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Today is our last day in Mainland China. Tomorrow, we’re hopping on a plane to Hong Kong. We celebrated our last day with a long walk around Shanghai. We started at the Dapuqiao station off Line 9 for a breakfast of the most delicious fried dumplings. The outside of the dumpling is soft on the top and pan fried on the bottom creating an excellent contrast in texture. The inside is filled with a small meatball and hot beef broth. If you don’t use proper technique and just bite into them, they can be quite explosive. These little dumplings are with out a doubt the most delicious bite we’ve had in China.

From there we headed to Century Park; an enormous, green park right in the middle of Shanghai. I’ve never been to Central Park in New York, but I assume Century Park is something like it. We walked around a lake and appreciated the peace and quite of the park allowing us to briefly escape the sounds and smells of a city with 16 million people. As the sun started to set, we exited through the north gate walking by Shanghai’s Science and Technology Museum. The northbound view looked good from our vantage point, so we decided to keep walking. All along the way we were presented with gift after gift.

First we came to a public park where about 50 women were hanging out, enjoying the evening weather, and dancing in unison to typical Chinese music. They all had colorful fans and were dancing in perfect lockstep. Others watched and tried to follow along. I’m completely amazed and impressed by this part of Chinese culture. Just a bunch of people gathering in a park to decompress at then end of the day, relax, and dance the evening away; just because. It’s not a holiday, it’s not a requirement, it’s not a yoga class at the YMCA, it’s just people being really freaking cool and doing something together as a community.

Across the street another group of men and women swaying with the breeze as they practiced Tai Chi. Unlike the dancers, this group had a leader dressed in black silk and leading the group through the movements. Hovering around this group were parents playing with their sons and daughters, musicians playing their instruments, couples playing badminton, and old men flying kites. If this sounds like a utopian dream, it’s because it was.

We finished our day sitting on Shanghai’s boardwalk drinking a couple beers and sharing some cheese. As the clock tower struck 11 and the lights went to black, we thanked China for leaving the best for last.