Joanna James
One of the busiest cities on earth! With a population of over 25 million people, the city is brimming with life. Discover some of the best highlights Shanghai has in store.
Head to Nanjing Road, the Times Square of China. The road is divided into two sections the East end and the West end. Nanjing Road gets overtaken by pedestrians during work hours, and after-hours many people relax here at the end of the workday. Find high-end shopping stores, fancy restaurants, eateries and cafes. In the early morning's elderly Chinese practice Tai Chi on the streets. The road is spectacular by night and becomes a sensory overload with a smorgasbord of sights, sounds and smells.
The beautiful Chinese garden doubles up as a shopping centre. The garden was built in the 14th century CE and is a popular tourist site, so it can get crowded sometimes. Head there early to enjoy the best of the diverse varieties of plants, trees, flowers and Chinese rock gardens.
The Yu Shopping Center is at the front of the garden and is a great place to shop for souvenirs. The mall is huge and has many floors and corridors, much like a maze. However, do try some authentic dumplings in the many eateries found there.
It is the best place to learn and appreciate Chinese culture and history. The museum building is on the People's Square, at the very heart of Shanghai. The building is very notable in its dome-like structure on a square piece of land overlooking a garden. The architecture represents the Chinese belief that heaven is a sphere and earth, a square. There are 12 galleries, all of which contain around 120,000 ancient antiquities. You will find antique relics, ancient works of calligraphy, bronze vessels, oriental style pottery, musical instruments, numismatic collections, furniture and more. The first 8000 entrants of the day enter in free!
The structure is designed to look like a golden mound. The stage equipment is state-of-the-art with a range of facilities to enhance the light and sound effects on the stage. The theatre hosts local and international circuses, dance recitals, music festivals and acrobatic performances throughout the year. The theatre includes an underwater screen for even a more spectacular show!
Close to the Huangpu River is the Bund, also known as Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu on the west bank of the river. The stretch is 1.5 km, and its vistas are surrounded by many colonial buildings overlooking the docks. Important landmarks to look out for include a statue of Cheng Yi, the first communist mayor and the Valentine wall. Walk amid the intricate and varied buildings that line its pathway, it is a simple way to appreciate this lively city and its diversity.
Riding this train is perhaps one of the most essential things you must do when visiting Shanghai. It is the world's fastest train, and attested by the Guinness Book of World Records! Built with the aid of German technology, this super train clocks a speed of 430 km per hour. The train has no wheels and does not emit any exhaust fumes, and consumes little energy. It runs through the Pudong International Airport daily. One can find international serviced apartments, such as the Ascott Huai Hai Road in Shanghai.
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