After my trip in Hong Kong I decided to take a few extra days and fly to Shanghai since I was already in the area and opportunities like these must be taken! Shanghai is the most populated city in China and one of the most in the world. It is a financial center famous for its port, skyline amongst other aspects. I made a list of some of the things I consider worth doing while in Shanghai.
1) The Bund
The Bund is one of the first things I heard about Shanghai and its view of the skyline one of the first that pop up anytime you search the city. Therefore, it is number one on my list. The bund is a waterfront in central Shanghai with views of Pudong’s skyline.
My first stop at the Bund was at Bar Rouge where I enjoyed the rooftop, drinks and music. I highly recommend it and the view is spectacular.
Bar Rouge at the Bund
I really could not get enough of the view and my pictures do not do it justice.
The famous view of the Shanghai skyline from the Bund
The bund is a long avenue with many hotels, banks, offices and a great place to take a walk either during the day or at night (I saw it at night and loved all the lit up buildings).
The Bund at night, Shanghai
View of the Pudong Skyline from the Bund
I ended the night having dinner at a restaurant called Mr&Mrs Bund and it was absolutely delicious. I finally tried Wagyu meet which beef from Japan and it was great! This restaurant has a great ambience and recommended for friends and couples!
Eating Wagyu at Mr&Mrs Bund in Shanghai
2) Oriental Pearl Tower
The second thing I usually think about when I think of Shanghai is the one building that really stands out to me. As a result second on my list is the Oriental Pearl Tower or the rocket ship looking building that always catches my attention.
Also known as the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, it is located in Pudong (opposite the bund as you saw above) and is one of the city’s icon.
The Oriental Pearl Tower closer up in Shanghai
Its construction was completed in 1994 and it is 468 meters high and was the tallest structure in China for several years. The tower has observation decks and for those who don’t mind or like heights I would recommend you go up! I was not brave enough to unfortunately.
The Oriental Pear TV Tower at night. I just love the color purple!
3) Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC)
Sky Scrapers near the Shanghai World Financial Center
The Shanghai Tower in Pudong
I must have misplaced my picture of the SWFC building however it is a skyscraper also located in the Pudong area and houses offices, observation decks, the second highest hotel in the world (Park Hyatt Shanghai) and shopping malls. It is astounding how it is almost an entire world in there! The building once again is on the list of the tallest buildings in the world. Construction began in 1997 and the work was delayed due to the financial crisis however it was eventually completed in 2008. One of the most distinguishable attributes of the building is the gap on the top of the building which was designed to relieve pressure from the wind.
4) Port of Shanghai
The port of Shanghai is one of the city’s most important factors as it highly impacts their economy. It is the worlds largest container port and is both a deep-sea and river port.
The Biggest container ship port in the world, Shanghai
The port is being managed by the Shanghai International Port Group since 2003 and is incharge of all of its operations.
Port of Shanghai, the busiest port in the world with container ships
5) Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai museum is located on People’s Square and considered one of China’s best museums. It was built at its current location in 1996 after relocation, the museum exhibits ancient Chinese art and holds several important pieces such as a mirror from the Han dynasty and a collection of coins from the silkroad. There are eleven galleries in total and can be three temporary exhibits.
People’s Square near the Shanghai Museum
People’s Square is a square in the Huangpu district and is also the site of the municipal governments’ headquarters. The museum and square are an ideal place to visit with family and friends.
The exterior of the Shanghai Museum
Inside the Shanghai Museum
6) Shopping
In another big city there is another great shopping opportunity. The shopping mall I visited was the International Finance Center shopping mall and it had a variety of stores.
Outside the Shanghai International Finance Center shopping mall
Other than the shopping malls there are several more areas to shop including Nanjing Road which is one the of most commercial streets in the country. Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road are both famous for its malls and variety in shops from traditional and old ones to new and trendy. Huaihai also is where you will find high end designers, so make sure to have a look. For more traditional Hong Kong streets and smallers buys there is Xiangyang Road and the mall beneath People’s square (next to the Shanghai museum)
7) Yu Garden
The Yu Garden is a Chinese garden located in the Old City in Shanghai next to the City God temple. The garden is extensive and looks like its from a movie and one of its most important aspects is an ancient stone. The Garden covers 2 hectares and is divided between 6 areas and different flowers and décor.
8) Temples
City God Temple of Shanghai: Also known as Chenghuang Miao or the Old City God Temple this temple is located within the old walled city. The temple is located in a complex surrounded by many shops located in extremely old buildings. This temple was initially the Jinshan God temple and was changed to its current state in 1403 during the Ming Dynasty.
Jade Buddha Temple: This is a Buddhist temple that was founded in 1882 and contains two statues of Jade Buddha’s that were brought to Shanghai from Burma. The temple at its current location took ten years to build.
Longhua Temple: This Buddhist temple whose name means Lustre of the Dragon Temple has the design of the Song Dynasty and is the largest temple complex in the city. The temple is known for its 16 floor high “tower” which is octagonal and the Longhua Temple Fair that has been a tradition for many years and is held on the third day of the third month in the Lunar Calendar (Need a bit of help figuring out exactly when that is).
Jing’an Temple: Another Buddhist temple named “Temple of peace and tranquility” which was initially built during the Wu Kingdom in 247 AD although it was at another site and was relocated to its current site later. This temple has three main halls.
After a few days in Shanghai I felt like exploring its surroundings and visited the city of Suzhou, located towards the Northwest of Shanghai. It is an economic and trade center known for its many bridges and canals.
An evening exploring the city of Suzhou
This city that holds many years of history is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country with its gardens being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were mostly build by scholars and have existed almost one thousand years (can you believe that?!). The gardens depict the Chinese landscape as what was planted often resembles the country’s actual scenery and nature with approximately 69 gardens at this moment.
Classical Gardens at Night in Suzhou
Apart from the gardens there are also three temples located in Suzhou. There is the Hanshan temple located west of the Old City and is mostly known since it has been mentioned in a popular poem called. Then there is the Xiyuan Temple that is the largest temple in the city and located near the now called Lingering Gardens. The third temple is the Xuanmiao Temple which is a Taoist temple in the middle of the Old City and a well-known area.
Ancient buildings in the old city of Suzhou
As mentioned previously the city is also famous for its Canals and bridges which results in it sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the East”. This is a city worth visiting if you are staying in Shanghai as it is a short commute and gives you another impression of another one of China’s major cities.
