The wonders of Shanghai

The world bustles by as you taste the sweet, salty flavour of dumplings and neon lights give way to the curves and points of traditional Chinese rooftops. Shanghai is a city of contrasts, history and finance. With a population of over 25 million it is the largest city in China based on the number of its residents and it was built up in east China on the river delta of the Yangtze. Shanghai is an influential region for China’s economy but it is also growing in popularity with visitors. The multicultural nature of the city gives it a great blend of modern and the traditional that sit alongside one another. East meets West in this vivacious place and with so much to do we have put together some of the highlights of Shanghai to help you plan your next trip.

Yuyuan gardens

Located in Anren Jie, the Yuyuan Garden is over five hundred years old and was completed in 1577 during the Ming Dynasty. There have been many changes over the years but the modern garden as you will see it today started undergoing restoration in 1956, and was opened to the public in 1961. The garden spans around five acres and, although this is quite small, it packs quite a punch for its size. Separated into six distinct areas you will find rockeries, ponds and pavilions.

Image Credit: SteFou! flickr

Tian Hou silk factory

China is famous for producing fantastic quality silk and the Tian Hou Silk Factory provide tours of their facilities that will show you silk production from the silkworm through to the sale of the finished items, with clothing, quilts and pillowcases among other silken wares on offer. These can all be bought from the on-site shop.

Shanghai Museum

This museum is well known for the quality of its exhibits and it is one of the most famous museums in China. It mostly houses exhibits on the ancient arts and is located on the People’s Square in the Huangpu Shanghai MuseumDistrict. The museum dates back to 1952 and its location has moved more than once but its current building went under construction in 1993. There is a vast collection ranging from calligraphy and furniture through to coins and sculptures.

The Huangpu River

The Huangpu River runs through the centre of the city and into the famous Yangtze River at Wusongkou. It is considered a symbol of the city and divides the east and west. Taking a river cruise really is the best way to see this magnificent city from a new angle. With one of the most famous skylines in the world the scenery along the river banks include the Nanpu and Yangpu bridges, these suspension bridges offer quite a spectacle and the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a most striking and distinctive sight. If you take this trip at night you can marvel at the stunning lights of the cityscape.

Old town

Although the Old Town in Shanghai can be very busy with tourists it really is the heart of Shanghai. If you want to see the traditional life of the city then look no further. Wandering through the bustle and taking in the spectacular, traditional buildings, you will see the huge contrasts between Old Town and the modern skyscrapers found in other areas of Shanghai. You will be spoiled for choice as there is so much on offer, why not taste some delicious steamed dumplings, buy souvenirs or visit the bazaar?

Water village of Wuzhen

This is actually about two hours outside of the city itself but it is really worth the journey, and there are buses available to the site. Wuzhen Town is a fantastic historical water town that dates back over 1000 years. Steeped in history it is a great place to find the traditions and culture of China. To the east of the town there are museums and workshops where you can see the traditions and history come to life, including fabric and wine workshops. The west area offers a children’s museum, soy sauce workshop and theatre. You really will get a taste of Chinese traditional culture and the list of things to discover is almost endless.

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