Top Ten Things to See and Do in Shanghai

Shanghai ‘Above The Sea’

Once known as the "Paris of the Orient”, Shanghai is China's largest commercial and financial centre and is considered to be the gateway into China attracting millions of visitors annually from abroad (as well as from across China) that flock here to enjoy its excellent shopping, famed tourist sites, fascinating mix of architecture and buzzing street culture.  

Shanghai, the eighth largest city of the world is also the largest city in China with a population in excess of 20 million. Located on the banks of Yangtze River, Shanghai is spread over an approximate area of 2,240 square miles.

City Highlights

THE BUND
The Bund is a famous waterfront housing historial buildings that included banks and trading houses from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands built at the end of the 19th century. Stretching from Suzhou Creek to Jinling Lu along the western shore of the Huangpu River, it has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.

ORIENTAL PEARL TOWER
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower stands at 468 meters high. It is the world's third tallest TV and radio tower with various spheres and columns that actually house places of interest, commerce and recreation centres including a hotel, rotating restaurants and even a museum. 

JING MAO HYATT BUILDING
Jin Mao Tower was completed in 1999 and is the fourth tallest building of the world.

This building includes modern offices, a deluxe 5-star hotel - the Grand Hyatt Shanghai - exhibition halls, banquet halls and entertainment facilities.

The tower’s observation deck is located on the 88th floor and can hold 1000 people at any one time. The two direct elevators can send visitors from the ground floor to the 88th floor in only 45 seconds!

WORLD FINANCIAL CENTRE

Shanghai World Financial Centre is located in the centre of Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone in Pudong. This first class financial centre houses modern office facilities, a luxury hotel, sightseeing floor at 474 meters above the ground and showcases cultural and art exhibitions. The centre was completed in 2008.

YUYUAN GARDEN AREA

Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. The garden was finished in 1577 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There are six main scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each garden has their own characteristics that feature pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds, courtyards as well as many other natural features.

HUANG PU RIVER
In Shanghai, the Huangpu River cruise is a traditional tourist program. Cruises are available everyday, including the shorter cruises (navigating the main waterfront area between the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge) and the complete cruises (meandering eastward along the golden waterway, over a distance of 60 kilometers or 37 miles). The cruise starts from the Bund and goes upstream. Towards the south, it takes you to look at the Nanpu Bridge, and then turns round to the north to go to the Yangpu Bridge and finally reaches Wusong Mouth (Wusongkou), which is an inlet of the sea that the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River flow into.

ZHUJIAJIAO ANCIENT TOWN 

Shanghai's Venice
Located in a suburb of Shanghai city, Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers, the little fan-shaped town features bridges, ancient buildings (North Street) and gardens (Ke Zhi Yuen) from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

MUST EATS

A wide variety of cuisines can be found in the city and today Shanghai offers a plethora of culinary delights from around the world.

However, Xiaolongbao is the quintessential Shanghai snack! Shanghai's answer to Hong Kong's dim-sum. Xiaolongbao (literally little basket buns) are delicate parcels of pork or other fillings encased in a bread dough and steamed in bamboo baskets. 

PLACES TO SHOP

Shanghai is hailed as the "Shopping Paradise" and "Oriental Paris". Whether you’re looking for local novelty items or international brand names, you can be sure to find them here.

The main shopping areas in Shanghai are divided into two main categories:

The Four Shopping Streets - Nanjing Road, North Sichuan Road, Huaihai Road and Middle Tibet Road, and

The Four Shopping Cities - Yuyuan, Xujiahui, Jiali and New Shanghai.

CURRENCY
The currency in mainland China is RMB (Ren Min Bi), namely CNY.

LANGUAGE

The main language spoken in China is Mandarin. However, English is commonly spoken in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.

TRANSPORT

Shanghai has an extensive transport system that includes air travel, ferry travel and ground transport ranging from taxis, trains, buses and the Shanghai Metro System. The metro incorporates both the subway and light railway lines, including the introduction of the ultra-fast and convenient Shanghai Maglev train in 2002.

TIME ZONE

GMT + 8

WEATHER

(Dec – Feb) Shanghai starts the year shivering in midwinter. Winter temperature often tends to drop below zero and records minus temperatures.

(Mar – may) Spring brings warmth however there are frequent spells of rain.

(Jun-Aug) Summers starts in the month of June with the hottest months being July and August however there is torrential rainfall quite frequently.

(Sep-Nov) Fall/autumn starts in September with increased rainfalls.