Shanghai, on China’s central coast, is the country’s biggest city and a global financial hub. Its heart is the Bund, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings. Across the Huangpu River rises the Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, including 632m Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, with distinctive pink spheres. Sprawling Yu Garden has traditional pavilions, towers and ponds.
Originally little more than marshland, Shanghai was an insignificant village for much of its early history, and was inhabited by people from the Majiabang tribe from around 5000BC. Thanks to its proximity to the coast, it became a port during the years of the Eastern Jin and Tang dynasties, before being officially upgraded from village status to market town in 1074 by the Southern Song dynasty.
Now, take a look at the video of The guide of travel to Shanghai for a further understand:
Things to do in Shanghai
1. Take to the skies with a kite
The quintessential Chinese pastime, kite flying originated here some 2,000 years ago and is still enjoyed today. Head to one of Shanghai’s parks where kite-sellers will help you get off the ground; the People’s Square is the most popular place to catch the winds – right in front of the Shanghai Museum.
2. Journey to the centre of the earth
Even when you jump into the automated car, nothing can quite prepare you for this brightly lit, low-budget experience ahead. The name is misleading, as the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel actually shows you nothing of the city; instead visitors are taken on a trance-inducing lightshow beneath Huangpu River, a marvellous, surreal trip.
3. Let your hair down at a theme parks
For when the kids are showing signs of sightseeing mutiny, Shanghai has a couple of huge amusement parks. Three parks worth checking out are Happy Valley with rides and roller coasters, Shanghai Disney Resort and Dino Beach, a water park with wave pool and slides.
4. Scale Shanghai with a spot of rock climbing
Scaling rock faces is becoming increasingly popular in China and the city boasts a couple of first rate climbing centres. Put your body through the paces at The Shanghai Stadium Rock Climb Sports Centre. As well as several artificial rock-climbing walls, they arrange real expeditions to Hangzhou’s South High Hill.
5. Find some peace with a river cruise
For some serenity away from the city’s gnarly traffic, take a cruise down the Huangpu River. With the Bund’s concession architecture floating past and Pudong’s skyscrapers towering above you on the other side, there’s plenty to see. The Suzhou Creek open-top cruise will take you through the city centre.
Shopping in Shanghai
Shanghai’s shopping scene befits its economic status and the city boasts easily the best shopping on mainland China.
Key areas:
High-end retail outlets such as Plaza 66 on Nanjing Lu, Three on the Bund and Bund 18 complement Nanjing Xi Lu’s status as Shanghai’s Fifth Avenue. You can find super-cool boutique clothes outlets, art galleries and design stores at Xintiandi, Xinle Lu, Fuxing Lu, Taikang Lu and Changle Lu.
Markets:
For tacky tourist memorabilia, nowhere can beat the Old Town area around Yu Yuan Gardens and Bazaar. Try Old Street or Dongtai Road Antiques Market.
The most uniquely regional ware from Shanghai is the local blue cloth, patterned in blue and white and similar to batik cloth. The Chinese Printed Blue Nankeen Exhibition Hall, at 24, Lane 637, Changle Lu, is open daily 0900-1630, and is the highest quality producer of this.
You can buy beautiful Suzhou-style ladies’ silk slippers in hand-woven patterns at Suzhou Cobblers, 17 Fuzhou Lu (near the Bund). Good-quality Chinese porcelain with hand-painted modern designs is available from Spin, Building 3, Lane 758 Julu Lu (near Fumin Lu), 1200-2200. Hu & Hu Antiques, 1685 Wuzhong Lu, by Laohongjing Lu, is a little way out of town, but is Shanghai’s most reputable collector, restorer and vendor of genuine Chinese antiques.
Shopping centres:
Parkson on Shaanxi Lu, typifies the international-style department stores in the former French Concession area. Further out of town, hypermarkets and mega-malls are sprouting on typically Chinese scale, with Ikea, B&Q, Wal-Mart and Carrefour operating huge premises.
Opening hours:
Usual shopping hours in Shanghai are 1000-2200.
