Sightseeing in Shanghai

Before arriving in Shanghai, you're probably wondering what you should visit first or how you should plan your trip because of time limit. Shanghai is an energetic international metropolis and combined with its rich heritage and Chinese culture, there is much to see and do. Modern Shanghai is emerging as one of the coolest cities in the world. Visit an experimental art collective, discover political chic souvenirs, take in the dazzling architecture and trendy nightspots, and go green at Asia’s first carbon neutral hotel, URBN. Shanghai is fascinating for night owls. The Bund is an absolute must for visitors. The rippling Huangpu River, characteristic buildings on the west bank and extraordinarily futuristic skyscrapers on the east bank all become more enchanting adorned in sparkling colored lights at night. A night cruise on the Huangpu River is highly recommended. For art lovers, Shanghai Grand Theater and Oriental Art Center will delight a visitor's taste. For those seeking relaxation, the ideal choice should be Hengshan Road and Xin Tian Di which are thronged with a variety of nightclubs, discos and bars. Between September and October every year Shanghai puts on an event with the sole purpose of attracting holidaymakers. The Tourist Festival, as it’s known, includes an Opening Day Parade, traditional entertainment, and even incorporates the Shanghai Shopping Festival. Resulting in 3 weeks of back to back, visitor-orientated fun.

 

Yuyuan Garden

This garden is believed to have been built by the Ming Dynasty more than 400 years ago. Yuyuan is situated in old Shanghai and means Happy garden. The inner and outer gardens were both built in the Ming Dynasty classical style, with numerous rock and tree garden areas, ponds, dragon-lined walls and numerous doorways and zigzagging bridges separating the various garden areas and pavilions. Its cultural relics include: century-old furniture, calligraphy and paintings of famous artists, clay sculptures and brick carvings, some inscriptions and couplets. One of the highlights of the garden is the Exquisite Jade Rock. It is a 5-ton, porous, beautifully-shaped, grotesque rock, which is said to have been carried from Taihu (Tai Lake) in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. The rock is characterized by its wrinkled appearance, slender shape, translucent nature and numerous holes eroded by water. There are many hawkers at the entrance of Yuyuan Market. If you don't want to buy anything, the most effective way to deal with them is simply ignore them.

 

Jade Buddha Temple

The temple was built between 1911 and 1918 in the style of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), with symmetrical halls and courtyards, upturned eaves, and bright yellow walls. The exterior is readily identifiable by the bright saffron walls. Inside, the centerpiece is a 1.9-meter-high white jade Buddha, which was installed here after a monk brought it from Burma in 1882. The seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, is said to weigh about one thousand kilograms. A smaller, reclining Buddha from the same shipment lies on a redwood bed. In the large hall are three gold-plated Buddhas, and other halls house ferocious-looking deities. Artifacts abound, not all on display, and some 7,000 Buddhist sutras line the walls.

 

Oriental Pearl Tower

Towering high above Pudong New Area in Pudong Park is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower has been the outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1995. The tower is 468 m high, the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world, next to the 553–meter-high CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, and the 540-meter-high TV Tower in Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia. The tower includes 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels creating an artistic conception of "large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate". It has become a symbolic piece of architecture and a favourite sight for tourists in Shanghai. There is a revolving teahouse and a sightseeing platform, which can accommodate 1600 people in the largest ball. Here visitor can get a panoramic view of the Bund and Pudong New area and on a clear day a visitor can see all the way to the Yangtze River. The base of the tower is home to a science fantasy city. The five smaller spheres are a hotel that contains twenty-five elegant rooms and lounges. The pearl at the top of the tower contains shop and restaurants.

 

The Bund

The Bund is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It is on the west bank of Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge and winds 1500 meters in length. The most famous and attractive sight on the west side of the Bund are the 26 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance. The 1,700-meters long flood-control wall, known as 'the lovers' wall', located on the side of Huangpu River from Huangpu Park to Xinkai River and once was the most romantic corner in Shanghai in the last century. After renovation, the monotone concrete buildings that lovers leaned against in the past have been improved into hollowed-out railings full of romantic atmosphere. Standing by the railings, visitors can have a 'snap-shot' view of the scenery of Pudong Area and Huangpu River. The Bund exhibits its true magnificence at night.

 

Shanghai World Financial Center

Standing in the center of Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone in Pudong, Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) was completed in August 28, 2008, being the tallest skyscraper in China surpassing its neighbor Jinmao Tower. Having 101 floors with a height of 492 meters (about 1,614 feet), it ranked the top in the heights of roof and usable floor by the time when it was built, announced by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Aiming to be a magnet of the world's finance, the building boasts functions of first class financial centers, able to showcase monetary talents, cultural and art exhibitions and information from all over the world. The capability to withstand fire, wind, impacts, earthquakes and thunder is considered thoroughly at the very beginning of the design. SWFC can survive a massive 8 magnitude earthquake. There are fireproofed floors for escape, a dozen sets of obstacle indicator lights to warn low flying aircraft, as well as two wind dampers to reduce wind acceleration by 40%. In addition to lightning conductors covering the building, its glazed glass skin also protects against lightning and looks good too.

 

Shanghai Museum

The museum is famous for its large collection of cultural pieces,now housing over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics in twelve categories, including Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, and artefacts. It has eleven galleries and three special temporary exhibition halls. It is situated on the People’s Square in the Huangpu district. The building has a round top and a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as "round sky, square earth".

 

Jinmao Tower

The Jin Mao Building symbolizes  Shanghai emerging into the 21st century. It is the tallest building in the country and third tallest in the world, it hosts the tallest hotel ever built. With an east-meets-west design signifying Shanghai's emergence as a modern global city, Jin Mao follows the multi-use paradigm, offering retail shopping at its base, offices above, and the Grand Hyatt World's Highest Hotel occupying the upper 38 floors. The Jin Mao Building is a luxurious complex combining office space with commercial space, a shopping mall, and entertainment functions. The three basement levels house electric facilities, service facilities, parking spaces and a food court. The 88th story sightseeing hall is the largest sightseeing hall in China at present.

 

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

It's the largest modern ocean aquarium in Asia adjacent to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower, which is another symbolic cultural scenic spot in Pudong. With "experiencing the wonders of the five continents at the bottom of the sea" as its exhibition theme, the aquarium is made up of 8 major areas of Asia, South America (Amazon), Australia, Africa, cold water, polar area, sea water and deep ocean with 28 large-scale theme marine life exhibition areas, displaying the 300 species and ten thousand more rare fishes from all over the world, including the most special ones like poisonous frog, jelly fish, moonfish, leaf sea dragon, king penguin, common perch. etc. There are 4 submarine tunnels which may be rated as the longest in the world, with a total length of 168 meters. The unique auto submarine tunnel, 180 degree and 270 degree all direction sightseeing windows may make tourists feel they are on the scene.

 

Zhujiajioa Water Town

Zhujiajiao is the best-preserved ancient water town among the four ancient towns in Shanghai with a history of 1700 years. Known as "the Venice of Shanghai", is a well-preserved ancient town in water country in Shanghai typical of southeast China. Nowadays old streets, small rivers shaded by willow trees, bridges over the river and architecture in the style of Ming and Qing periods can be found and local customs characteristic of water country can be observed. Zhujiajiao is noted for its archaic water country scenery typical of southeast China – old town, peacefulness, tranquillity and elegance.

 

Xi'an is a great place to visit. Many people like the Terracotta warriors. The level of detail applied to the warriors is most impressive. Each warrior has a unique face. Many of the warriors hold real weapons. Metal weapons were treated to resist corrosion so some of them were still sharp when they were unearthed.You could try flying to Xi'an by local plane or take the overnight train. You may need more than just a day in Xi’an as there is lots to see. The biggest mistake people make is rushing around trying to see everything. Like trying to visit Europe in one trip. Alternatives include, the many places around Shanghai. Make sure you visit Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and at least one small water town. Beijing is a must, the Great Wall of China cannot be missed.