Guide to Shanghai

The City of Shanghai

Shanghai, the largest and most dynamic city of China is trying to achieve the best not only in terms of development but in various other fields too. It is constantly changing and evolving itself in an attempt to be ahead of everyone and its people are contributing to this development by working even up to seven days a week. Shanghai is also very strategically located at the west bank of the Pacific Ocean to the east of China, facing Hangzhou Bay to the south.

The Past

Shanghai has a colonial history, the West entered China through Shanghai. The city was a regional trading hub because of its strategic location. The Western world wanted to colonise Shanghai for trading purposes. After winning the First Opium War (1940-42), the British sought land and trading rights and settled there. They built a dam across the 140 acres of muddy riverbank north of the walled Chinese city, which came to be known as the Bund. Following the British, the French and the Americans settled in Shanghai. They prospered and their stronghold was established.

The colonisers claimed to have “modernised” Shanghai by developing its infrastructure and introducing amenities like telephones, electricity and running water. The British and American settlements were called International Settlements while the French settlement was called French Concession. The Japanese Concession was established in 1895 after Shanghai’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese War.

Along with the trading rights, the Japanese also acquired the right to manufacture because Shanghai offered cheap labour. The Japanese controlled Shanghai until they were evicted by US forces at the end of World War II in 1945. It took a long time for Shanghai to gain freedom but now apart from Hong Kong, Shanghai is China’s most cosmopolitan, westernized and developed city, and is once again attracting large scale overseas investment and foreign residents.

Spectacular Shanghai

Shanghai is not only a place of mundane economic growth. You will find certain breath-taking locations that will mesmerise you. A visit to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which stands a staggering 468 meters (1535ft) and a leisurely walk along the classical Yuyuan Garden and French Concession will definitely make you wonder about the diversity of this super city. The Yuyuan Garden has a total area, which is over 20 thousand square meters and it has a history of more than 400 years dating back to the fabled Ming Dynasty.

The Bund is considered another major attraction of Shanghai. The Bund alongside the Huangpu River was once the financial centre of the Far East. It is considered the city's symbol since the 1920s. It was often referred to as "the museum of buildings." The other place of interest is the Shanghai Museum. Those who want to enjoy the panoramic view of Shanghai can opt for the Huangpu River Cruise to get an interesting contrast of old and new Shanghai. Truly, Shanghai is about more than just its buildings.

Recreational Activities at Shanghai

From river cruises to amusement parks, Shanghai offers a huge variety of recreational pursuits to its guests. You can enjoy Golfing and Bowling, Kite-Flying, Go-Kart racing and Rock Climbing when in Shanghai. The city also provides facilities for Indoor Disc Karting and Indoor Rock Climbing like the Ozark Rock Climbing Centre. Then, there is the Shiji Gongyuan (Century Park) with its sprawling 347-acre family-friendly Park and the Jin Jiang Amusement Park, a specialised amusement park that covers some 103,000 square meters.

Shopping and dinning in Shanghai

Shanghai's shopping scene befits its economic status and the city boasts of being the best shopping place in China due to its brand awareness and access to much-coveted western labels like Armani, Louis Vuitton, and many more.

Shanghai chefs have created a style of cuisine peculiar to the region. Shanghai dishes are usually characterized by the use of heavy and highly flavoured sauce. The use of sugar is another uniqueness found in Shanghai cuisine. Some of the famous dishes of Shanghai cuisine are Xiao Long Bao (Little Dragon Bun), Chou Dou Fu (Smelly Tofu), Da Zha Xie (Hairy Crab),Pi Dan (Preserved Eggs), etc.

Celebrations at Shanghai

The Shanghai Art Fair and the Shanghai International Music Fireworks Festival have become recent attractions to international visitors. There is also the Shanghai Osmanthus Festival that takes place every year when sweet and golden Osmanthus flowers are in full bloom around Shanghai.

Another important festival is the China Day in Shanghai Yu Garden. It is the only existing Ming Dynasty garden in Shanghai. The Garden was built in 1559. Temple Fair is held in the Yu Garden every autumn during which many cultural activities take place. You can experience the Chinese traditional customs on this day. An important business festival is the China International Furniture Expo which brings a great business opportunity for the furniture industry.

Economic growth and rising international prominence has brought infrastructural, cultural and social development to Shanghai. It is true that Shanghai works hard, but it plays hard too and it has become the place to shop, dine and drink to your heart’s content, to enjoy life to its fullest.