Must Visit Places in Shanghai – Explore China's Largest City

This is the beautiful Zhongshan Lu Promenade which borders the western banks of the Huangpujiang River. It is however better known by its Anglo-Indian name of Bund or Waitan; true to this the place staunchly holds onto its European ambience which is the real lure enticing hundreds of tourists to visit the place. The neighbourhood is dotted with a number of French and English style buildings which now serve as sunny cafes, restaurants, chic boutiques and attractive galleries. The Bund is lined with 52 buildings that display unique styles making this precinct one of Shanghai most bustling and popular areas for enjoying a stroll and some sightseeing.

Yu Yuan or the Yu Garden was established in 1559 and is known as the 'Garden of Happiness'. The garden covers an extent of 20,000 square metres and is made up of an inner and outer garden. The Outer Garden is the oldest unit with the last changes being done in the 18th century with the addition of the park's main hall – Sansui Tang. Sansui Tang is a stunning building that comprises of roof ornaments, bas-relief style symbolic images and beautiful walls festooned with dragons. The most popular building to visit is the 'Hall of Spring', it was here that the Company of Little Swords or Xiaodao Hui - the party which ruled Shanghai; established its headquarters from 1853 to 1855. It is also here that you will see the only preserved work of master garden creator Zhang Nanyang's work reflected in the artificial rock settings. Not to be missed is the traditional Chinese Writers Garden in the Inner Garden section.

This magnificent temple is located in the Anyuan Lu district of Shanghai; if you are travelling with a reliable holiday planner this temple will most certainly be a stop on the schedule. The place is a fine representative of Chinese myth, traditions and customs. The original building was erected in 1882 and replaced by the current building in 1928. Explore the 3 halls and 2 courtyards which consist of the popular Tiang Wan Dian or Hall of the Kings of Heaven. Within this hall are two Shakyamuni sculptures and four statues of heavenly kings. One of the statues is over 2 metres high and is carved out of white jade. Do hook up with a good travel agent Sri Lanka has to offer and you will most certainly be taken to many such splendid locations in Shanghai. Make sure to choose the best since many like Aitken Spence Travels offer tailor made travel packages to suit your needs.

The country most important museum for classical Chinese art the Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952. The building on its own is a spectacle that well reflects architectural skills of China; the round top and square base is representative of the cultures concept of earth. You will love the interior where levels are made up of ceramics and bronzes from pre-historic ages while beautiful seals, calligraphy and ink drawings from the 19th century are sure to impress. There is also a fine collection of art works from the country's ethnic minority groups together with jade artefacts, coins and period furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties spanning between 1368 and 1912. You should consider a visit to the Shanghai Natural History Museum to complete your experience.

This temple sits within a picturesque park in the southwest of Shanghai and is one of the oldest in the country. Longhua Temple sits alongside the 40 metre high brick and wood pagoda that was erected in 242 AD. The present building dates back to the 10th century since this illustrious structure was destroyed and re-erected many times over the centuries.