Shanghai Planetarium & The Bund: My Unfiltered Musings (and a Few Grumbles)
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Cough, cough. I went to Shanghai for the first time, a city widely known as a place with "nothing much to see". My friend suggested visiting the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, so I impulsively bought a ticket. However, to my shock just before setting off, I discovered I would have to travel by subway for two whole hours! (Images of countless llamas galloping through my mind...)
Shanghai Astronomy Museum Booking - A Trap!
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The booking mini-program was truly awful! Being a government holiday (i.e., working on weekends to add additional holidays), ordinary tickets were still obtainable.
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However, for the immersive dome theater film "Heavenscape", it was incredibly difficult to get a seat! I finally managed to secure a locked spot but couldn't pay - every attempt led to it failing. I tried switching seats without success, fearing that if I cancelled and failed to secure another, I'd be out of luck entirely.
WARNING: If you're having payment issues, don’t hesitate - cancel your order and try to book again, otherwise your ticket will be lost!
Getting to the Museum, As Challenging as Journeying for Buddhist Scriptures!
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Leaving at around eight in the morning from Shanghai Railway Station, I was aiming to transfer to line 2 at Longyang Road Station.
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Articles recommended either of the first two trains (which skip intermediate stops for faster journeys) on weekdays between 8 and 9 AM. My trip being on a non-weekend government "make-up" day, I asked the station staff who confidently told me there was indeed a express train!
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Yet, while waiting until past nine, no express trains ever appeared! The subsequent normal one, only going as far as "Huinan Dong" Station (not near the museum), made the situation even worse.
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Having no other choice, I took an online car service, hoping to arrive in time; however, the driver arrived late. In desperation, I hopped into any passing car, barely making it by ten fifteen.
Experiencing the Astronomy Museum: Hmm…
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Watching "Heavenscape" in the immersive dome theater, avoid sitting up front! You’ll feel like you are looking at the back of your own head as you would hurt your neck; it really makes you drowsy, and even nearby kids started snoring (laugh).
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Unfortunately, due to being late, I missed all previously booked interactive projects within the museum.
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Despite this, there are many interesting astronomical instruments available for viewing, which is interesting. However, considering the long journey back and forth, I don't think it's worth the effort.
Afternoon City Walk Around The Bund, Great!
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Before returning, I explored a shopping center called "Pbland", then followed my guide over to a "City Walk" near The Bund.
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The historical atmosphere of the old buildings along The Bund is undeniable. And I specifically took a photo with my Pudong Development Bank credit card when passing by its headquarters building to show off my “pilgrimage”.
The 2-yuan Ferry, Very Crowded!
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Even for its cheap fare of 2 yuan, getting around on the ferry was extremely crowded.
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Noting the Jinling Road ferry terminal’s last ferry is at six-thirty PM, it simply wasn’t dark enough to see the night views of The Bund then. Perhaps, during winter, the earlier darkness could potentially serve better.
First Impression of Shanghai – Better Than Shenzhen!
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Overall, my initial visit to Shanghai felt somewhat novel. Shanghai beats Shenzhen in both urban planning and tourism experience.
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Shenzhen is described as a mere "city of hustle", where life can make one feel very tired. The departure platform dedicated to "express trains" for line 2 commuters in Shanghai - complete with timetables and lounges for resting - could not be something for those even dreaming of in Shenzhen. It reminded me of the Japanese public transport experience, where even small details matter greatly!
#ShanghaiCityWalks #ShanghaiAstronomyMuseum #ShanghaiBund
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The planetarium can be a bit of a hassle, you really need to plan ahead… When I visited, it had just opened, and I was actually going for Dishui Lake and Line 16. That area was quite an ordeal
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When I got to the hotel the night before and opened the map, I was totally overwhelmed. It took me a good half hour to mentally prepare myself, but I still decided to go.
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Oysters, oh oysters!