Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Oriental Pearl Tower

Day two in Shanghai was pretty uneventful. I didn't have a whole lot of time, because I had a train to catch in the afternoon. I spent most of the day figuring out my remaining week in China and talking to other travelers in the lobby. I thought it would be nice to have a break from all the walking and didn't think I'd do anything, until one guy suggested going up the Oriental Pearl Tower, the most recognizable feature of the city. The tower is the highest in China and third highest in the world. It had a subway stop right next it, so I didn't have to do much walking!

I got there fairly quickly and took some photos around the base before going to the top. I didn't see a whole lot because of the fog, but I did have a fun experience walking on the glass floors. I used to have a fear of heights before getting into scrambling and climbing and walking on the glass (or plastic) panels brought some of that fear back. I was hesitant to step on them at first, as they looked quite flimsy and one even looked like it was cracked. It's been a while since I've felt that fear and I enjoyed the excitement.

It wasn't long before I had to hurry back to my hostel, pack my things and head to the railway station. I couldn't believe how busy the station was! It felt like it was busier than any airport I've been to, but that's just because there were so many people crammed into a single hall. There were other ways to get to my destination. I could have taken the bus or the plane, but I figured it would be good to experience the train at least once while in China.

Oriental Pearl Tower and Views: