May 27, 2013 Shanghai – Shanghai Museum and Maglev Train

May 27, 2013

Shanghai – Shanghai Museum and Maglev Train

The rainy weather continued this morning so our guide, Harry very wisely suggested a change in the order of our schedule. To start off with the rain coming down, he said we should go to the Shanghai Museum in the morning and then decide what to see in the afternoon after lunch. We started at 9.30 AM and went to the Museum. In the Museum there were over 112,000 Chinese cultural relics from the Old Stone Age. We were amazed when we saw pottery that was over 10,000 years old. We had to go through all the 4 floors fairly quickly in the morning and only wished we had more time.

After a delicious lunch in a very decorative restaurant the rain still continued. Our guide, Harry suggested we take the Maglev train in the afternoon as we will be indoors and out of the rain. I was so happy with this change as this train was high on my wish list for things to see in China. In fact this Maglev trip would complete what I really wanted to see in China. When the Maglev train came into the station, I was surprised how long the consist was. I expected a consist of about 2-3 cars and instead the consist was about 8 cars long. The train was wide with 3-3 seating. The train was unloaded from one side and loaded from a platform on the other side. This made for a quick turnaround. The ride was much rougher than the high speed trains that I had ridden in China before. This of course could be because of the need for sharp curves out of the subway station. On the strait section of track the ride was quite smooth. The maximum speed of the train today was only 301 KM per hour. The station attendant explained that in the off-hours the speed is reduced to conserve on power. At peak travel period the train would normally go at 400 KM per hour. The high power consumption of Maglev trains have always been a major disadvantage of this concept.

The Maglev Train goes from a subway station on the east side of Shanghai i.e.east of the Huangpu River to the newly built Pudong International Airport. We got off the Maglev Train at the Pudong Airport and went to see one of the two terminal buildings. It was just huge but had connections at with the Maglev train, subway, city buses, intercity buses, private cars and of course taxis.

After our ride on the Maglev Train we went shopping in a huge market and then came home early for a relaxing evening.

Dorothy and Con in front of the very beautiful Shanghai Museum. The round part of the building designates heaven and the lower square section designates earth.

Colorful and decorative table and chairs of the Ming (1522-1566 AD) and Qing (1736-1795) Dyasties. 

Colourful throne in the Ming to Qing Dynasties

Colourful seat from the Ming to Qing Dynasties

See details on next picture.

Add caption

See details on the next picture.

See details on the next picture.

See details on the next picture.

See details on the next picture.

See details on the next picture.

Dorothy next to an impressive statue.at Shanghai Museum.

Con next to a delicately carved statue at the Shanghai Museum.

See details on next picture.

Skyscrapers around the City Hall and Museum square.

Shanghai City Hall.

The beautiful performing art theater building next to the City Hall.

The Shanghai Museum.

Very decorative restaurant we had lunch in.

Impressive bridge going over to Pudong and the Maglev Station.

The bridge over the Huangpu River.

The Maglev station.

The Maglev track.

The Maglev track out of the station.

Dorothy and Con watch as the Maglev train enters the station.

The 3-3 seating in the Maglev car.

Large luggage rack are provided for air line passengers.

Dorothy and Con enjoying the ride on the Maglev train.

The maximum speed reached by the Maglev train.

Dorothy and Con in the Pudong International Airport Terminal Building.

Dorothy and Con in the car and taxi pick up area with the second air terminal in the background.

Dorothy and Con in front of the Maglev train.

The track of the Maglev train.