Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe
Location
The Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe is a world renowned acrobatic group that has performed on all continents. You can see them live at the Shanghai Center Theatre and enjoy the action packed show involving hula hoops, knives and various other tricks such as the ‘through the tube’ etc.
These Chinese acrobats are extremely talented and the show will surely astonish you. The group performs on a nightly basis but the show is really popular and there are chances it can be sold out. To guarantee your seat, book in advance for example here: www.culture.sh.cn/english
Huangpu River Cruise
Location
Huangpu River is one of the symbols of Shanghai and and cruising down the river is a great way to experience Shanghai. Viewing the high paced city and its neon lights from the gently streaming river creates a fascinating contrast.
The river has become the separator between the citys past and future. The west shore is a display of the colonial landmarks from 19th century where as the east side’s skyline is dominated by the steel and glass skyscrapers. The river is also vital for the booming economy of the area as it is a major waterway for the cargo coming from Shanghai and other Yangzi river ports.
Shanghai Maglev Train
Location
Right upon arriving to Shanghai airport, you can have a taste of the fast paced lifestyle ahead. The Shanghai Maglev Train is an ultratech magnetic-levitation train with a top speed of modest 430km/h (267 miles/hr).
It is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world and the world's fastest train in regular commercial service. The Maglev train takes you from the airport to the city in less than eight minutes. The secret of the speed lies in levitation; the train is “flying” over the track thanks to a magnetic field.
The Bund
Location
The Bund is the Fift Avenue of Shanghai. Once a muddy path along the riverside, the area slowly transformed to a premier location for the banks and trading houses. The architecture is mostly from the 20th century representing the noticeably unchinese neoclassical and art deco styles.
Today the Bund is a designer retail and restaurant zone with exclusive boutiques and hotels. The main activity here for the locals and foreigners seems to be simply strolling around and watching people watching people. A nice escape from the crowds is to have a drink on the roof terrace of restaurant called M on the Bund.
Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory
Location
If you want to experience Shanghai from above, there is no better place to do it other than from the Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory. When the observation platform was built, it was the highest in the world, standing at 474 meters; now, it is the second when it comes to height, but it is still a remarkable place.
There are actually three observation levels, although the one at the one hundredth floor is the best one to have a panoramic view over Shanghai. The whole building is an architectural marvel, considering its style and moreover, its efficiency against the forces of nature.
Shanghai Museum
Location
For those interested in the Chinese culture, paying a visit to the Shanghai Museum is a good way to discover artifacts of the past. Ancient Chinese art is on display here, the museum being split into eleven galleries. You can see Ming furniture, coins, Ancient Ceramics or examples of calligraphy while visiting the galleries.
Dongtai Lu Antique Market
Location
Dongtai Lu Antique Market stretches along the Dongtai and Liuhekou Roads with shops on both sides. It´s easy to spend hours exploring the shops, selling everything from watches to Communist-era posters. If you are fascinated about the terracotta soldiers, you can buy one of those here. A replica that is.
A lot of art-deco elements and memorabilia from the Cultural Revolution are on sale as well as thousands of other items. Just take note that there are a lot of fake antiques in the market too.
Happy Valley Shanghai
Location
Happy Valley Shanghai is the newest and most western type of amusement park in Shanghai. The area is clean, services are good and the selection of rides is not bad either.
The Fireball is the first wooden coaster in China and one of our favorites, even with no sharp turns or corkscrews. Or perhaps that´s why. The coaster is over one kilometer long and overall just looks beautiful. If you’re looking for scarier rides, go to area called Shanghai Beach that features rides such as the Diving Coaster and the Gyro Swing. The log flume rides pass artificial canyons and caves and ends up in a huge splash after a 26 metres plunge.
Fuxing Park
Location
Fuxing Park is a peaceful getaway area if you want to leave behind the busy streets of Shanghai for a while. The park is located on the former French concession of Shanghai and going through the park you will see elements of French architecture and design.
Dancers, group artists, mahjong and card players come here each morning and fill up the park that was originally a private garden in the Ming Dynasty. The park wall fences off the noises of the city life and creates a quite enclave for strolling around in the greenery and enjoying the flowerbeds and fountains.
Nanjing Road
Location
Nanjing Road has traditionally been regarded as ‘China’s number one shopping street’. It spans over 3.4 miles and offers some of the finest and most expensive goods from China and abroad.
After the Opium War (1839-1842), Shanghai became a treaty port and Nanjing Road became the first shopping street of the city. Today the area has over 600 shops and the street is an all weather pedestrian arcade.
City God Temple
Location
The City God Temple is a Daoist temple located next to the Yuyan Garden within the old walled city. The temple is around 600 years old and is dedicated to three city gods. It is a popular place to visit during Chinese New Year and the Sanxun festival (a day when the City God start to inspect his people) when people come to the Temple to burn incense and worship the God.
Today the private://City God Templeprivate:// not only refers to the large temple complex, but also the traditional district of commerce in the city, surrounding the temple. There are over a hundred stores and shops in this area, and most of these store buildings are nearly a century old.
50 Moganshan Road
Location
50 Moganshan Road is a contemporary art district that houses a thriving community of more than a hundred artists whose studios are also open to the public. It is often compared with New York's SoHo and Beijing's 798 Art Zone.
This area that was previously the Chunming Slub Mill, is now the best place to see modern art in Shanghai and one of the few places in the city where you can see graffiti and street art on a large scale. Even some of the best known Shanghai artists such as Zhou Tiehai, Ding Yi and Xu Zhen have their studios here.
Yu Yuan Garden
Location
Yu Yuan Garden was built during the Ming Dynasty and finished in 1577. Divided into six general areas and laid out in the Suzhou style it is a complete classical Ming Dynasty garden in urban Shanghai and therefore a must-see. This is also the reason why the garden overflows with visitors especially on weekends and even though really beautiful, is no longer the pastoral haven it once was.
The gardens Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds are all encircled by a dragon wall. Although the area is only 5 acres it appears quite expansive, with room for 30 pavilions.
Din Tai Fung
Location
Even though dumpling soup can be considerred the most authentic dish of Shanghai, it is not easy to find a really good restaurant serving it. A delightful exception to this rule is Din Tai Fung. You would imagine this restaurant has long traditions in Shanghai dumpling scene, but alas, this is a Taiwanese restaurant chain.
We don´t mind, these are the best dumplings around and this is Shanghai so it doesnt get any better than this. Delicate dumpling skin is wrapped around a juicy pork filling served in bowl of broth.
