Days 93 and 94 – Shanghai, China - Around the World Cruise with Susan

      Mon 7 Apr 2025 - Tue 8 Apr 2025

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      2025 Around The World

      on Susan Mercer's travel map.

      Our next destination was Shanghai, China—a megacity with a population of 24.9 million, featuring the Huangpu River flowing through its heart. Thanks to our small cruise ship, we had the unique chance to sail and dock directly on the river, a key transportation route in the city. The docking schedule was unusual; we were set to arrive at 11:30 PM and leave two days later at 11:30 AM. Curious about this timing, we later learned from the Captain that vessels like ours can only navigate the Huangpu River during high tide, which occurs exactly at 11:30 AM and 11:30 PM. Suddenly, everything made sense!

      Our tour commenced with a tunnel trip under the river to the Pudong New Area to see the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. This futuristic landmark, constructed between 1991 and 1994, was the tallest building in China until the Shanghai World Financial Center was completed in 2007. Today, it remains a significant tourist attraction. We chose not to enter, but simply admired its exterior.

      Next, we took an escalator to an oval-shaped elevated walkway that provided excellent views of a beautifully designed roundabout, along with sweeping vistas of the city skyline. From there, we proceeded to the Jin Mao Tower, an 88-story skyscraper finished in 1999. It includes an observation deck on the top floor that offers panoramic views of the city. We took a high-speed elevator that whisked us from the basement to the 88th floor in just 45 seconds. The views were breathtaking—we could even see our cruise ship from above.

      We then drove through the former French and British Concessions—historic districts created between 1840 and 1842, following China’s defeat in the Opium Wars. These neighborhoods are among Shanghai's oldest and still feature a strong European architectural influence.

      Our final stop was People’s Square, a lovely park with a circular musical fountain in its central plaza. We were fortunate to catch one of its colorful light, music, and water shows. Shanghai is a stunning city, with green spaces and flowers adorning the surroundings.

      Fun Fact: In Shanghai, blue license plates signify gas-powered vehicles, while green ones are for electric cars. To promote electric vehicle usage, the registration fee for a gas-powered car is about $15,000 USD, whereas electric vehicles have no registration fee at all.

      We departed precisely at 11:30 AM, cruising along the Huangpu River while taking in the magnificent views of the city. The blue dot on the map signifies our docking location. We then sailed north towards the open sea. It was an incredibly beautiful experience.

      Another two amazing days on this extraordinary adventure around the world.