Community Talk: Newman Ancient Shanghai Tours

Newman Ancient Shanghai tours offer a walking tour that really evokes a sense of the city long before the modern skyscrapers and bright lights of today. The tour is a highly engaging experience, offering historical and factual information told in an imaginative and informative way through the use of images and video to bring to life the historical and cultural sights of old world Shanghai.

Starting out near the site of where once protective walls guarded the town in the heart of the old city, Newman takes you through Yuyuan market on the way to the gardens. Walking through the swarming bazaar that was once the epicenter for commerce and trade, you learn about the goods traded during imperial times amid the backdrop of ancient style architecture.

After zig zagging your way across the nine turns lotus pool bridge, you enter Yuyuan Gardens. As you stroll the lavish grounds you learn many interesting facts behind the slightly absurd aspirational ideas of Pan Yunduan, the man that commissioned the garden. From the fascinating insights into the carefully crafted art of Chinese garden design to the fun interactive bits, there’s something to keep everyone entertained. You’ll learn about the stone’s contextual symbolism, skim lucky coins into the wishing well to bring luck through the power of feng shui and feed the carp while learning about the legend of how the fish get their colour. Last but not least, the tour finishes up at the City God Temple where you learn about the urban deities of past and present, the underpinnings of Taoism and discover which god is your very own Taoist protector.

Newman Tours, 138 1777 0229, www.newmantours.com