Welcome to Shanghai!

Though Shanghai can never be at par with the rich history and traditions of cities like Beijing or Xian, it has its own special charm and culture, and there is a lot to see and do here. A great way to see the sights and experience the city life is to take a tour in Shanghai. The best thing about it is that it is easier to get around and live in, and there is no mad rush of people trying to squeeze in as much sight seeing as possible in a little time. Once in Shanghai, you can slowly walk around the place in your own pace, savouring each sight, dreaming away and discovering the charms of this city all by yourself.

There are many interesting aspects of this city that are not widely publicised but waiting to be discovered–just keep your eyes open, you don’t want to miss anything. The restaurants and beaches are a good escape from the milling crowds and perpetual activity, whilst the excellent tourist infrastructure and number of quality places to stay keep its visitors happy. Though modern in its outlook, the heritage and past of China makes its presence felt through the colonial structures and narrow winding streets that are still in use today.

As you take a Shanghai tour or walk along its streets, be prepared to get mesmerised by the people practising the magical movements of Tai Chi or calligraphy. When you go to the Bund, don’t forget your camera to capture the Pudong Skyline complete with the Jinamo Tower and the gigantic Oriental Pearl Tower, which is the tallest in Asia. If the Oriental Pearl Tower looks pretty imposing in the daytime, at nights it becomes mysteriously captivating. Pudong has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and is the most recently developed area in Shanghai, having been just an agricultural field previously. With the 2010 Word Expo at Shanghai approaching fast, the construction activity at Pudong is once more on at full swing.

Another area that has experienced rapid change is Puxi, located in the centre of the city and on the western side of the river. The swanky buildings have replaced the traditional houses. People are now opting to live in the new apartment complexes in the suburbs, leaving behind their alley homes. If you want to book a Shanghai hotel close to Pudong or Puxi, our Shanghai map shows the location of hotels in Shanghai that you can book with us.

Shanghai was earlier segregated into districts or ‘Concessions’. These divisions can still be seen today. The Bund is a popular avenue that used to house the ‘British Public Park’, and numerous colonial buildings still exist in this area as reminders of the British Rule. The French and the Japanese also left their mark on Shanghai’s soil, and their districts are very interesting to look around. You should especially take time to walk around the French Quarter. The old villas here will set your imagination running about the olden days of the Shanghai and its people. Make a point to visit the ‘Chinese City’. For a relief from the touristy crowds at Yuyuan, take off to look for genuine antiques or start exploring the old lanes and passages.

There are lots of festivals happening all the time. Allow yourself to be drawn into the spirit of festivity and celebration. At New Year, there is this tradition of seeing the bell ringing at the Longhua Temple. Then at the end of the Chinese New Year, take part in the traditional Lantern Festival at the Yu Garden. Or just mingle with the locals in the mid-Autumn Festival and enjoy the enormous harvest moon glowing in all its splendour.

The most prominent feature of Shanghai any day is its stylishness. There is a lot of western influence on the markets, gradually converting the people of Shanghai into avid consumers. The international brands like, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton are vying for attention with the local brands. You can see the upcoming entrepreneurs zooming past in their Lexus and Mercedes cars. Plenty of bars, restaurants, Shanghai hotels, galleries and museums have come up in the recent past. The sophisticated cultural setting that one sees now dates back to the 1920s and 30s and the fast growing economy is aiding Shanghai to make a mark on the globe as a city that is brimming with a confident and positive outlook.

It has been recorded that the people living in Shanghai have one of the greatest standards of living in the entire country of China. Tall pay structures, taller buildings, shrewd enterprises, a bustling entertainment industry – all these have now come to characterize the typical Shanghainese life, the most modern and upwardly mobile that you can find in China.