Shanghai Travel Guide – Top Ten Attractions Define the Paris of the East

For history, culture, modernism, and glamour, there's no other city quite like Shanghai. Here is our list of the top 10 Shanghai attractions – the places, districts, and streets which define it. 1. The Bund Stretching along the Huangpu waterfront on the western side of the river, the historic Bund is lined with colonial-era buildings including banking headquarters and luxury hotels. These buildings are also home to bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, and the newly refurbished promenade brings the picture-postcard skyline alive. 2. Nanjing Road One of Shanghai's premier commercial boulevards, Nanjing Road runs from the Bund past People's Square, Jing'an Temple, and the northern reaches of the French Concession. With Chinese department stores, modern luxury boutiques, and some iconic buildings along its way, a stroll down Nanjing Road will give you a cross-section view of the city. 3. Yu Garden and Bazaar The Yu Garden (or Yu Yuan) is one of Shanghai's rare historic treats. Located in the Old City south of the Bund, the garden and surrounding shopping bazaar are among the most popular Shanghai attractions. The Ming Dynasty gardens are a tranquil oasis in the bustle of the modern city, and the bazaar is the place to go when you want to buy traditional Chinese gifts for friends and family back home. 4. Jade Buddha Temple You'll have to head up north to the Putuo District for this one, but it's well worth the short taxi ride. The temple was built in 1882 to display two jade Buddha statues which a traveling monk brought from Burma. As well as some stunning architecture, the temple is surrounded by excellent vegetarian restaurants. 5. Jin Mao Tower The second mega-skyscraper to be built in the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, the 421-meter Jin Mao (or 'golden prosperity') occupies a place among the more modern Shanghai attractions. It was built around the principles of the lucky figure eight, and lends its floor space to offices and a luxury hotel. 6. Xintiandi A favourite among tourists and locals for its charming reclaimed shikumen buildings, Xintiandi is the original 'lifestyle hub' in a city which now boasts many. It is home to a mix of restaurants, chain coffee houses, malls, craft vendors, and boutiques, and alleys. 7. Tianzifang The network of alleyways between Taikang Road and Sinan Road in the Luwan District of the French Concession make up the Tianzifang complex – a collection of independent shops, art galleries, and street cafés which attract a more bohemian crowd than nearby Xintiandi. 8. Maglev Train Reaching an optimum speed of 431 kilometers per hour and zipping to Pudong Airport in just eight minutes from Longyang Road metro station on Line 2, the magnetic levitation rapid transit train (Maglev) is an engineering wonder. At 50 RMB for a single ticket, it might not be the most economical form of public transport, but it's an iconic Shanghai attraction all the same. 9. The French Concession The former French Concession spans Xuhui, Luwan, and Changning Districts, and is famed for its winding, tree-lined streets flanked with colonial villas and Art Deco apartments. Many of the historic houses have been converted into restaurants and bars, especially along Hengshan Road, and it is a popular residential area for expatriates. 10. Shanghai World Financial Center Last but most certainly not least is Shanghai's current tallest building. The imposing silver spear of the Shanghai World Financial Center juts 492 meters into the sky above Lujiazui. A trip to the highest observation deck costs 150 RMB, and is a small price to pay for the loftiest view in mainland China. Shanghai Travel Guide – Top Ten Attractions Define the Paris of the East is a post from: Traveling China from Traveling China http://www.chinaya.org

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