Shànghăi 2024 June 03
We barely got any decent sleep, considering we didn’t return back to the hotel until around 0700. At some point early–mid afternoon we woke up, grouped together, bid Fùyáng farewell, and made our way by ride-share to Fùyáng’s newer train station.
View of Fùyáng from hotel window, overlooking a street.
We didn’t have much time between arriving to the station and our train boarding, but I was able to buy some KFC for myself and the rest of the group so we could eat something on the train ride back to Shànghăi.
Descending down the escalator to one of the Fùyáng station train platforms.
The trip took about 3 hours; It was uneventful. Instead of the socializing and games spent on the train ride to Fùyáng, the return trip consisted mostly of us sleeping or resting our eyes. A police officer came up to all of us individually to check our passports and remind us not to smoke in the train’s restroom. I answered his questioning in dōngběi huà which caught him off-guard. Ricky, who was sitting directly behind me, thought it was funny.
Apartment towers in the distance. Taken from the window of the high-speed train.
I don’t exactly recall what we did once arriving back to Shànghăi. I know that Becca and Elric returned to their hotel to freshen up and relax. I think Ricky and I took a nap, and I believe Jack also returned to his hotel to rest. But, I just don’t remember.
At some point, however, we all rendezvoused again later that evening and got hot pot for dinner. I felt terribly nauseous the entire time from all the beer drunk just hours before combined with lack of sleep. The hot pot was fantastic, though.
Becca and Elric hadn’t been to The Bund before, so, Ricky, Jack, and myself decided to take them there to experience it and see the Lùjiāzuǐ skyscrapers lit up at night.
Lùjiāzuǐ skyscrapers illuminated at night. Taken from the interior of a moving taxi while crossing a bridge.
We had to take two separate ride-shares. Becca, Elric, and Jack arrived before Ricky and I. We re-grouped and began walking along the Western bank of the Huángpǔ River. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, the normal light show illuminating the skyscrapers across the river in Lùjiāzuǐ had ceased. We still got some great views, however, and there were no crowds to contend with.
Lùjiāzuǐ skyscrapers at night. Taken from The Bund.
Ricky showed us the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Russian consulate building. Near the monument was a small park area with a gazebo over koi pond.
Gazebo over koi pond at night. Near The Bund.
After walking back down the Western river bank we opted to find a bar to relax in. We grabbed a taxi and drove to an expat billiards bar.
The gang over some beers.
After a couple drinks each we left and decided to call it a night. Jack got a ride-share to his hotel. Becca, Elric, Ricky and I couldn’t fetch a ride-share because Ricky’s phone had died, so we wandered around in search of a taxi. A sān lún chē driver approached us and offered to take us all the way back to Ricky’s part of town, which was a ridiculous offer. Ricky sarcastically humored him, but we ultimately told him we weren’t interested. We walked down the empty streets in search of an available taxi when the sān lún chē driver returned—this time, showing Ricky and I a video on his phone of a KTV full of naked girls and offering us to take us there instead. We laughed, and again, declined his offer.
Circular pedestrian walkway above an intersection. At night.
Eventually we found a taxi and made our way back to Ricky’s apartment. Becca and Elric returned to their hotel. Ricky and I probably went straight to sleep (but I don’t remember).