2023回国(5) 上海苏州穿越行

再一次离开，是为了以后的相聚。离开家乡，带着小朋友和父母先前往上海，准备在上海带着父母游玩休息几天以后就各自回家。

到了虹桥机场下机的时候，小朋友又给照顾我们的空姐一个大大的拥抱，让空姐挺意外挺开心的。热情外向的老三这次旅行中，每次下飞机都给空乘人员以拥抱致谢，很是逗人喜爱。这次从重庆到上海的早班机空乘服务特别热情，又是专门找冰加在给小朋友的水里，又是给我找decaf的咖啡，旁边坐的父母也是加菜加饭，让大家都很满意。

订的旅馆在黄浦江边，就是以前江南造船厂那片。应该是上海世博会的时候改造了，成为商住区，有大片的空地，花园，写字楼和博物馆，是一个很舒服安静的区域。早上晚上在黄浦江边散步很是舒服。一天早晨散步就走到停泊了远望一号的地方，那船也变成了博物馆。当年我还在小学中学的时候，这个名字真是经常在新闻上看到，如雷贯耳。每次从家乡旁边西昌发的卫星都离不开这船，似乎是中国远洋航天远洋测控的一块招牌。旁边一个的展览馆正在搞国家安全方面的展览。免费，我就和父亲一起进去走了一圈。里面有小学的，中学的，还有一些单位的不少人在里面集体学习参观，布展背景一片血红，解说的人像打了鸡血一样，没想到上海还有这么红的地方，赶紧出来。

那天下了飞机，在酒店稍作休息，下午就到江对面的千古情景区去穿越。里面有几条街，仿修成三四十年代的上海的样子。走在里面，周围那些演员或是租衣服穿的游客，让人感觉回到了快一百年前。里面的主要娱乐就是那几场表演。给小朋友看的恐龙表演让小朋友很开心，大人就有点觉得无聊了。上海千古情就是里面的重头戏。从春申君演绎到现代上海，几千年的变迁，里面的舞台设计道具表演还是挺不错的。观众席上的舞台开开合合，有一点沉浸的感觉。不过看到一半，居然，居然里面有1/4是爱党教育。用的是陈独秀的两个儿子的梗，他们死掉的又还魂的场景看上去阴森森惨兮兮的，让小朋友和我都有点不知所措。

另外一个表演是汶川大地震的。人不多，是互动式表演。很多观众都上台当群众演员，我也赶紧上去，参与了一下，这也算是一个很有意思的经历。

从景区出来，去上海中心大厦吃饭，这是中国第一高楼，然后第二高的观景台。站在里面看着旁边的开瓶器大楼和像狼牙棒一样的金茂大厦。上大学的时候，我经常来上海走动，金茂大厦可是当时最高的建筑。现在看来，金茂只有上海中心的一半高。这三幢楼三口之家，金茂大厦就是三口之中最小的那个小孩子，被另外两位牵着。

第二天跟在沪的高中同学相约在孔乙己酒家。吃了非常合我胃口的绍兴菜后，便踱到城隍庙去看看。这种地方不是我的菜，来上海无数次，都没有去过。路上居然还有那么大一片待拆迁的弄堂老房子，这么中心的地方，不知道要多少钱才能买得起这地。城隍庙里面的商铺都好新，虽然是修得古色古香，但又是假古镇的感觉。

走进了豫园，才发现真的是不错。江南园林精致漂亮，果然名不虚传。里面的细节可以玩味的程度，顿时让北京的那些皇家园林觉得粗糙无趣。后来去苏州狮子林更是有趣。之前跟爸爸讨论过为什么这些有钱人喜欢造假山。后来进了狮子林的假山时，顿时觉得不需要答案了。我就跟小女儿一样童趣就来了。那么多的山洞小径，走法千变万化，有无数的角度可以欣赏把玩，真的是让人流连往返。点缀其中的各色古装美女，更是一道特别的风景线。她们穿着各色各朝古装，徜徉在精致的古色古香的园林建筑中，要么是摆造型有专人照相，要么是自拍，要么是低头滑手机，让我们有一种时空错乱穿越的既视感。我们从现代的上海先是穿越回了三四十年代，然后又穿越回唐宋元明清，果然是中国历史上最好的年代就在此地了。

中午和专门从扬州赶来的堂妹一家在狮子林旁边的苏菜馆中小聚。和她也是二十多年没有相见，也第一次见他的先生，我们边吃边聊。她先生兴致很高，我们两个人干了一瓶五粮液。饭后在平江河的小船上，听着苏州小调，欣赏着古装美女。两边的商家熙熙攘攘，感觉那个江南又回来了。看着水乡古色小桥流水人家就像在梦中一样，似乎就是我的中国梦了。

Translated by Chat GPT

Here is the English translation:

"Leaving once again, it is for future reunions. Leaving hometown, traveling to Shanghai with children and parents first, planning to play and rest in Shanghai with parents for a few days before returning home separately.

When we landed at Hongqiao Airport, the child gave a big hug to the flight attendant who took care of us again, which surprised and pleased the flight attendant. During this trip, the outgoing third child gave hugs of thanks to the flight crew every time we landed, which was quite endearing. The inflight service from Chongqing to Shanghai this time was particularly warm. They not only added ice to the water for the children but also found decaf coffee for me. The parents sitting next to us also ordered extra dishes, making everyone very satisfied.

The hotel we booked is by the Huangpu River, in the area that used to be the Jiangnan Shipyard. It seems to have been transformed during the Shanghai World Expo into a mixed-use area with large open spaces, gardens, office buildings, and museums. It's a comfortable and quiet area. Walking by the Huangpu River in the morning and evening is very pleasant. One morning, we walked to the place where the Yuanwang No. 1 is docked. That ship has now become a museum. When I was in elementary and middle school, I often saw this name in the news, and it was a well-known symbol in China's oceanic aerospace and remote sensing. Next to it, there is an exhibition hall holding an exhibition on national security. It's free, so my father and I went in for a look. There were students from elementary and middle schools and employees from various units learning and visiting together. The exhibition hall's background was blood-red, and the guide spoke passionately, unexpectedly revealing such a red side of Shanghai. We quickly exited.

On the day we landed, after a short rest at the hotel, we went to the Qian Guqing Scenic Area across the river in the afternoon. Inside, there are several streets designed to resemble Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s. Walking inside, surrounded by actors or tourists dressed in period clothing, it feels like going back almost a hundred years. The main entertainment inside is several performances. The dinosaur show for children made them very happy, but the adults found it a bit boring. The highlight is the "Shanghai Eternal Love" show. It depicts the changes in Shanghai from Chun Shen Jun (Spring Lord) to modern times, spanning thousands of years. The stage design, props, and performances were quite impressive. The moving stage in the audience area gave a somewhat immersive feeling. However, halfway through, unexpectedly, 1/4 of it was about Party education. It used the storyline of the two sons of Chen Duxiu, who died but came back to life, and the scene looked eerie and unsettling. Both the child and I were a bit bewildered.

Another performance was about the Wenchuan earthquake. There weren't many people, and it was an interactive performance. Many audience members went on stage as extras, and I quickly joined in, making it quite an interesting experience.

After leaving the scenic area, we went to the Shanghai Center Tower for dinner. It is the tallest building in China and the second tallest observation deck. Standing inside and looking at the adjacent Bottle Opener Building and the toothpick-like Jinmao Tower is quite a sight. When I was in college, I used to come to Shanghai often, and Jinmao Tower was the tallest building at that time. Now, Jinmao Tower is only half the height of the Shanghai Center Tower. These three buildings are like a family of three, with Jinmao Tower being the smallest child, led by the other two.

The next day, I met up with high school classmates who are now in Shanghai at Kong Yiji Restaurant. After enjoying some delicious Shaoxing cuisine, we strolled to Chenghuang Temple. Such places are not my cup of tea; I've been to Shanghai countless times and have never visited. On the way, there is still a large area of old houses waiting to be demolished. In such a central location, I wonder how much it would cost to buy this land. The shops inside Chenghuang Temple are all new, even though they are designed to have an ancient and quaint look, they give a feeling of being a fake ancient town.

Entering Yu Garden, I discovered that it is really good. The delicate and beautiful Jiangnan garden is indeed well-deserved. The level of detail inside can be appreciated, instantly making the royal gardens in Beijing seem rough and dull. Later, I went to the Lion Grove in Suzhou, which was even more interesting. Before, I had discussed with my father why wealthy people like to build artificial mountains. After entering the artificial mountain in the Lion Grove, I suddenly felt that I didn't need an answer. I was just like my youngest daughter, full of childlike wonder. With so many caves and paths, the ways to walk are ever-changing, and there are countless angles to appreciate and play. It really makes people linger back and forth. The various ancient costume beauties scattered throughout the garden are an even more special sight. They wear costumes from different dynasties, wandering among the exquisite ancient-style garden buildings, either posing for professional photographers or taking selfies or browsing their phones, giving us a sense of time-space confusion and crossing. We first traveled back to the 1930s and 1940s in modern Shanghai, then traveled back to the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It seems that the best eras in Chinese history are right here.

At noon, I had a small gathering with my cousin and her family, who specially came from Yangzhou, in a Suzhou cuisine restaurant near the Lion Grove. We hadn't seen each other for over twenty years, and it was also my first time meeting her husband. We chatted while eating. Her husband was in high spirits, and the two of us finished a bottle of Wuliangye. After lunch, we took a small boat on the Pingjiang River, listening to Suzhou dialect tunes and enjoying the ancient-style beauties. The bustling businesses on both sides made it feel like the Jiangnan region had returned. Looking at the ancient-style bridges and riverside houses was like being in a dream, as if it were my Chinese dream.

We stayed in a hotel inside an old factory building.

Night market set up in an upscale community.

A group of Red Scarves (Young Pioneers) transported back to 1930s Shanghai.

Shanghai Eternal Love performance.

View of the opposite side from the Shanghai Eternal Love scenic area.

Group photo with the extras in Shanghai Eternal Love.

Family of three.

(Famous building in Suzhou that everyone knows.)"