tian Tan Buddha.

Though the Tian Tan Buddha and adjacent Po Lin Monastery can be reached by bus, many tourists prefer riding the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the mountain’s summit.

The gondola runs nearly four miles from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping Village and provides stunning aerial views of the mountains and harbors below. Had it not been for a thick layer of fog that drenched my surroundings in a grayish light, I suppose I would have been able to see the Hong Kong mainland in the distance.

It took more than twenty minutes to reach Ngong Ping Village by cable car. From the cabin, I could see fisherman along the coastline, planes taking off and landing at the Hong Kong International Airport and waterfalls amongst the lush green hills. In the distance, the towering Tian Tan Buddha rose above the surrounding mountains.

Sitting 34 metres high and overlooking the people of Hong Kong, the majestic bronze Buddha draws pilgrims from all over Asia. There are larger Buddha statues elsewhere–notably the 71 meter-high Grand Buddha in Leshan, China. However, though only constructed in 1993, there is no doubt that the Tian Tan Buddha is one of the most visited and revered on Earth.

After paying homage to the Giant Buddha and failing miserably to photograph it against the hazy yellowish light of the late afternoon, I headed back down the mountain, toward Victoria Peak.

VICTORIA PEAK

Victoria Peak is Hong Kong’s premier tourist attraction. From its summit, one can enjoy unparalleled views of the city’s skyline and architecture. My initial intention was to reach the mountaintop before sundown, so that I could enjoy the city views both during the day and at night.

However, it turns out that most other tourists had my same idea. The line for the Victoria Peak tram wrapped around the block and hardly moved. To no avail, I kept looking at my watch and willing the minute hand to stop so that I wouldn’t lose the precious few moments of remaining daylight.

But time kept ticking and the sun kept setting and it was nearly two hours before I made it to the front of the line and onto the tram.

When I finally reached the top of Victoria Peak, a blanket of black replaced the grey haze of the city and the skyline began to come to life. Buildings glowed with greens, yellows and purples. I walked up to the Sky Terrace 248 observation deck and was rewarded with a 360 degree panorama of the skyline.

The Sky Terrace was packed with tour groups, photographers and young couples waving their selfie sticks in order to get pictures in front of the postcard-worthy backdrop. I tried to wiggle my way to the front of the mob for unobstructed views of the cityscape. It took a while, but eventually I planted myself in the corner of the observation deck and looked out at the sea of skyscrapers–letting my senses become completely overwhelmed by the towering buildings and dazzling display of lights. The view was truly magnificent.

After absorbing the views of Hong Kong’s skyline from Victoria Peak, I took the tram down the mountain and walked back to the crew hotel.

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There is so much more I would have liked to add to my Hong Kong itinerary, had I had more time in the city. I wanted to hike to Suicide Cliff and along the Dragon’s Back. I wanted to explore the some of Hong Kong’s best beaches. I wanted to enjoy the lively vibe of the city’s night markets.

And yet, I simply did not have the time to fit all I would have liked to do in my 24 hour Hong Kong layover.

Besides, I knew I had to catch up on sleep before my long flight home.

For, on the following day, not only did I have to work a 14 hour flight back to Seattle, but I also planned to repack my bags, collect school supplies for my former students and board a flight to Ondangwa Namibia via Atlanta, Windhoek and Johannesburg. 

I was exhausted just thinking about it.

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