Snuff the Magic Jade Shanghai is a veritable place to shop for jade snuff bottles, pearl necklaces, gold filigrees, ivory carvings and silk, all precious commodities which contributed to the boom and flourish of trade in China over the centuries. There are several markets and large shopping malls to explore for beautiful stones and gems. Take time out to visit the venerable and famous Jade Buddha Temple that sits in the western part of Shanghai. It is one of the rare temples in downtown Shanghai that houses 2 precious Jade Buddha statues that are rare cultural relics. The original temple was built in 1882 to safeguard the 2 statues that were brought in from Burma by a monk. But it was destroyed during the revolt that overthrew the Qing dynasty. The 2 statues survived and are now in the present temple that is built on the original site. Visitors to the Jade Buddha Temple can pray for prosperity and peace before the 6-feet tall sitting Jade Buddha which is carved from a single piece of crystal-clear white Burmese jade and encrusted with agate and emeralds. There is also the Recumbent Buddha which lies on his right side in the position of the ³lucky repose². The temple is an active place of worship, always filled with monks and worshippers clutching their smouldering joss sticks and praying. CONSIDERATIONS Photography of the sitting Jade Buddha is not allowed but is permitted in the other rooms. ENHANCEMENTS A cultural specialist can give a talk on the qualities and value of jade and how to differentiate a good piece of jade. Pearl TV Tower REFERENCE : SPT3 Duration : 3 hours Capacity : Unlimited