Shanghai Travel Guide

Shanghai, known as the “The Paris of The East” or “The Pearl of the Orient”,where the eastern culture and western culture blends, western buildings on the Bund and the skyscrapers in Pudong add radiance and beauty to each other, it’s magical and fascinating that attract travelers all over the world every year.

Shanghai, “Hu” for short, is one of the four municipalities directly under the central government of China, locating in east China, at the mouth of the Yangtze river, bordering the east China sea to the east, Hangzhou Bay to the south, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to the north and west. With a population of more than 24 million, Shanghai is the center of economy, finance, trade, shipping and scientific and technological innovation of China.

• Best Tours in Shanghai:

1. One day tour to One Day Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, the Bund and Nanjing Road—The one-day tour will lead you to visit famous essential attractions, experience beautiful scenery and immerse you into local culture.

2. Shanghai Day Tour to the Bund, Pearl TV Tower, Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and Xintiandi—This day tour will show you the landmark in Shanghai, then get to know more about Shanghai urban planning, after that enjoy some leisure moment in Xintiandi.

3. Shanghai Day Tour to Yuyuan Garden, World Financial Center, Museum, the Bund and Old Street—The Old Street in Shanghai and the famous Yuyuan Garden display architectural beauty and the charm of old-day Shanghai, which is in harmony with the morden skyscraper.

4. Shanghai Day Tour to the Shanghai Disneyland Park— Being China's first Disney Resort and Disney's sixth resort destination worldwide, the combination of original Disney characters with traditional Chinese style makes a unique Shanghai Disney.

• Shanghai and Nearby Areas Tour:

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, located in Qingpu District of Shanghai, is one of the most famous ancient towns in Shanghai. Also known as the "Venice of Shanghai". A boating cruise will be so quiet but poetic with little bridges, flowing water.

Hangzhou: When referring to Hangzhou, it always reminds you the West Lake. The West Lake is as beautiful as a painting.

Suzhou: As a popular saying goes, "There is paradise in heaven and there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." Suzhou is famous for its incomparably exquisite gardens, and Hangzhou for its fascinating scenery around the West Lake.

Tongli: Located on the eastern shore of Taihu Lake, it is famous for its culture, which is over 1 thousand years. Tongli is not only a World Cultural Heritage site, but also a town with a profound cultural background and achievement. It’s a really wonderful travel destination where you can spend a marvelous holiday here.

Wuzhen: Wuzhen is a typical southern cultural town, which has a long history. Experience the dense landscape of centuries old canals, streets, markets, courtyards, bridges and verandas, those are incredible and memorable.

l  Best time to visit Shanghai:

With a humid subtropical monsoon climate, Shanghai has four distinct seasons, sufficient sunshine and abundant rainfall, shorter spring and autumn, longer winter and summer. The best season to visit Shanghai is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). When Spring comes, flower blooming, you should not miss the famous plum blossoms in Qingpu, the rape flowers in Fengxian, peach blossoms in Pudong, that’s truly beautiful. Summer is Shanghai is rainy and hot, sun protection is required, comparing to winter is so cold and not so suitable for outdoor activities. Autumn is also the best time to taste the hairy crabs.

• Catering & Shopping in Shanghai:

Shanghai possesses the food culture, the classic fashion shopping and strong commercial atmosphere all over world. Western food in Shanghai converges the flavors of more than 30 countries around the world, when Chinese food in Shanghai gathers almost all local flavors in China, you’ll explore the food culture in these areas like: Old Chenghuang Temple, Yunnan Road, Huanghe Road and Xianxia Road, etc... What’s more, Shanghai is famous for snacks, Shengjian Bao, fried dumpling, Steamed Buns, Ribs rice cakes, Pork mooncake those are the must tasty.

Nanjing Road, the first commercial street of China and the fashionable and elegant Huaihai Road are the famous commercial avenues in China.

l  Must-See Tourist Attractions in Shanghai:

As latest poll shows the top lists of hot tourist destinations in Shanghai, are the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center and Shanghai Museum.

1.     The Oriental Pearl Tower

 Located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong District, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund of Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower is one of the highest buildings in Asia. It’s outstanding on Shanghai's skyline.

2.     Shanghai World Financial Center

The Shanghai World Financial center is the highest in China and the world's second high buildings. Located in No. 100, Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, there are sightseeing facilities on the 94th to 100th floors, from where you will have a panoramic view of the impressive Pudong, Puxi, Huangpu River and Lujiazui Central Greenland.

3.     Shanghai Museum

Founded in 1952, Shanghai Museum is now located at No. 201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District, south of People's Square, it has a fantastic collection of ancient Chinese art.

4.     Yuyuan Garden

Under well preservation and renowned as a classical garden in Shanghai, the Yuyuan Garden dates back over 400 years, it’s also a famous garden featuring southern China structures. With its sparkling pools flashing with goldfish, shaded alcoves, rustling bamboo and rocky recesses, beckoning classical pavilions, Yuyuan Gardens is one of Shanghai's most splendid and eminent sights.

5.     Xintiandi

With the perfect location, Shanghai Xintiandi, where Chinese and Western architectural styles make it a city landmark of life and culture. Xintiandi is based on the Shikumen old area, a symbol of Shanghai's modern architecture. Spend some moment here, taste the leisurely life in Shikumen, the crowded streets, the busy shopping centers and the bars full of Western style in Xintiandi coexist in harmony.

6.     Shanghai Old Street

Walking into the old streets of Shanghai, it seems to return to the bustling market of Shanghai 100 years ago. Shanghai old street, also known as Little East Gate", gathers the earliest banks, gold shops, silver houses, teahouses, opera houses and so on in Shanghai, definitely a nice place to experience the old Shanghai.

l  Popular Hotels in Shanghai:

It is highly recommended to stay near People's Square or Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, where’re the most prosperous area in Shanghai, with convenient transportation and the surrounding shopping and food gathering.

1.     Banyan Tree Shanghai On the Bund*****—Situated in the Huangpu riverside, Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund offers different styles of restaurants, gather the essence of Chinese and Western cuisine. A dockside dining option only meters away from the Huangpu River, defiantly perfect for a romantic dinner.

2.     Shanghai Fairmont Peace Hotel*****—The iconic Peace Hotel, with a history of more than 80 years, is popular with the local elite as well as Chinese and foreign celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin, offering guests a world-renowned elderly jazz band and a sumptuous art deco style, it’s ideal place to overlook the bund and the Huangpu River.

3.     SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund****—With the convenient location, it’s near the bustling Huangpu Dist., The Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, People's Square, Nanjing Road and Xintiandi.

4.     Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo***—Nice location, good choice for business trip and family trip, valuable hotel.

5.     The Waterhouse At South Bund—Special Hotel

The hotel has been reconstructed from the old factory building in Shanghai in 1930s. It is located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, and the landmark building in the area of the south Bund.

6.     8 Art Hotel—Special Hotel

Enjoying the advantages of location, overlooking the Bund, this hotel regularly holds art exhibitions, movie nights and music parties. Opposite the hotel is the Shanghai Natural History Museum, about 10 minutes' walk from Yuyuan Garden.