National Day Holiday at Shimao InterContinental

Duration: 3 Days Activities: Gourmet, Photography, Self-driving, Cultural, Freestyle Travel, Petite Bourgeoisie Published on 2022-10-21 22:23 Where to go during the National Day holiday? After considering many options, our destination was set for the 3-5th day of October at the Shimao InterContinental in Songjiang. We dined in the pit, played in the pit, and stayed in the pit. The whole family, led by Wang, formed a group with Ying, Ping, Ting, Lan, and me. On October 3rd, Monday, Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park was our first sightseeing spot. Ping and I, who were the furthest from the attraction, became the earliest explorers. By 9:15, we had parked at the bottom of the lake parking lot in Guangfulin, and by 9:25, we were sitting in the Duoyun Academy enjoying the aroma of coffee and books, leaving Wang and the others to find their way with the help of time and the academy’s location. The Guangfulin Wall, Ping and I only noticed the introduction to the general overview of Guangfulin, and then we turned to the Ming Dynasty high house of Duoyun Academy. On one side, the iconic semi-underground water house architecture, we just took a photo. The Ming Dynasty high house, a typical Huizhou residential old house, with high houses, deep wells, bright halls, and living rooms, not only has white walls and black tiles but also horse-head corners, and the gate tower is exquisite. Many wooden components, such as eaves, rafters, wall tiles, and lotus hanging pillars, are all changed to brick and stone carvings, making the pink walls lively and three-dimensional with hollow reliefs. The current plaque has moved into Duoyun Academy, which truly fits the scholarly family, Hanlin Mansion, Doctor’s Residence, bamboo wrapped in pine, and the purple air comes from the east. We are moved by our own academy, Duoyun Academy, where books have golden houses and books have beautiful faces. We entered with a strong sense of ritual, coded and carded, precise to the individual. The first hall distinguished between entering and leaving, and we started the Duoyun reading mode from the right. On the right side, it was completely transparent, no longer the traditional partition of the room, and the irreplaceable carved beams and painted rafters stood in the middle. Most of the books displayed here, a few ink treasures, among the readers, the public ones were open shelves, and the niches displayed the niches. Ping and I unconsciously came to the turning point of the academy, seeing tea and coffee for sale, guessing that this should be the third hall of the ancient courtyard, and the second one? That has to be ordered to see. We couldn’t avoid the hurdle, we ordered lattes and Americanos, and then crossed the high hurdle into a courtyard, and then took another step forward into a tea room and coffee bar. The central C position already had men and women taking a tea break, we chose a position slightly to the right away from the door hole, enjoying the mellowness of the coffee. When idle, we looked at the direction we were in, this should be the second hall of the high house, between the two courtyards, the front courtyard named Pine Stone, the back one named Water Cloud Village, beyond the comparison, the implication between them, it is not difficult to guess that it is the ancient Songjiang Yunjian.
Recalling those yet to arrive, Wang, Ying, Ting, and Lan, I sent a casual message, to which Lan replied: ‘Stuck on the way in.’ Ting’s response was nonchalant: ‘Slept in, just setting off.’ Haha, slept in, dreamt, visited, time passed. From now on, it’s time for reading. The first book, ‘Hockney’s Pictures’; the second, ‘This is China’. Casually flipping through, I felt a strong sense of decorative freshness from Hockney. With a cup of bitter coffee, the bitterness gives way to sweetness, and my eyes are filled with Hockney’s bright, clean colors. I occasionally think of Gauguin, and then Van Gogh. At this moment, Wang’s WeChat beeped: ‘We (Wang, Ying, Lan) have arrived.’ Subconsciously, I checked the time, 10:40 AM. We had been sitting at the Duoyun Bookstore for an hour. Time for tea, the seats suddenly became crowded with Phoenix single bush tea, plus tea snacks, teacups, pots, and tea trays, along with tea lotus, tea strainers, and tea scoops, immediately covering the entire tea table. My book needed to be moved. Wang warmed the cup, awakened the tea, and brewed it, the teacup instantly filled with the aroma of tea. Taking a sip, the bitterness separates, the sense of bitterness is indeed still present, but the astringency is gone, and some even tasted the sweet osmanthus. ‘This is China’ was moved in front of Ping, then into Ping’s hands, reading a few pages, marveling at the country’s GDP ranking second while sighing at the average per capita ranking. Wang casually said, ‘It’s not easy, it’s in the top 60.’ The last to arrive, Ting, was full of confidence because there was someone inside, the waiter couldn’t stop us. At 11:45 AM, we left the Duoyun Bookstore. The gate tower of the Ming Dynasty high house became our focus again, the same scene, moved us twice, Duoyun Bookstore, we are really convinced by you! The next attraction was not clearly indicated in the strategy, everyone decided to go with the flow, what we encounter is what we gain. Today is a hot day, we need to take it easy, go to the convenience first, and go light. Heading north, after the Yunxiang Xia Wei archway, there is a long bridge. The scenery is not on the bridge, we took a photo of the east side of the bridge. As for the scenery on the west side of the bridge, we still need to walk for a while. After crossing two small bridges, the brick-red Guangfulin Archaeological Site Exhibition Hall appeared in front of us. This building, which looks like a collection of pots and jars, actually has a volume of 7788 square meters, and surprisingly, it attracted us to pay to visit, feeling as if we were bewitched. While walking, Wang started to do some archaeological popular science enlightenment. As for the root of Shanghai, Qingpu and Songjiang each have their own words, Songze culture, Guangfulin culture, in terms of age, the Songze culture in the Shanghai area is older, connecting to the Majiabang culture above and the Liangzhu culture below; while Guangfulin culture is just a node between the Liangzhu culture and the Majiabang culture, and now Songjiang is promoting and developing it, which can be considered as grasping the root.

Gaining knowledge, all treasures indeed, such as jade cong, jade bracelets, stone plows, and stone molds. Wang’s note: The jade cong, with its round interior and square exterior, symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth. Stone molds, made of stone, could be the earliest origin of the term ‘model’. Intuitively, the building site No. 12 should be a ground-level architectural structure, not a semi-subterranean one. At the moment of insight, Wang privately tutored Lan about the geological ages and the Chinese chronology. The entire exhibition hall, we entered at 12:15 and exited at 12:45, a half-hour archaeological enlightenment, from which we benefited immensely, this experience was truly worth it! It was already lunchtime, but we were focused and continued on our journey to find scenery. The third scenic spot, though not heavily emphasized or time-consuming, was intentional. We pretended to be in Kyoto, where the Fuling Pagoda was mistakenly seen as the three-story pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera; the long corridor of Sanyuan Palace looked just like the Sanjusangendo, we were ‘Japanized’. In fact, we also wanted to pretend to be in Chang’an, in Luoyang, but the buildings from the Tang Dynasty were mostly wooden, different from brick and stone, making it difficult to survive to this day. A decade on the road to Luoyang is long and arduous, and the absence of Chang’an makes one melancholic! Knowledge tip: Pagodas can be classified by type into pavilion-style, multi-eave-style, lama-style, Vajra throne-style, and tomb-style, etc.; by building materials into wooden, brick and stone, metal, glass, etc. The number of levels in a pagoda is usually significant, mostly odd numbers, with each level’s number carrying different meanings. For example, 7 levels represent the 7 treasures: gold, silver, glass, conch, agate, pearls, and roses. 13 levels represent the thirteen sects of Chinese Buddhism, and 13 is an auspicious number in Buddhism, signifying the perfection of merit. As the saying goes, saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda, which refers to a seven-story pagoda. The plan of a pagoda mainly consists of square and octagonal shapes, but there are also hexagonal, dodecagonal, and circular shapes, generally composed of the underground palace, base, pagoda body, and pagoda top. The Fuling Pagoda, a triple treasure pagoda, has a pagoda top that points to the sky, making it the most distinctive scenery in Guangfulin. The entire pagoda is stable, elegant, subtle, and close to the earth. The three levels of the pagoda symbolize the three realms, where countless beings suffer boundlessly in the sea of suffering. As we practice and realize the way, we only wait for the day when our sincere hearts can move mountains and stones. At that time, we have already embarked on the journey from the kingdom of necessity to the kingdom of freedom. Quietly thinking about it, the pain and happiness are also a joy. Haha, we can still laugh out loud, our realm is not high, we can’t go far, still in the three realms. At this moment, my phone buzzed: Should I reserve a seat at West Embankment Steakhouse? No, I still have to rush to the lunch appointment at Rushan People’s Japanese Restaurant (Songjiang Impression City).
After enduring hardships, our love for a life of luxury and fine dining never waned! Where is Ying? In our group of six, Ying is notably absent, perhaps still at the Sanyuan Palace, as Lan leaves her own matters to search for her. Truth be told, Ying enjoys photography, yet we rarely see any photos of her, isn’t that peculiar? At 13:00, we finally gathered everyone and could leave, taking a photo to leave a trace of memory, farewell to Guangfulin! We thought about booking a table, but never anticipated the need to reserve parking spots, leading to a long detour and our three cars being parked in different directions around Songjiang Impression City. This time, it was Ting and Lan who arrived first, followed by Wang and Ying, while Ping and I arrived at the table after 13:50. The family feast began with Lan confidently ordering the restaurant’s premium set for four, which offered great value for money, so we happily decided to go with it, adding two stir-fried dishes to our order. My drink was cola, while the others enjoyed oolong tea. I couldn’t help but notice the tableware, which was typically delicate Japanese-style, with a comfortable grip, including sushi chopsticks, dipping dishes, plates, and bowl-shaped bowls. Except for the wooden chopsticks, all were made of ceramic. I had previously seen another way to write ‘bowl’, which is ‘wan’, entirely made of wood, giving it a unique and noble aura, sensuality, and even spirituality. It’s truly a vessel for the connoisseurs of food and drink. The waiter served the dishes one by one; I forgot the order, but I remember two highlights. One was the climax of satisfaction, with live sea bream, sashimi platter, and red wine foie gras. The softest part in terms of taste was the red wine foie gras, which melted in the mouth, leaving behind a faint wine flavor and an irresistible creamy richness reminiscent of cheese. Wang, a seasoned foodie, commented: ‘Delicious, but the red wine foie gras is not a whole piece, it’s all scraps collected to create a delicacy.’ The hardest part in terms of texture was the herring sashimi, with the feeling of fish roe’s frosty touch, leaving behind a firmness. The bream was delicious, the salmon rich, and there was also tuna, sea bream, prawns, and scallops. Lan, a junior foodie, commented: ‘For salmon, if you love it, love the belly.’ Later during lunch, in addition to ice cream, we indeed added the belly, which was a bit challenging, but Lan and I managed to finish it. The other highlight was the childlike climax with wagyu sukiyaki. The pot was ready early, and we asked the waiter to add more heat, but the wagyu arrived late. After a flurry of activity, the wagyu, along with mushrooms, tofu, konjac, and baby cabbage, all became boiled ingredients. It was already 15:40, and most of the waitstaff had taken a break. At this point, eating and drinking were no longer important. The remaining dish was a whole live sea bream, used for sashimi, only a tenth or twelfth of which was used. No one wanted to waste it, so we decided to cook the raw sea bream as well. Wang took the lead, with Ying, Ping, and Ting cheering, while Lan observed coldly, and I, after getting the waiter’s permission, confirmed that the fish could indeed be cooked! Others may laugh at our madness, but we laugh at their inability to see through. Our childlike spirit remains, and our curiosity is just right.
Pay the bill. The waiter smiles and charges via Alipay. For this meal, we ate too much! Eating too much makes one want to cause trouble. So we agreed to go for fitness and swimming after arriving at the hotel. The Shimao InterContinental Hotel is the hotel we booked. Shimao InterContinental, also known as the Sunken Hotel, is a big internet celebrity. It always opens its arms wide, allowing many outsiders who don’t stay at the hotel to also enjoy the hotel’s facilities and services, such as Cantonese cuisine at Cai Feng Lou and afternoon tea at Yunjian Jiufeng. We don’t care. Even if it’s a trap, we have to enter! Our convoy of three cars. Wang’s car entered early. The remaining two were blocked. A long queue formed on the inner lane. My car is next to Ting’s. Lan on the side was extremely impatient and uploaded the hotel reservation form, reminding us to cut in if possible and take a detour to insert. This trick is quite effective. Simple things are not complicated. We entered this deep pit like swimming fish. The time is 16:50. Wang and Lan are checking in at the lobby. The rest are waiting in the corridor passage nearby. While we are enjoying the lobby water curtain show, we also feel all kinds of contempt from the eyes of men and women having tea breaks. We are in their way! After the water curtain show ends, our check-in is also completed. We officially enter the pit. The deep pit of Shimao InterContinental is really a pit and not in vain. The check-in time is too strict and European-style. It can only be after 15:00. There is no possibility of early check-in. At the hotel entrance, many non-guest vehicles are congesting the driveway. We have to enter illegally. After finally entering the hotel and completing the check-in, the last few steps are stuck at the elevator entrance. In such a large hotel, with fifteen underground floors plus G and UG levels, even during the peak period of hotel stays and dining, there are at most only four elevators in operation. We are gentlemen and enter our respective garnet-themed guest rooms courteously. Ting and Lan are in Room 621. Ping and I are in Room 627. Wang and Ying are having a hard time. The promised Room 628 is still being cleaned. Our Room 627: The room is neat and the facilities are standard. Although it is a superior room, it doesn’t have the expected sense of luxury. The intelligent Xiaodu system configured in the room can control curtains, air conditioning, and music by voice. Moving to the terrace, we can sit for a while or have a chat. As the sun sets, the opposite cliff presents a moving landscape oil painting of Hengshan Waterfall. From it, we can interpret red, orange, yellow, green, wind, rain, and neon. Today is October 3rd, the hottest day in meteorology. After the heat, we still have to return to the room to enjoy the comfort of air conditioning. A good news comes from Lan’s WeChat: The drinks in the refrigerator are free! Good news! What a Fido Dido. Sparkling and refreshing. We tell each other widely! As for the bathroom, to be honest, I personally don’t like the rectangular washbasin. The water is too shallow. On a hot day, even washing the face can’t be enjoyable.
After taking a bath, Ping and I took a short rest. Around 18:00, Wang inquired about swimming outside our door, but I had to cancel. Shimao InterContinental offers a wide range of sports activities, including rock climbing, paddleboarding, go-karting, fitness, and swimming, with Wang choosing the latter. Later, Ping and I descended to the fourteenth-floor geothermal observation platform, which also serves as the stage for the light and water show featuring drone performances. Initially, there were only a few people, but when Ting, Lan, and Ying joined, the crowd suddenly became lively. Taking photos was a must, with Wang splashing around in the pool as seen above, creating a strong sense of immersion in the scene. Wang later mentioned swimming ten laps in one go, which is quite impressive. Let’s continue tomorrow! At 19:30, the water and light show began on time, and amidst the bizarre audio-visual performance, I almost mistook a deer for a horse. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was indeed a deer, a fleeting moment of clarity, the divine deer, a favorite among children who ran around excitedly. As adults, we let rationality take precedence over sentimentality, thus missing out on this immersive experience of whimsy. Maintaining a certain distance might be our last act of defiance. The subsequent drone performance featured geometric patterns in the sky, said to be a synchronized display by forty-two drones, akin to a square dance. Can they take us along for the fun? I could contribute a DJI drone to share. Of course, this was all in jest. It was nearing 20:00, and the priority was to manage our dinner. I uploaded a photo of the six-person group meal at the Caifeng Tower on WeChat, but everyone agreed it was too extravagant for our appetites. In the end, we decided to dine at the Caifeng Tower on the UG floor for a light repast. Access to the Caifeng Tower wasn’t immediate; we had to wait until 20:20 when a host finally led us to our seats. We ordered one dish each, either a main course or rice. Soon, a table was set with truffle sauce grilled vegetables, tender bean sprouts in five-grain liquor, baked wheat gluten, bamboo shoot chicken soup with Maqiao tofu, Caifeng Tower’s rice cake braised pork, taro and salted pork rice, and beef fried rice. It seems one of us ordered an extra dish. Wang, Ying, and I each had a beer, while Ping, Ting, and Lan stuck to tea. This meal was a testament to the slightly bitter taste of truffles, the rich fragrance of bean sprouts, the earthy flavor of Maqiao tofu, and the richness without greasiness of the braised pork with rice cake. Finally, we finished our drinks, wrapped up the braised pork to go, and even reserved a table for tomorrow’s dinner. Most importantly, Wang settled the bill on his room card. We agreed to meet for a buffet breakfast at 8:30 AM, and then everyone returned to their accommodations to rest. Ping and I truly rested, but perhaps some couldn’t stop, and I wondered about their current states—whether they were exercising, writing, catching up on shows, or making money.
On October 4th, Tuesday, Wang woke up early while Ping and I were still in bed. Wang had already finished his self-service breakfast with two small bowls of preserved egg porridge and some Ao Zao noodles by 8:00 AM. Meanwhile, Ping and I were still dreaming, allowing Wang to miss us in his way. Ting was puzzled, unable to understand the unusual situation: Was the wind changing direction? Was it getting colder? By 8:30 AM, Ping and I were waiting in line at the G floor Yuan Coffee Restaurant, waiting for our breakfast table assignment. Surrounded by elegant and refined faces, we soon found our seats and started our meal. Not far away, we saw Ting and Lan already eating, so we greeted them and continued with our breakfast. Ying arrived at the self-service restaurant only at 9:00 AM. The young lady in the camera was graceful and calm, making us envious and jealous. Despite our feelings, we focused on our meal. We started with Chinese dishes: preserved egg porridge, pickles, spring rolls, and fried dough sticks, which were quite satisfying. Then we moved on to Western dishes: croissants, oat milk, and coffee, which added to our happiness. Was there Japanese cuisine? Natto and a sunny-side-up egg, which were decent and better than nothing. Finally, with the fruit plates empty, we completed our self-service breakfast. At 9:45 AM, we reserved our afternoon tea at the G floor Yunjian Jiufeng, which is the most ceremonial part of the Intercontinental experience and a must-have extra. We also planned to climb She Mountain at 11:00 AM. With some time to spare, we explored the secret wonders of the hotel on the G floor, including a glass skywalk, a suspended cableway, and a Ferris wheel. We saw the beginning of the glass skywalk but not the end. Today is the Double Ninth Festival, and the weather is not very good, with cool temperatures and occasional light rain. Our focus was on climbing She Mountain on this special day. At 11:00 AM, we set off on time, but it took an hour to reach the She Mountain parking lot due to the heavy traffic caused by the combined National Day and Double Ninth Festival. She Mountain is divided into East and West She Mountain, and our destination was West She Mountain, which stands at 98.8 meters tall with the main building being the Catholic Church at the summit. Following the crowd, we entered through the North Gate on Waiqing Song Road. We went through multiple health checks, including health codes, travel codes, and venue codes, as well as temperature checks and visual inspections. With plenty of leisure time and energy, we were ready to enjoy our day.
Climbing up the stairs. Although there is a walking stick to assist, the rest depends entirely on foot strength. Wang walks in front and I follow behind. In between are Ying, Ping, Ting and Lan. During the walk, the prompt sound of Xiaodu drifts into the ear. Is it an auditory hallucination? I asked Ping. This sound heard is truly real and definite. Following the sound, the mother holding the little girl’s hand beside smiled and said, ‘Ohayo’. It’s the original voice dubbing of Xiaodu for ‘The Voice of China’. Wang stops at the Xiudaozhe Pagoda. This is a scenic spot on the middle path. The Xiudaozhe Pagoda and the Xiuhuasi Temple it leans on. The pagoda is a thousand-year-old ancient pagoda with seven levels. Its creation is far superior to the Fulin Pagoda we saw in Guangfulin. The temple has long been emptied. Only the bell tower remains. There is a couplet in front of the door: ‘Cultivate virtue and practice Taoism with the thoughts of wood and stone. Serve the world and manage the country with the charm of clouds and water.’ It is catchy and has a flowing sentiment. At a resting place, famous people in ancient Songjiang area are on display. The most famous among them are Lu Ji and Lu Yun from ‘Jade Comes from Kun’ Mountain. The earliest famous people in Songjiang and even Shanghai area in my mind are people from Songze, Liangzhu, Guangfulin and Maqiao. It is these ancient humans who created the shining Songze culture, Liangzhu culture, Guangfulin culture and Maqiao culture. Specifically speaking, starting from Lu Ji and Lu Yun in the Three Kingdoms and Western Jin Dynasty and going back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Lord Huang Xie of Chunshen was not originally from Shanghai. His fief was changed from Huaibei to Wu area, and then he had a connection with Shanghai. Starting from Lu Zhi and Huang Daopo passing on the torch from Lu Ji and Lu Yun in the Three Kingdoms and Western Jin Dynasty, there came Xu Jie, Dong Qichang, Xu Guangqi, Xia Yunyi and Xia Wanchun (father and son), Chen Zilong, Qian Daxin and others, shining like stars. Continuing to go up is the Sheshan Astronomical Museum. The old observatory is closed due to the lack of darkness caused by excessive light stimulation. Now its function is dedicated to popular science education. The Sheshan Observatory is the eastward spread of Western wind in the natural science system and is the first in China. During the tour, we had discussions. Among the many ancient celebrities in Shanghai, Wang admires Xu Guangqi of Xujiahui the most. The reason why Xu Guangqi is so meritorious is that he transcended the inevitable logic of the feudal empire and pointed out another possible way for China’s development. From being conservative, introverted and stubborn to turning to open and flexible development. This is an innovation at the spiritual level. The most terrifying enemy of civilization is closure. Although it was abandoned halfway, fortunately it was continued in the late Qing Dynasty. Since then, an era of continuous awakening has begun. Xu Guangqi is a scholar-bureaucrat, a Christian, and a pioneer who transcends his era. Wang talked eloquently. At first, we were all stunned. Then we had an enlightening realization like being awakened by a sudden inspiration. Xujiahui is the hometown of Xu Guangqi and the Xu family. At that time, it was a remote and desolate place. Xu was a pioneer of an era. The Tianyaoqiao Road that connects Zhaojiabang is the overpass and smooth road leading to heaven and brightness dug by the Xu family. The key to openness is in your and my hands.
Why are early churches often found in remote areas? Generally speaking, the degree of secularization in central urban areas is higher, and early missionary efforts were mainly able to reach marginalized areas not yet touched by the mainstream. If you love to travel, Western China has a plethora of churches, mostly established by missionaries. Not all widespread efforts yield meager results, as they often held multiple roles, donning many hats. Besides preaching, they were also part-time explorers and archaeologists, adorned with the halos of naturalists and geographers. We ascended to the highest level, Sheshan Catholic Church, a miraculous place on a small plot of land, also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan, the most important pilgrimage site for Chinese Catholics. Today, there is no formal pilgrimage, but we can be present in spirit. We have visited Sheshan Catholic Church several times before, but today’s visit has left us with more insights, perhaps due to the interpretation of Xu Guangqi by Wang. In the company of three, there is always a teacher; in the company of six, there are even more stars and oceans for me. At this moment, Ping’s foot pain has subsided. We all remember one name, Xu Guangqi. Back at the parking lot, it’s 1:00 PM. Looking back at Sheshan, the mountain remains beautiful; the people, tired! Ting searches on her phone for the next destination, Shanghai Poly Cloud Interlude Theater in Songjiang Old City, a 10km distance requiring a half-hour drive. Her phone also shows a parking violation from yesterday at Impression City—those who first enter Japanese restaurants always pay a price. Still, should we go to the Cloud Interlude Theater? Lan decisively says: Go, of course! The Shanghai Poly Cloud Interlude Theater, officially named the Poly Cloud Chamber Culture and Art Center, encompasses the Songjiang District Cultural Center, Library, District Cultural Resource Distribution Center, Cloud Interlude Theater, Cloud Chamber Art Exhibition Hall, and a small theater. At 2:10 PM, our car stops in the underground parking lot of the Cultural and Art Center. Unable to discern north or south, we follow the security guard through the yet-to-be-activated library, essentially breaking through the door. On one side is the entrance to the Drunken White Pond Station of the Rail Transit Line 9, while the Cloud Interlude Theater is to the east. The architecture here is like a slowly unfolding bamboo scroll from the pre-Qin era, thick, cultured, and with a sense of history. Across the central man-made pond is the Cloud Interlude Theater. Ting, Lan, and I only focus on the exterior; while Wang, Ying, and Ping go inside to explore the subtleties, even when the ticket checker calls out that the children’s play is about to start, they remain unmoved. Uninterested in the plot of the children’s play, they prefer the joy of pebbles sinking in water. The good play is still on the road, but the security guard stops them in their tracks. Our good play is the upcoming performances at the Cloud Chamber Theater: ‘The Earl of Wulong Mountain’, ‘Thieves Want You’, ‘Guess How Much I Love You’, ‘A Dream in Life’. Having one good play is already great, but we have four at once. Our luck has truly exploded!有人问 Why not have lunch? Iron man! In fact, there is no need to worry, this is a preset joke of ours. The matter of lunch will be resolved later at the Intercontinental Deep Pit during afternoon tea.
Setting aside the half-hour journey, by 15:20 we had already settled into the Cloud Nine Peak on the G floor of the Shimao InterContinental Hotel, indulging in the long-awaited afternoon tea. Black tea and coffee, each taking what they prefer, I recall my preference for Americano. The culture of afternoon tea originates from Britain and should ideally have more British elements. However, our afternoon tea was not British in style, lacking the embellishment of gleaming silverware and the contrast of delicate English porcelain. The surrounding atmosphere was also out of place, filled with noisy tourists awaiting check-in, which made us empathize with the disdainful looks we received the day before. Our disorderly dining table was replenished by the waiter with fresh fruits and beverages. The three-tiered pastries were not dressed up, and occasionally we had to support the collapsing macarons. At 15:30, we officially began to eat. Wang, Ting, and Lan were the formidable hunters of the afternoon tea. Wang started with the Ferrero Rocher-like crispy pastry from the bottom layer, while Ting and Lan enlightened us on the tea guide, with desserts and savory items generally progressing from savory to sweet. Such complexity overwhelmed the remaining three novices, who looked at each other in bewilderment, no longer British, but eating voraciously anyway! Lan mentioned the crab meat tower, the delicious roe of sturgeon, Wang pointed out the hazelnut crisp cone that was incredibly crispy, and Ting thought the mascarpone balls were smooth, one bite at a time, a happiness. Ping found the pastries too sweet and greasy, Ying stealthily slid the last macaron onto my plate, and I ate the most, seemingly taking advantage, but my feelings were quite ordinary. Today at Cloud Nine Peak, our family’s afternoon tea was different from others, and the time spent was the least. At 16:10, we bid farewell to the neighbor, each returning to our rooms for rest. After a full meal, we always need to move around a bit. Ping and I digested on the terrace, reading and chatting with Ying next door. The leisurely book beside us was ‘Beautiful Tuscany’, and as we read, we shared a passage of thought in our group: When idle, read a section of ‘Beautiful Tuscany’: The world is getting smaller, and we are becoming more and more similar. Can we maintain the pace of a thousand years ago and come to Tuscany? In Tuscany, our warmth can be encountered at any time. In fact, we don’t need to go so far. Right here at Sheshan Shimao, we can feel the warmth waiting. Knock, knock, knock, the door opens, Ting and Lan come knocking: Venus or Sifanini? Just had afternoon tea, even five-star pastries can’t bear it! Then just leave it, eat it when you remember. Thanks a lot! After a short sit, Ting and Lan brought warmth to Wang and Ying in room 628 next door. At 17:30, Wang invited us to swim, and I couldn’t break the promise this time. Down to the 14th floor pool, after registration, it was warm-up time. Wang took a hot shower first, then dry steam; I got wet with cold water first, entered the pool, and casually asked other swimmers about the water temperature, which was 28 degrees. After thanking them, I bowed and entered the pool.
The swimming pool was too small and shallow for a proper swim. After four laps, Wang joined me in the pool. I decided to leave after one more lap to take a shower, while Wang continued swimming. At 6:00 PM, passing by the gym, I saw Ying and Ting briskly walking on the treadmills and Lan cycling, so I greeted them. A little girl nearby courteously gave up her treadmill, stating that her exercise for the day was over. I felt embarrassed for my awkward fast-walking on the treadmill. Ying and Ting walked for over half an hour, while I managed to persist for only 15 minutes. After our workout, Lan was still exercising, and the little girl looked on with admiration, muttering, ‘Wow, the older sister is amazing!’ Exercise is addictive, it releases dopamine, and it makes people more beautiful! For dinner, we had a pre-booked group meal for six at the Caifeng Restaurant on the UG floor, but everyone was reluctant, thinking of the braised pork we had packed yesterday. Ting suggested ordering takeout later. After returning to our lodgings post-exercise, Ping informed me that the Caifeng Restaurant had called about the group meal reservation. It was already 7:30 PM, and the hotel’s light show had begun again. This time, it seemed much less impressive than the previous night, with the show ending quickly, leaving only the sound. Ting and Lan were on the floor below, where someone had started setting off handheld fireworks, and we captured the moment with photos. The takeout was ordered! Ting sent a message: ‘Takeout has arrived, everyone, come to room 621 for our group meal!’ Her second message was reminiscent of the dining hall gatherings during our student days. Our digestion was delayed by a full hour, as we indulged in the meal. Ting’s takeout order included dishes from two restaurants: Halin Noodle House and Jiangnan Li New Zhejiang Cuisine. Halin was known for its baby bok choy frog noodles and tomato beef noodles, as well as fried pork chops; Jiangnan Li offered black truffle beef fried rice and garlic broccoli, along with home-style wide bean noodles. We enjoyed our noodles and rice while watching the light show, laughing and chatting, with a relaxed and easy atmosphere that surpassed the previous night. We discussed our various concerns during the meal: Wang was worried about overeating, Ying was concerned about the lack of spiciness, Ping was afraid of greasiness, Lan was worried about gaining weight, and I was afraid of not being full. Ting summarized, saying that it was difficult to please everyone, and we were all not easy to satisfy. She jokingly added that we should take care of our own meals in the future. Having takeout in a five-star hotel was a first for us. From the initial doubt about whether takeout could be delivered to the hotel to enjoying a satisfying meal, we experienced the joy of takeout: low barriers, multiple choices, the option to order à la carte or fusion dishes. Although it slightly reduced the elegance and the beauty of the presentation, it saved us from the hassle of washing dishes and allowed us to save valuable time for our favorite activities. Why not enjoy it? This experience among us could also be a topic for those who are interested, to conduct research, and produce reports. A拟定的标题 could be ‘Post-Betrayal: The Coexistence of Five-Star Hotels and Takeout Food’.
If it is still not satisfactory and one has the ability, one can go to the bar. So, Ying and I are going to the Chi Bar at the bottom of the 14th floor. So abrupt that even TV dramas dare not act like this! Are you sure? Ying and I are very sure! This really surprises Wang, Ping, Ting and Lan, a group of people who ordered takeout together. By the time we arrive at the Chi Bar, it is already 21:40 at night. Except for the waiters, there are only three or four customers, including Ying and me. Asking Ying, we choose beer. We each have a Heineken first, and the waiter fills up the glass in due course. We are indoors and casually choose a window-side seat. Ying says she has never been to a bar. I only go occasionally. This is a place to relax and also a place to listen. There seem to be many topics, but only one or two out of ten can be heard and remembered clearly. The gossip and family trifles are forgotten. The affection between children and parents that reflects filial piety is vaguely remembered. But this concerns privacy and is not included in the text. It seems that another Heineken is ordered. The two of us drink it in portions. At 23:00, Ying settles the bill on the room card. On October 5th, Wednesday, Ping and I wake up naturally. After washing and grooming, at 7:30, I send a thank-you message in the Family Bucket WeChat group: Any passionate journey, what one sees and hears, thinks and feels, what the eyes reach and what the feet reach, are all soft extensions and unrestrained indulgences of oneself time and again. As long as one doesn’t exert too much force and takes into account the differences and similarities between each other. Thoughts can roam freely, while the heart is as peaceful as a mirror. Thank all the relatives who traveled with us on this trip. And even more thanks to the initiator of this trip. Who is the initiator? It is our Wang! At 8:00, our buffet breakfast begins. This time we don’t share tables. It’s not a scattered banquet. The six of us in the Family Bucket sit around a large dining table. This is a highly ceremonial breakfast family banquet. Each of us feels the close bond and care from the family like Cancer. This is affinity. This is cohesion. We share joys and sorrows. We jointly manage our own home. This home is the root of our emotions. After breakfast, we each engage in free activities. We are expected to check out at 12:00. Today, our focus is to visit the source of the Huangpu River. Source of the Huangpu River At 12:00, we check out on time. Set the route. The convoy of three cars departs in the direction of the source of the Huangpu River, a newly popular check-in spot in Songjiang. The Songjiang area in Shanghai is known as the root of ancient civilization in Shanghai. At the same time, it is also a geographical depression. Here, rivers and branches crisscross, and lakes and ponds are dotted everywhere. We pass along Chenhua Road, Kungang Highway, Songzheng Highway, Sanxin Highway, Minta Highway, and Film and Television Road. After driving for 45 minutes and with some difficulty, we park in a rural alley. Ting leaves a phone number. It is still about 20 minutes’ walk from here to the source of the Huangpu River.
Knowledge tip: In Shihudang Town, about ten kilometers away from Xiaokunshan Town, there is a scenic spot, the source of the Huangpu River. It is a national 3A-level scenic area. Xietang River, Yuanxiejing River and Hengliaojing River are the three major tributaries of the upper reaches of the Huangpu River. Among them, Hengliaojing River, a Class B inland waterway, runs through the whole town and can accommodate 500-ton ships. It leads to downtown Shanghai in the east, Zhejiang in the south, and Suzhou and Wuxi in the north. There were once two theories about the source of the Huangpu River: one is at an altitude of 1350 meters on Longwang Mountain in Anji County, Zhejiang Province; the other is Dianshan Lake in the Taihu Basin. In fact, the main stream of the Huangpu River was formed in Songjiang District, Shanghai. Two of its three major tributaries, Yuanxiejing River and Xietang River, winding from Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, converge in Dongxia Village, Shihudang Town, forming a delta, commonly known as Sanjiaodu, like a huge ship suddenly protruding into the middle of the river. After the convergence of Yuanxiejing River and Xietang River, it grows into Hengliaojing River more than 300 meters wide, which is the Huangpu River. Here becomes the starting point of the main stream of the Huangpu River, that is, zero kilometers of the Huangpu River, now known as the source of the Huangpu River. Along this hike, there are crowds of people and the scenery is not monotonous. In the forest of natural oxygen bar, there is a slow walking path leading directly to the scenic area. The windmill array is made of paper; the rock climbing wall is mini. Even if it is childish, let’s go. Children are happy, young mothers are happy, and small families are happy. Horses trot past in the middle of the road. What’s even more showy are the mounted policemen on horseback. On one side, a big-bottomed Corgi is extremely unhappy and barks at the horse. What’s its name? Watermelon! We who are watching and enjoying are amused. With a clear and full buttock and erect big ears, what a lovely big watermelon! Yuanxiejing River on the right bank is navigable all year round for ships coming and going from south to north. We have shortened the distance to the source of the Huangpu River with our lens. It is very friendly and there is no sense of strangeness at all. Casually, the buildings that appear in the lens are, looking ahead, the Shuliliyun Tower, also known as the Fenshui Dragon King Temple, and the Chunshen Hall. Looking back is the Xuanxingjing Bridge spanning Yuanxiejing River. After passing the archway of the source of the Huangpu River, we officially enter the scenic area. On both sides of the path, there are stone carvings of ancient capable people in water control. Those remembered are Qian Liu, Ren Renfa, Hai Rui, and Lin Zexu. A fork in the road connects the flower path and the plank road. We hesitate a little, but our overall goal is still the Shuliliyun Tower and the Chunshen Hall. While walking, a long line of motorcades parked at the Chunshen Hall by taking a shortcut. It is said that leaders are on an inspection and research tour all the way. Currently, it is the turn to be at the source of the Huangpu River. As the name suggests, the Chunshen Hall is to commemorate Lord Chunshen Huang Xie. The plaque ‘Chunshen Hall’ is in the center, and the lintel on the left and right are inscribed with ‘Always remember the initial waves’ and ‘Receive the great waves with gratitude’. As the most magnificent building at the source of the Huangpu River, what we see is completely in the style of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The building form is a single-eaved hip roof with five ridges and four slopes. The main ridge is extremely short, and there are chi kisses on both sides.
Wudian roof, the highest level of Chinese architectural style, is only used for royal and Confucian family buildings. Chunshen Jun, who served as a minister to the King of Chu until his death, was merely a viscount granted by the Zhou royal family. The fact that Chunshen Jun could enjoy the privilege of a Wudian-roofed main hall is clearly an overstep. This could only exist in a chaotic era where rites and music have collapsed. Perhaps contemporary people, free from the restrictions of hierarchical systems, are accustomed to unconventional operations. However, considering that this is a high imitation that confuses the real with the fake, and that it venerates a famous ancient figure, we believe that the Pojiang First has gone too far. Inside the Chunshen Hall is a water culture exhibition hall, which tells the story of the ancient people of Shanghai drawing water, managing water, governing water, and choosing water to live. It focuses on the deeds of Chunshen Jun in dredging the Huangpu River. The large Huang Xie water management wood carving is located at the center of the exhibition hall, with couplets on the left and right: ‘Peach fruits grow regardless of years, morning mist flatly connects to the clouds over Zhen Lake.’ Other listed items include restored Han Dynasty wells, Tang Dynasty polders, Song Dynasty ancient ships, Yuan Dynasty water gates, and Qing Dynasty cityscapes from various dynasties. The Shu Liu Li Yun Tower stands at the very front of the Sanjiao Ferry at the head of the Pojiang River. In addition to offering sacrifices to the Dragon King, the most important thing is to be the brightest lamp in the dark night, guiding the navigation direction for ships coming from the south and the north. Wang suggested taking a group photo, and Lan, who cherished her reputation very much, actually led the way. Who says that Qiuxia is full of sorrow, the misty waves and forests are leisurely, now that the world is home, the old fortress is desolate with reeds in autumn. The youth is strong, we are strong! The whole family bucket is ready, the sound of eggplants is broken, and tourists nearby help to take photos. Shanghai has two mother rivers, one is Su River, and the other is Pojiang River. Once standing at the head of the Waibaidu Bridge, looking at the intersection of Su River and Pojiang River at this time and place, it is inevitable to have ups and downs in the heart. On the one hand, we sigh that the past is like this, on the other hand, we look forward to the magnificent and profound ocean. Geographically, the Su River has a longer body, and the name after the intersection should follow the Su River. Such a reason should only exist before the Ming Dynasty. After the Ming Dynasty, as a tributary, Pojiang River suddenly grew up and became the main stream. The difference of one word, a leap to become a god, has become the top flow, and the flow played the biggest role. This seems to be an arrangement in the dark. The Su River is only connected to the past of Shanghai, and the flow of the star Pojiang River anchors the future of Shanghai. History has had a great collision here, the trend of the world is vast, those who follow it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish. The big ship of the ancient empire was overburdened and broke its spears in the sand, and reborn from the ashes, our great country, from then on, will ride the wind and waves, and start a new era of China. Many idle thoughts happen in an instant, many inspirations appear in front of the head of the Pojiang River, let us witness, witness, and witness again, this is the growth of Pojiang River that is happening now, the progress of Shanghai, and the development of China. Walking back, along the side of the Xie Tang, I joked with Lan: ‘You live at the head of Pojiang River, and you live at the end of Pojiang River.’
Poetry was met with resistance by Lan, who argued against counterfeits and insisted on originality. Now it’s time for relaxation and respite. Although this place has yet to reach Shenyuan Lake, the willows and reeds surrounding the pool of water create an atmosphere reminiscent of the North and South Lakes. The arch of the Anlong Stone Bridge and the twists of the Nine-Bend Stone Bridge have transformed this area into a picturesque scene. Ting’s phone rang, intending to silence it, but the ringtone grew more insistent. It was a parking call, forcing Ting to deal with it urgently. Wang had to wait for Ying and Lan, who were lagging behind, and our journey came to an end at the source of the Pujiang River, with a few minor flaws, but ultimately fulfilling! The scenic views along the way included the tram transportation in Songjiang New City, captured by the driving recorder: first on the way to Xi Sheshan, second on the way to Yunjian Theater, third at Yunjian Theater, and fourth on 2022-10-20.

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