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| Shanghai is China's
most comprehensive industrial and commercial city, ranking No.1 in
population and population density. As a sea port, science technology and business center, as well as a tourist city, Shanghai attracts travelers from
both home and abroad by its commercial activity and scenic urban beauty. |
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| Shanghai, called "Hu" for
short, is a bustling metropolis located at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
Connected with Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the west, the city is
exposed to the East China Sea in the east. With a total area of 6,341 square
kilometers (about 2,448 square miles) and a population of more than 13
million, Shanghai takes its place among the world's biggest, most booming
urban areas. |
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History
While the city epitomizes modern, urban China, its history is one of its
most intriguing features. In particular, in the 1930s and 40s, Shanghai was
a paradise for adventurers. Tycoons, millionaires, knights-errant and great
beauties came to this attractive city to realize their dreams, and countless
moving stories, both sad and joyful, were played out here. |
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What to see
 Because of its open to foreigners and its coastal location, Shanghai is
endowed with rich tourist attractions related to its long and complicated
history. Many buildings, constructed in various foreign styles, are well
preserved in the Bund area, and western tourists will feel a sense of
familiarity when strolling around the long street, which resembles those in
European cities. This blending of eastern and western styles has given the
Bund a reputation as a "World's Fair of Architecture." Many buildings from
the 1920s and 1930s have also survived in the Old City section of Shanghai.
A visit to the Old City is easily combined with a stop at Yuyuan Garden, a
well-restored Suzhou-style garden created during the Ming Dynasty. The
garden is immensely popular with local residents and visiting Chinese. In
addition, Jade Buddha Temple, located in northwest Shanghai, is the
most popular Buddhist temple in this city, drawing both worshippers and
tourists. It is famous for two jade Buddha statues, one of which is
reclining and the other seated.
 Shanghai is well known both at home and from abroad not only as
prosperous metropolis with rich cultural resources, but also for a number of
new tourist attractions that have been developed in recent years. Standing
on a boat on the Huangpu River, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the river
and city skyline. The river sparkles with giant ships sailing busily by; the
banks are filled with skyscrapers of different styles. On the modern Pudong
side of the river, the futuristic Oriental Pearl TV Tower, with a
giddy height of 468 meters, stands as the world's third tallest TV tower,
after the 553-meter CN Tower in Toronto and the 535-meter Moscow TV Tower.
It has already come to symbolize Shanghai and is honored as one of the ten
best views in the city. The Jin Mao Mansion is another famous
building in the Pudong New Area. Because of its brightly illuminated
skyscrapers, Shanghai enjoys international fame as the "Pearl of the
Orient".
 Shanghai is also a great destination for shoppers, and the best-known
shopping street in China - Nanjing Road - is located here. This exciting
avenue is lined with well-known shops and department stores selling
clothing, food and specialty goods. Shanghai is a paradise for gourmets,
too. Here, visitors can enjoy a taste of all the different kinds of food in
the world. Shanghainese cuisine, however, is a special hybrid. There are
several famous old restaurants in Shanghai that are not to be missed. |
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