Apr28
Published by misha in Arts, Asia, China, Cultural, Eating, Hiking, History, Museums, Parks, Photos, Shanghai, Sightseeings, Travel Stories, Urban Tourism
Pearl of the Orient, Paris of the East. For a century and a half Shanghai was the wildest, wealthiest, flashiest city in Asia—the rival of any world capital. Western visitors were captivated by the crowded, chaotic, yet thoroughly cosmopolitan city. Foreign powers carved out concession zones featuring their own cafes, clubs, police forces, and legions of prostitutes.
Continue reading Shanghai, China
May24
Published by Asya in Arts, Asia, China, Events, Shanghai
The REN building could be the Eiffel Tower of Shanghai, a landmark symbolizing the people-oriented pursuit of the Shanghai Expo 2010. The work of both architects is amazing. The first building, emerging from the water, is devoted to the activities of the body, and houses the sports and water culture center. The second building emerging from land, is devoted to the spirit and enlightenment, and houses the conference center and meeting facilities. The two buildings meet in a 1000 room hotel, a building for living, becoming a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China.
Continue reading Ren Building, by Plot
Apr16
Published by vanhal in Asia, China, Photos, Shanghai, Urban Tourism
Dongtan is a new city planned for the island of Chongming, near Shanghai. The city should be open, with accommodation for 50,000, by the time the Expo 2010 opens in Shanghai. By 2040, the city is slated to be one-third the size of Manhattan. Dongtan is the first of up to four slated “eco-cities” to be designed and built in China by Arup, a British company. The cities are planned to be ecologically friendly, with zero-greenhouse-emission transit and complete self-sufficiency in water and energy.Ecologically sensitive design will be a key element of the masterplan.
Continue reading Dongtan Eco City, China
Sep21
Published by nerdeff in Asia, CONTINENTS, COUNTRIES, China, Relaxing, Shanghai, Sightseeings, TOPICS
In the western part of Shanghai, a very modern and flourishing city, there is a venerable and famous Buddhist temple, Jade Buddha Temple. As with most modern Chinese Buddhist temples, the current temple draws from both the Pure Land and Chan traditions of Mahayana Buddhism. It was founded in 1882 with two jade Buddha statues imported to Shanghai from Burma by sea. These were a sitting Buddha (1.95 metres tall, 3 tonnes), and a smaller reclining Buddha representing Buddha’s death. The temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Fortunately the jade Buddha statues were saved and a new temple was built on the present site in 1928. It was named the Jade Buddha Temple. The temple now also contains a much larger reclining Jade Buddha, donated from Singapore, and visitors may mistake this larger sculpture for the original, smaller piece.
At the time emperor Guang Xu in the Qing Dynasty (1875-1908) ruled China, Hui Gen, a Mount Putuo abbot went on a pilgrimage to Tibet via the two famous Chinese mountains Mount Wutai and Mount Emei. First he goes to Tibet and then he contiduen his jorney to Burma. By this time Mr. Chen Jun-Pu, an overseas Chinese resident in Burma, donated five Jade statues of Buddha to Hui Gen, who transported two of them back to Jiang-wan, Shanghai. Here Hui Gen had a temple built with collected from various sorces money, mostly of them donated, and died shortly thereafter. This temple was occupied during the 1911 uprising, and the statues were moved to Maigen Road.
Continue reading What a place to see – Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, China
