On Friday, Charlie and Mona arrived and after my class I met them at Yuyuan where their hotel was based. We walked around Yuyuan for a bit although it was a pretty rainy day. We went to a little restaurant place and I tried xiao long bao ^^ We then went to get a massage but the place in the guidebook didn't seem to exist and after calling the Shanghai Call Center we were informed it wasn't near South Shanxi Lu but back in Laoximen. In the end the lady on the phone directed us to a nearby parlour.
I haven't had a massage before in Shanghai so it was a whole new experience. It was in some basement which I'd be too scared to go alone so luckily I had company. We decided on a foot massage which was 80RMB for one with oils and we also had a neck/shoulder massage. We were led into a room with 3 armchairs and 3 ladies came in with basins of water for us to soak our feet.
Afterwards they dried our feet and started massaging and then turned out the light so we could relax. After that they brought in some big wooden barrels which hooked to a machine that gave out steam. Whilst doing this they gave us a shoulder massage which felt more like murder.... the whole thing lasted 60 minutes.
Jon and Casey's flight was delayed so they'd arrived and already eaten so we went to Duck King for some pancake duck ^^ After dinner we took a taxi to East Nanjing Lu to meet with Jon and Casey for some dessert and coffee. I do like East Nanjing Lu at night ^^ I had tea and brownie which was nice and filling.
Saturday
We all met in Yuyuan and went to have the xiao long bao in the restaurant where it is meant to be number 1. There are 3 "layers" to the restaurant, outside is the take away part, the next floor up you have to pay first and are given tokens where you then hang around and dive into an available table where ladies are pushing trollies with soups and dumplings in them. The next floor up there were 3 queues - one for 50RMB, 80RMB and 150RMB set menus. We waited at the 50RMB queue and were so surprised when inside it was much bigger than it seemed and not even completely full up as it were made to believe!
We had many types of xiao long bao, some with prawns, some spicy, some with crab. My friends had I think it is a "tang bao" which is a giant dumpling with soup in it that you eat with a straw! Lunch came to 90RMB a head.
We then paid 30RMB to go into Yuyuan Gardens itself which was really nice in such beautiful weather. There was lots of walking but definately worth it. When we left it was already 4pm! We wanted to take a taxi but they wouldn't let 5 of us in so me and Jon waited for another taxi. The others arrived at the restaurant in Xujiahui which was meant to have big steamed dumplings with soup but found it was closed so in the end we all met up in Xujiahui where all the shops were.
I showed them the food court place downstairs of Metro City and bought Taiyaki (fish shaped pastry with fillings). I had a chocolate one which was really nice so I might have to go back more often after class! We popped next door to the electronics plaza - I still find it hard to go in there the people are very pushy.
Afterwards I had to go back to my place to grab a coat and Charlie and Mona wanted to find another massage place, and Jon and Casey went back to their hotel. Later on in the evening we met at East Nanjing Lu again to find a crab restaurant.
The restaurant was really nicely decorated and the food was tasty. I hadn't had hairy crab before so it was something new ^^ We had the set menu for 388RMB each and Charlie had the slightly more expensive menu. After dinner we wanted to go to Bar Rouge at The Bund but we soon found out after 10.30pm there was a dress code so we couldn't go. In the end we went nearby to the Captains Bar which is based on the 6th floor of a hostel. We sat outside with drinks and had a nice view of the The Bund ^^
Sunday
I met Charlie and Mona at People's Square and we went to a small stand to have something like xiao long bao but not in dumpling skin but in bread. It was really nice ^^ We ate in the park and then took Line 2 to Longyang Road, hopped in a taxi and went to the animation and comic museum.
Had some fun with the gacha machines and it cost 30RMB to get in. There was 2 floors to see and a cinema upstairs. The museum was good fun and not at all busy which made it nice. I liked the giant Cat Bus from Totoro ^^
We went to Decathlon nearby after. I think its normal in China to treat such places as a day out! People were sitting around in the tents outside and people were using the exercise machines, playing badminton etc.
Charlie and Mona wanted to go to see the China Pavillion but we soon found out it was closed until November so they went to take photos outside and I went to take my things back to my place. I didn't fancy carriyng a yoga mat around with me all day. Then we all met up at Lujiazui and to the SWFC (Shanghai World Fincancial Center). It was 150RMB to get in and we get to go to the 100th floor. The view was amazing I think much better than being in the Oriental Pearl. Last year I was the the Pearl so I couldn't see it! I just need to go to the Jin Mao observatory and I'd have been in all 3 ^^
We then went to Jin Mao for dinner on the 56th floor before parting ways. I think 3 days isn't long enough in Shanghai but hopefully my friends want to visit again ^^
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