Today we visited the Yu Garden in Old Shanghai. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, and had a much different feel from many of the other cultural visits we went on. I really enjoyed how laid back and peaceful it was, and it was much less crowded than many other areas. The Jade Rock, which is not actually made of jade, was a really interesting piece to see. There is a story that it was meant for the imperial palace, but was lost when a boat sank off the coast. It was recovered and is now positioned in the center of the Yu Garden. My favorite part was the large pond you come across shortly after entering the site. It was filled with coy, which are lucky, and turtles, which symbolize longevity.

There was a nicely sized market outside of the garden, and I got many souvenirs on the way out. These included a two bead bracelets, a dragon statue, and glasses which have Shanghai printed on them. I was able to bargain with the salespeople to get good deals, something you do not see as often in the US.

At the end of the day we went to a beautiful restaurant for our farewell dinner. To our surprise, the CEO of The Asia Institute came and introduced himself. It was nice to meet him, and made our group feel pretty important. Our meal was the largest of the whole trip. We had about twenty different dishes, comprising lamb, fish, salad, and an incredible tasting milk tea. The last night was one to remember, and made me hope I can return to China again!