Xīnnián kuàilè - Happy new Year!!

We hope everyone had a good start into the new year and made  a smooth and happy transition  to 2013. We slipped fairly quiet into 2013 in our warm apartment in Shanghai and got to enjoy some fireworks from our living room. But overall the city was very quiet. The big party is still to come in February - when China celebrates  it´s of new year - this time the one of the Snake (also my Chinese Birthyear!).

Shanghai is experiencing it´s coldest winter for over 20 years. We even got to experience snow fall for a few days. It therefore was a nice surprise that  the new year started with a lovley sunny day which we decided to enjoy with a nice stroll in Century Park.

It is the larget Park in Shanghai and is located on the other side of the river in Pudong. Over the past 2 years it has somewhat become our the closest "countryside -get away" - even though you are still right in the center of Shanghai :-)...but you get to enjoy a  bit more space around you and a view reaching further than the other side of a road.

Here are some impressions of this nice day:

At the entrance of Century Park - near the Science and Technology Museum

Shanghai is currently building it´s own Disney World.
We assume that´s the reason for the Mickey Mouse shaped gates..

A winter classic: 

Cabbages used as  flower decoration:

Excitement: 

Sheets of ice in the little streams!!

The lake inside  Century Park:

A wonderful day to enjoy the sun...

With about 10 degrees, it was warm enough to enjoy the first picnic of the year,

so many had their tents pitched on the green:

Next time we come here it will be the three of us :-)