Shanghai Parks

Back in Shanghai Ji's brother was working late and on weekends but fortunately his wife took us to many parks with her son.
One was right next to the Shanhai Circus world were we watched a show and then headed to a liitle lake were Mia and Mou Mou played in their underwear like the other kids

The next day we stopped at a big market for oet brids and fishes so Mou Mou could pick a new golds fish

The next park had a little zoo

The training equipment was for older people but children play with it as well.
Mou Mou din't want to get a kiss

In other corner of the park was a jumping area

 For the play area for kids one had to pay an entry fee

Mia loved the water ride

At the end she could bu a hand made lollipop

Another day - another park

This one also offered boat ride

Everyone had the steering wheel for some time

A refreshing drink on a hot day

Zhuji

The next stop on our little trip was Zhuji about an hour by bus from Shaoxing. Ji's brother had been there before and wanted us to see a man made lake and some waterfalls.
Once we got to the lake we bought some ice cream and hats for the kids and Ji because it was so hot - 35 C - and humid

 Then we took a boat across the lake - the Wuxie Reservoir - to see the temples and waterfalls

It was still hot but luckily the temple offered free water

Also, Mia could play a bit along a creek

After hiking uo 350 steps we were all soaking wet but the waterfalls were pretty

Mia and Mou Mou cooled off a bit in the water

At the end Mia could have another ice cream and play with the new hats

In the evening we took the high speed train back to Shanghai were we moved into a furnished apartment for the next 10 days. It didn't look so good from the outside but was cozy inside and was in a great neighborhood.

Shaoxing

For a little trip with the family of Ji's brother we took a high speed train to Shaoxing - 200 km south west of Shanghai, which was a quick trip by by high speed train.
The hotel was very nice and next to a park with a lake and bridges.

Unfortunately it was very hot and when we ventured out to the old town to see the house of a famous writer we really had to stay in the shade.
 

A wooded park with some hills was a bit cooler. On top of one hill was a tower with a bell outside

Form the top of the tower one could see the city and the mountains in the back

The brownish high rise with the arced roof was our hotel

 In the evening we had a nice diner with some rice wine for which the city is famous - it tasted a bit like Sherry

Off to Shanghai

After two years it was time again for a trip to Shanghai to see Mia's grand parents, uncle and cousin. Luckily there are four non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai each day. So the trip is shorter and more convenient than from Washington DC.

Once we arrived we first had of course a fancy dinner with the whole family.

On Sunday Ji's brother had organized a special personal tour of the brand new Natural History Museum in Shanghai