Shanghai, Monday 7 June, 2010

Our fellow tour members:  Anne and Chris from New Zealand,  Andrea and Arthur, Greek couple, from Melbourne,  Alexander and Caroline, a young Columbian couple, another couple from NZ,  Robyn and Neil from Oz and of course, ourselves.  A good group – just the right size. 

The making of a silk dooner

This morning off to The Silk Factory where I bought a silk dooner for 630rmb = approx $126au.  Andrea and Arthur bought one each for their whole family, about 6 in all.  Interesting watching the ladies extract the silk.   Silkworm cocoons are boiled. The heat kills the silkworms and the water makes the cocoons easier to unravel. Often, the silkworm itself is eaten ..... in China roasting is a popular method....yum.  Nothing is wasted.

My silk dooner bought at the Silk Factory, Shanghai.

Extracting the silk

From this

To this - yummy roasted silkworms

 

A busy day with a great lunch of Chinese dumplings in a famous Shanghai dumpling house, consisting of several floors and private rooms.  We were given one of the private rooms and out came the dumplings. They just kept on coming.

From L: Me, Paul, Andrea & Arthur (Melbourne), NZ couple, Aleander & Caroline (Columbia), Anne & Chris (NZ)