Are you planning a trip to Shanghai?
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AA Gallery
You can reach this somewhat temporary looking exhibition by taking the lift up to the fourth floor from the lobby of the Art Scene China Warehouse
A vast, sleek, minimalist facility in the Suzhou Creek artist's quarter, the Art Scene Warehouse showcases some of China's most avant-garde artists. Besides Chinese contemporary art, the warehouse also features contemporary art by international artists. The 1,800 square meter exhibition space--a former garment factory with high ceilings--is airy, spare, and elegant, and gives the works on display plenty of room to speak for themselves.
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Art-50
Connoisseurs with an eye for contemporary art will find this a good spot to satisfy both the senses—visual and gustatory. Perched atop the Novotel Atlantis Shanghai Hotel, the multi-faceted restaurant features works by up and coming artists, to be enjoyed while sipping a drink at the bar, or feasting on some local cuisine. Add to that a fabulous view of the city, and we have a hotspot!
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Arts and Crafts Research Institute
Interested in local art? Hop into a cab straight to this institute that is housed within a beautiful French Renaissance structure. Watch local artisans as they create pretty pieces of arts and crafts; you are sure to be compelled to go ahead and make a purchase. Prices are high but worth it.
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Bird and Flower Market
Have your kids been pestering you to get them a furry or feathery friend? Well then, bring them to this big animal bazaar in Hunagpu and watch them go bonkers. A myriad of birds, turtles, fish, cats, frogs and other pets are for sale. While the children go gaga over paws and claws, mothers can browse through a range of potted plants, bonsai trees, gorgeous flowers, seeds and even pretty little pots made of clay. Once you have the mood set with a purchase from this section, you just might fall in love with a pair of cute adorable eyes yourself!
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Bund
Probably one of the most well-known attractions in Shanghai, and one that is indelibly associated with the city's colonial past, the Bund is a one-mile stretch of riverfront on the Huangpu River that boasts some of Shanghai's most impressive architecture and is home to some of its most prominent institutions. The 52 buildings that make up the Bund represent a number of architectural styles, but the strip is best known for the Art Deco elegance that graces many of the buildings. The Bund, and the pleasant landscaped promenade that runs in front of the buildings that comprise it, is particularly spectacular when it is illuminated at night, and makes a pleasant spot for an evening stroll. Boats offering river cruises are available from Shiliupu Pier, at the south end of the Bund.
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Bund Museum
It is hard to believe the tiny Bund Signal Tower, housing the Bund Museum, was once the tallest building in Asia. Almost 150 years ago, it was an observatory and gave out regular time signals for people around the Bund (Wai Tan) to set their clocks and watches. An all-year-round photo exhibition depicting the Bund's history is on the first floor. The second floor contains a bar showing films of early Shanghai. The third floor observation deck is the best place for a good view of the Huang Pu River.
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Bund Tourist Tunnel
Despite the fact that the Bund Tourist Tunnel is one of the tackiest, campiest tourist traps anywhere on the planet, it certainly is one of a kind. The tunnel under the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong is lined with flashing colored lights, blowing glitter, and other psychedelic eye candy, and visitors ride through it on rails in small amusement-park style plastic carts. The trip takes about 5 minutes. Don't expect anything too culturally enriching. However, if you take the Tourist Tunnel as simply a unique type of light show, you might be able to convince yourself that it is a rather interesting form of contemporary civic art.
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Cang Bao Antiques Market
Also nicknamed as the “Ghost Market," the Cang Bao Antiques Market finds a crowd of antique lovers the whole week through. You can find various types of articles from different provinces, all beautifully displayed within the four floored building. Antiques, as well as look-alikes, are available, so be careful what you are paying for -- and don’t forget to bargain hard! On Sundays, the market opens just before sunrise.
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Chang'an Gallery
Located in the midst of Pu Dong's business high rises, this small gallery is emerging as one of the most promising newcomers in Shanghai's art scene. Chang'an is becoming more daring with some interesting pieces in frequently changing exhibitions. The gallery mainly features artists who were born outside of Shanghai, but came to develop their style or study in the city. Very friendly staff will show you around and give you information about the artists' biographies.
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Changfeng Ocean World
This new and modern indoor aquarium offers visitors a glimpse of life on the ocean floor. Access to the exhibits is through an unusual entrance comprising a mock airplane and a flight of stairs resembling an Inca Temple. Schools of colorful fish are viewed against a backdrop of themes, such as a sunken pirate ship, mountain streams and rainforests. The aquarium also features a touching pool, and tanks housing unusual crustaceans, sea-horses, corals and anemones. Perhaps most impressive is the deep ocean and sea floor exhibit that brings visitors face-to-face with sharks, sea snakes and other creatures of the deep.
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Cloud 9
Take the lift in the Grand Hyatt Shanghai as far as you can go. Wait for one of the discreet waiters to show you the way. Chinese guests seem to prefer this place, while foreigners tend to go upstairs to the Sky Lounge. The bar is all steel and glass and very, very cool. Dim lighting facilitates a full view around the building at night. From this height, you can see all of Shanghai and beyond.
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Disc Go-Karting Club
This club features a spacious, 4,500 square-meter indoor track, which means speed racers get plenty of chances to put their feet down on the gas pedals. Thirsty and hungry visitors can refuel and recharge at the trackside pub and cafe.
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Dong Tai Road Antique Market
Although located on another street, it is still considered a part of Antique Alley, a shopping oasis for Chinese antiques situated near the Hong Qiao Airport. Dong Tai is spread over two blocks and has many shops and vendors selling vintage goodies, furniture and bric-a-brac. Items vary from international gems such as chairs imported from New York City in the 1930s, to local pieces such as furniture from old Shanghai theaters. Experienced antique collectors will be able to pick up some excellent buys.
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Dr. Sun Yat-sen Former Residence & Memorial Hall
Considered the forerunner of the revolution, the home of Doctor Sun Yat-sen and his wife, Soong Qing Ling, has been lovingly preserved. Open to the public, the beautiful, 1920s home is still furnished and decorated the way it used to be. Visitors enter through the kitchen, where they are required to wear slippers over their shoes to protect the old flooring. An extensive photo exhibition is set up in the first room with information available in English and Chinese. A little bookstall offers literature and postcards featuring the famous couple. A larger gift shop sells more souvenirs.
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Duolun Museum of Modern Art
Duolun Road, traditionally a center of Shanghai's cultural and literary scene, is once again a focus for the arts in Shanghai. The Duolun Museum of Modern Art offers exhibitions, serves as a center for modern art research, and aims to provide resources for education and communication about art. The museum is state of the art, housed in a sleekly designed modern building. Dedicated to the ideals of "originality, academics, and internationalism," the museum provides studios for visiting artists and encourages scholarly and cultural exchanges. The collection features cutting-edge installation art, film and multimedia art, photography, sculpture, and painting. Occasionally, musical performances are offered.
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Eastlink
In the Suzhou Creek Art District, this gallery is a rising star in the market of Chinese contemporary art. The owner Li Liang, an artist himself, has very good connections in the local and international art scene. He shows the visitors around personally whenever he is there and has set his mind on promoting young artists. The gallery is located in a restored warehouse. Exhibits change regularly and individual exhibitions are held at least twice a month, welcomed by an evening with guests.
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Feining Massage Center of Blind Persons
Massages by blind masseurs in China are a popular trend. These massages are said to be therapeutic for good health and extremely relaxing. This center is located in the historical old French Concession area so it is worth a walk. Kang Ning offers professional service at good standards and at a reasonable price.
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Former Residence of Lu Xun
This little, three-story townhouse in the Hong Kou District is where the famous short story writer lived with his family from 1933 until his death in 1936. The furnishings have been kept in their original state, so that the visitor can get a glimpse of how Lu Xun lived and worked. A Chinese-speaking guide leads visitors through the house and shares stories about various objects. The bookstore offers an extensive collection of Chinese literature by and about Lu Xun. Some English language material is also available. The house is a short walk from Lu Xun Park.
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Former Residence of Zhou En Lai
Less touristy than other former residences of Shanghai's historical figures, politician Zhou En Lais house gives a serious revolutionary impression. Though the house and its beautiful garden display the Western influence in Shanghai in the early 1900s, the spartan interior shows true commitment to the people's cause. In the next house—behind the guards' room and the garage—is a photo exhibition. Chinese texts give explanations about the Shanghai office of the Communist Party, which was located here. There is a bookstore, but it is usually closed.
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Fun Dazzle
This huge, indoor play center with its maze of tunnels, slides, swinging and balancing ropes, and ball pits provides children endless ways to expend their energy while having fun. The floor is padded, and all the equipment is child-safe. For toddlers, a segregated area offers similar facilities on a smaller scale, plus multicolored stuffed bags. Firm, but very child-friendly staff supervise the children. On weekends, art activities are sometimes scheduled. Simply pay for the materials, and your children can sit and be creative.
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Fuxing Park
Formerly the French Park, Fuxing Park is laid out in European style and is one of the few green patches in the city. Visitors come to take in the fresh air, practise tai-chi, or read books under the shady trees. There's a statue of Marx-Engels in the centre of the park, which was unveiled on Engels' death anniversary. Also check out Park 97, which is located inside the park.
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Grand Gateway
Grand indeed is The Grand Gateway; as you enter the main entrance of this massive and modern shopping center, you are swallowed up by the atrium that spans seven floors of shops, recreational facilities and restaurants. Shoppers will find entertainment venues ranging from the Bridge Street Dance Club to mini-golf. With its plentiful leisure options, The Grand Gateway appeals to all ages—an ideal outing for the whole family.
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Hangzhou
Hailed by Marco Polo as "the finest city in the world", Hang Zhou today retains the power to attract and enchant a multitude of visitors. The prime attraction is not the city itself, but rather the outstanding West Lake, just outside of town. For centuries a byword for natural beauty, the 3-mile wide Lake sits in an imperial pleasure park of bridges and inlets, pavilions, rockeries, temples and teashops. Stroll here to escape the pressures of city living, breath clean air and appreciate landscape gardening elevated to an art-form.
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Henry Antique Warehouse
If you are looking for a unique piece to decorate your home, then a visit to Henry’s would be worth it. Called Henglì Gudian Jiajù in Chinese, this company that collects and creates antique furniture has a huge display of these as well as other furnishings. Since it is associated with the Tongji University, you will also find exhibitions displaying modern art by the students of the university and also by the craftsmen of the warehouse. So come by to check out more than 2000 of the beautifully crafted pieces of art. And don’t be surprised if you end up picking more than one!
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Huai Hai Road
Built in 1901, the six-kilometer-long Huai Hai Road commemorates the Huai Hai Battle during Liberation. Today, this road has become synonymous with what is trendy and fashionable in Shanghai. While the stretch between Shan Xi Road and Xi Zang Road is the busiest section (and best for people-watching), this commercial street contains more than 400 shops, restaurants and businesses. The remnants of French architecture give the street its cosmopolitan charm. Many nearby attractions add to its appeal, including the proximity of Jade Buddha Temple
This temple, which was constructed in 1918, ranks as one of Shanghai's top tourist draws. The interior is heavy in the wow-factor with its classic Chinese architecture and is highlighted by a massive jade statue of Buddha. But what makes this so wildly popular is the ability to witness the temple's resident monks perform their daily ceremonies throughout its four halls. These daily "events" provide amazing first-hand insight to China's ancient religious culture. Visitors are asked to behave accordingly.
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Jing'an Park
Jinan Park is ideally located next to all the major attractions, such as Jinan Plaza and Jingan Temple. You can come for walks and admire the raw, natural beauty of the park, or simply sit by the artificial lake and relax. If you happen to come as soon as dawn breaks, you will see aged people meditating and doing Tai Chi. If you are lucky, you might just catch a birthday party or a wedding ceremony here.
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Jing'an Temple
After several face lifts, this Buddhist temple is as good as new now. Erected in 247 AD, this temple was renovated several times. The name implies tranquility and that is exactly the reason why tourists come here. Due to its prime location, the area is always lively and bustling. But it is very spacious and peaceful, so you can easily find a corner to meditate.
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Jinjiang Amusement Park
Jin Jiang Land was the first large-scale amusement park built in Shanghai. Providing fun for the whole family, it offers 18 different types of rides. Most were imported from overseas such as an auto-shuttle, a monorail, a whirling wooden horse, a fighter plane, a spinning chair, a lotus pedestal, a UFO simulator, laserquest, and much more. The Water World section offers a number of recreational programs including variable speed skiing, rock and roll skiing, stream surfing, and a massage pool.
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Jinmao Tower
The world’s fourth tallest building and the tallest building in China (at least it is at the time of writing), the Jinmao Tower soars over Shanghai in the Pudong district, overlooking the Bund and Huangpu River. The Tower, with its 88 floors (eight is a lucky number in China), can be seen from almost anywhere in Shanghai and was built by the same architecture firm that designed Chicago’s Sears Tower. The Grand Hyatt Shanghai takes up the 53rd through the 87th floors and is considered the highest hotel in the world; while the rest of the tower is mostly occupied by offices. Take in the sweeping views of the city from either the observation deck on the 88th floor or from within the Hyatt hotel, which features a 33-story atrium starting on the 55th floor.
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Longhua Temple
This Buddhist temple should definitely appear on your list when in Shanghai. Located next to the Long Hua Revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery, this temple is very old and has now become a tourist hot-spot. So get there and let all your piousness come out!
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Lyceum Theatre
Located in the French Concession neighborhood of Shanghai, the Lyceum Theatre was once home to the British Amateur Drama Club. The art deco theater was founded in 1930 and now hosts Chinese opera performances, classical ballet and music, children’s theater, and a variety of other musical and theatrical events. Designers from Singapore gave the Theatre a new look in 2003, complete with a redesigned stage. Situated on Maoming Road, the Lyceum, with its classic European style, appeals to a wide audience of theater-goers and is a historic landmark as one of Shanghai's oldest theaters.
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Majestic Theatre
One of the oldest theaters in Shanghai, the Majestic offers a diverse range of regular performances such as opera, ballet, song and dance, and local/regional dance performances. The theater also occasionally screens movies. Given the eclectic mix of its performances, visitors are recommended to call ahead to check for details about the upcoming week's schedule.
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Midlake Pavilion Teahouse
Perched above a lake in the middle of the Yu Yuan Gardens, the Midlake Pavilion Teahouse, also known as the Huxingting Teahouse, was built in 1784 and became a teahouse in the late 19th century. This Teahouse is the perfect place to take a caffeine break before or after shopping and wandering around the bustling Yu Yuan Bazaar area. The bridge leading to the Teahouse is zigzag-shaped and serves to protect the complex, as evil spirits are believed to not be able to turn corners. Be sure to grab a seat on the upper level of the teahouse for a sweeping view of the gardens. Musicians play classical Chinese instruments for visitors Mondays afternoons and evenings as well as Friday through Sunday nights. A traditional tea ceremony is performed each night.
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Nanjing Road
One of the two major commercial streets in Shanghai (in addition to Huai Hai Road), Nan Jing Road spans 5.5 kilometres east to west. On both sides of the road are more than 600 shops and shopping centres carrying high quality, brand goods. The eastern part of the road is pedestrian-only with various attractions as well as its shops. Once the premier shopping street, it has been recently eclipsed by Huai Hai Road. Nevertheless, it attracts many people. Transportation is convenient as visitors can catch the metro at various points along the road.
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Natural History Museum
Start the tour with the dinosaur skeleton display on the first floor. On other floors you will find educational exhibits on virtually every member of the evolutionary ladder from invertebrates to mammals. Ocean World is a interesting section featuring a wide variety of aquatic life.
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Orden Bowling Company
In a prime location on Heng Shan Road, this bowling hall is a much trendier version than some of its competitors in Shanghai. Open 24 hours a day, it has 32 lanes on-site. Peak time runs from 7pm to midnight. Certain discounts are available throughout the day.
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Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Standing 468 meters high, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of the highest towers in Asia. Tourists may climb the tower for panoramic views of the city. The ground floor features a shopping area, cafe, and an international city exhibit. It also offers deluxe conference rooms that have hosted leaders and VIPs from around the world. On clear days, the upper levels of this tower, measuring no less than 263 meters in height, offer spectacular views of the city.
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Peace Hotel
The name is indicative of the ambiance within—this hotel is where you go to get away from it all. The most notable feature of the residence is that it has 17 restaurants to choose from, where gourmands can have their fill of Shanghai, Cantonese, Sichuan and French cuisine. A country-style jazz bar adds to the festivities, with the help of 75 old timers of the local music scene, and has catered to many influential guests. After a great time with wine and music, guests retire to one of the 380 rooms and suites, to curl up on luxury beds or lounge amid posh furnishings from various countries. The hydro-massage tub is a blessing after a long day, as is the baby-sitting service. The fitness center is quite capable of dissipating any extra pounds garnered at the restaurants, while the beauty saloon helps add to your confidence. With all this and much more, the hotel has well-earned its colloquial title, bestowed upon it by its guests—one of the best hotels in the world!
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People's Park
What was once a racetrack is now the beautiful Renmin Park. Renovated in keeping with Chinese design traditions, visitors can jog or work-out in the mornings, and stroll through in the evenings. A small pond with lotuses, rental boats, and a children's play area are some of the other reasons to venture here.
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People's Square
People's Square (Ren Min Guang Chang) is a vast public square surrounded by government buildings. Truly an urban park, it features manicured greenery and, at its heart, the architecturally impressive Shanghai Museum. Other features include a 320-square-meter water fountain, subway station and an underground shopping mall. Because the square attracts many people, it makes an ideal venue for people watching. Add a carefree afternoon of kite flying to your itinerary; great for the young and the young at heart.
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Plaza 66
One of Shanghai's tallest skyscrapers at 945 feet tall, the Plaza 66 in Puxi District will have you staring at the sky as you try to glimpse the top of the tower. Besides the building's impressive height and sleek modern architecture, an upscale shopping center in the building is the main attraction here.
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Ruijin Hotel
This guesthouse comprises five beautiful French-style villas. It is located 15 kilometres from Hongqiao International Airport and a good 60 kilometres from Pudong International Airport. The surroundings are very quiet and charming. But for a healthy dose of nocturnal life you don't have to look any further; the famed Maoming Road is right near Ruijin. Also, adequate hotel amenities, including dining options at the Lan Na Thai restaurant, Face bar and Hazara, are available to make your stay comfy and relaxed.
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Shanghai Art Museum
The Museum occupies a heritage building, that once overlooked a racecourse. This landmark of old Shanghai is People's Square (Ren Min Guang Chang). There are twelve exhibition halls on five floors showing modern and traditional fine art. Temporary art shows are also organized regularly. Visitors can take part in sketching and painting lessons ranging from CNY150 to CNY200 (call 6327 2829 ext 200) and art lectures. The lecture hall can also be hired for functions. A gift shop is on the first floor.
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Shanghai Botanical Garden
Head down to Shanghai Botanical Garden for a fun filled day with family. This lush green garden is humongous and you can easily spend one whole day with your children here. You will find various sections with different species of plants here. Check out the ferns, roses, maples, conifers and orchids and educate your little ones about the importance of environmental conservation. The park also has different play areas, food stalls and offers guided tours
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Shanghai Grand Theater
The recently built Shanghai Grand Theatre is a magnificent addition to the city's resurging arts and culture scene. On the northwest side of the busy People's Square, this architecturally striking and modern theater hosts major international concerts and performances. It has played host to the Russian Kirov Ballet and the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Visitors can buy a ticket to tour the building, however, they would do better to purchase a ticket for a performance and have a look around for free.
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Shanghai Library
This fairly new library is ranked among the ten largest in the world. It seats 3,000 readers and houses over 13 million books, newspapers, journals, rare Western books, family trees, correspondences, and stone inscriptions. It is also honored as one of the ten symbolic cultural buildings in Shanghai. Technologically innovative, the library is the first in China to have an advanced information management system where coverage, cataloguing, circulation, continual publication and inquiry are done by computers. The library also provides online service for surfing the Internet or checking e-mail. Other facilities include multi-functional auditoriums for lecturing and exhibition halls.
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Shanghai Links Golf & Country Club
This luxurious golf club is just a taxi ride from downtown Shanghai. It is equipped with tennis courts, a swimming pool, lake, gym, children's playing area, 18-hole golf course designed by the great Jack Nicklaus, bar and restaurant, and golf store.
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Shanghai Museum
This museum boasts 120,000 Chinese art pieces and archaeological findings. Permanent exhibits feature bronzes, ceramics and paintings, among other artifacts. Other facilities include a library with 20,000 books, a conservation laboratory and a lecture room. There is a gift shop on the first floor, a non-smoking teahouse and several antique and curio stalls. The building itself is an architectural showpiece, resembling an ancient tripod when viewed sideways. The rooftop with glassed dome is modeled on a Han Dynasty mirror.
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Shanghai Museum of Public Security
With three floors of over 70,000 exhibits, the Public Security Museum covers the time from Shanghai's first policemen in 1854 to the latest technology in crime detection. On the second floor, old Shanghai is rebuilt with actual cobble stone floors and street lamps. The third floor is dedicated to real murder cases. No details are spared—one frightening example is a skull with a pair of scissors sticking into it! The fire control exhibition on the fourth floor is fun for kids with many things to discover.
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Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is a must see for everybody who visits Shanghai. The largest in the city, this aquarium covers an area of 20,500 square meters with nine thematic zones housing more than 300 species of aquatic animals collected from all over the globe. The various zones take you through a journey of the different regions of the world—from the Yangtze River in China to the Amazon River of South America to the mangroves of Australia. So, if you love watching the seals, sea dragons, electric eels and jellyfishes on Animal Planet, then it's time you come see the real thing out here.
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Shanghai Oriental Art Center
Designed by famed French architect, Paul Andreu, the Shanghai Oriental Art Center occupies 40,000 square meters in the Pudong New Area. The futuristic building was designed to look like five petals of a blossoming butterfly orchid, each petal belonging in turn to the entrance hall, the Performance Hall, the Concert Hall, the Exhibition Hall, and the Opera Hall. Enhancing the effect, roof is inlaid with hundreds of high-tech lights whose colors change with the music being played inside. Inside, the dark granite floors and richly hued furnishings offer the feeling of being inside a forest, while the metal-layered glass screen walls filter the sunshine for a softly diffused forest floor effect. In operation since July 2005, the center is now home to the Shanghai Symphonic Orchestra.
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Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Adjacent to Century Park in the Pudong New Area, and housed in a space-like glass building complex, the Shanghai Science and Technology Center is a must-see for kids who love hands-on activities. The Center features 12 main exhibits full of interactive activities focusing on the themes of Nature, Mankind, and Technology. The Wide Spectrum of Life exhibit focuses on biodiversity and genetic diversity in a rain forest setting, while the Cradle of Designers features a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) classroom where visitors can try their hand at design, as well as a laser carving system where visitors have the chance to carve images or words on souvenirs. For those interested in high-tech audio and video technology, there's the AV Paradise featuring a virtual studio, a Marine navigation simulator, and even a holographic sound system. The Light of Explorations exhibit explores mankind’s achievements in science and technology. The center also includes two IMAX theaters and an IWERKS 4D theater.
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Shanghai Stadium
The Shanghai Stadium, seating 80,000 spectators, helps to make Shanghai a first-class sporting city. The multi-functional stadium was built in 1997 and appointed as the major venue for the 8th National Sports Meeting held that year. Besides sporting events, the stadium also hosts occasional concerts. This 190-square-meter building is configured like a saddle and is outfitted with three rows of circular all-weather bleachers and 100 deluxe booths. A gigantic color display screen, a video monitoring & display system, security, a medical center and a media center are among its world-class facilities. The upscale Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
This museum has five floors that detail the ambitious plans of Shanghai's urban planners. Visitors are provided with a glimpse of how Shanghai will look like in a couple of decades. The centerpiece on the third floor is a huge model of the city as it is now. Check out the map on the first half floor, where the districts scheduled to be cleared for new constructions and green areas are marked. In the basement, old Shanghai is rebuilt with house entrances, cobble stone ways and operating shops and teahouses.
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Shanghai Wild Animal Park
About 35 kilometers from downtown Shanghai is China's first wild animal safari park, where painstaking efforts have been made to simulate the natural habitats of the resident animals. Over 200 species are segregated according to eating habits: zebras, giraffes, lions, tigers and other fascinating creatures, which can be viewed from the safety of a bus touring through the park. (The buses are not in immaculate condition, but they appear safe.) Visitors can also walk through a bird garden, butterfly area and a petting section, and catch regular shows featuring sea lions and other performing animals.
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Shanghai Zoo
Be ready for lots of walking and bring strollers for toddlers. There are paid rides available on gaily painted vehicles; however, you might have to wait a while until the driver is ready to leave. It is best to walk at your own pace, resting under shady willow trees with sweet popcorn and drinks. The directional signs are not always helpful, so take the childlike attitude of enjoying whichever animals you come across. There is plenty to see—monkeys, felines, giraffes, zebras, hippos, birds and, not to be missed, the giant pandas.
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ShanghART
Arguably the best and most internationally renowned gallery for contemporary Chinese art, ShanghART took some time to build its reputation. The Swiss owner, Lorenz Helbling, claims he is probably the first contact for local and overseas admirers of modern Chinese art in China. The contracted artists at this gallery have shown at international exhibitions and are emancipating themselves from the stigma of being recognized as Chinese artists to being known as artists in their own right. Single and group exhibitions are featured frequently. ShanghART's website also offers regularly changing exhibitions online.
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Song QingLing House
If you are staying at the Shanghai Hilton, there is no way that you will miss the Song Qing Ling House. Madame Song Qing Ling, the spouse of the famous activist Sun Yatsen, lived here. Located in the Old French Concession area, this property stands tall amid all old buildings. One of the frequent tourist attractions, this place is an ideal example of ancient German architecture.
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Suzhou
It is hard to decide which of Suzhou's specialties is most deserving of praise. The city, arguably the most beautiful in China, has a historic center protected by law against modern development. This web of canals, bridges and charming buildings has inspired artists and poets for centuries. More spectacular still are its unsurpassed gardens, verdant oases of tranquility, and works of art in their own right. Last but not least, the city's name is synonymous with the silk industry; much of the world's finest fabric still comes from this area.
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Three on The Bund
When an Evian Spa, superstar chef restaurants, a music lounge, upscale fashion shops such as Armani, and the Shanghai Gallery all make their home in the same historic building, you have the makings of one of the poshest retail and restaurant developments in Shanghai. Originally built in 1916 by the Union Assurance Company, The Bund was the first building in China to use a structural steel frame. Rising 7 floors on the corner of the Bund and Guangdong Road, the post-renaissance building features 5 meter-tall ceilings, and is considered one of the most important architectural landmarks in the city. In 2004, the building was restored under the direction of master architect, Michael Graves, and given a post-modern interior to reflect the elegant sophistication of the businesses to be located there.
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Xintiandi
Xintiandi, "New Heaven and Earth," is not for the traveler short on spare change, although it wasn't always so. This gentrified neighborhood was once a sprawl of mid-century Shikuman residential buildings. In 1997, the Shui On Group proposed a complete renovation of the area; the residential district would be transformed into a business district, while the historic, architectural integrity of the Shikuman heritage was preserved. The first stage of the project, Xintiandi Plaza, was completed in 2001. Today the two block area is ground zero for well-heeled shoppers and diners, featuring upscale stores, and menu stands from some of Shanghai's best restaurants. Nestled among all the white-collar commerce, however, you'll also find the Shikuman Open House Museum, where traditional life is depicted in a 10-room Shikuman house, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts Gallery.
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Yifu Theatre
Yi Fu Theater is the place to experience Jing Ju or Peking Opera. While the high-pitched decibels in these performances could probably damage your hearing, they are a must for anybody wanting to understand a little bit of China's artistic and cultural heritage. Performances at Yi Fi also include acrobatics and gong fu. If it is Peking Opera you are after, performances are on Sundays at matinee times. Regional varieties of operas and plays are available at other times. Admission prices vary according to season the performance and season.
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Yu Yuan Bazaar
Originally Old Shanghai City, this place is known for its Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. But also a shoppers' paradise, the place houses small stores. Antique and souvenir shops, stores selling traditional clothes, books, and Chinese novelty items rule the streets. There's also a McDonalds for the scores of bargaining tourists. A visit to Shanghai is incomplete without a peep here.
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Yu Yuan Garden
The 400-year-old Yu Gardens were built in the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Jia Jin. Recognized as a significant national heritage site, the Gardens are a remarkable representation of a southern Chinese-style garden. Visitor highlights include the Jade Exquisite—one of the three most famous jade stones in East China. More recently, a shopping bazaar has developed around the attraction. Loud, bustling and full of character, tourists can brush up on their bargaining skills as they shop for souvenirs and gifts.
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Zhouzhuang
If you want to know about ancient Chinese culture and traditions you must come to this small town. This water township has a very small population, which is still conservative and traditional. Surrounded by small lakes and other water bodies, Zhouzhuang has a special charm and is often visited by tourists. It is only a half an hour drive from Shanghai and still has residential buildings, which were constructed way back in the 14th century. So come and have a agreeable boat ride and gel with the locals.
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