Although a young city at 700 years old in its fancy compared with Chinese civilization as a whole—Shanghai has become one of the most recognized and dynamic cities in China. Shanghai serves as a window providing the rest of the world with a glimpse of China's development. The past three decades witnessed China's opening up to the outside world and Shanghai has played a vanguard role in this process.
Apart from its special economic position, particularly in terms of finance, Shanghai is a major entertainment hub the birthplace of the country's first symphony orchestra and movie industry and the place where Western oil paintings and ballet first entered China. The innovative and open-minded acceptance of overseas culture is deeply rooted in Shanghai's history and has since become a fundamental part of the city.
Shanghai's visage is evidence of the city's global connections—various foreign and Chinese architectural styles stand side-by-side, proudly displaying Shanghai's past and present, and providing visitors with a look into the city's promising future.
Short-storied and colossal buildings, historic and modern designs, as well as Oriental and Western influences endow the city with a unique charm seldom seen elsewhere in the world. Travelers to Shanghai will find it easy to fill their day with visits to historic landmarks, trendy shopping spots and enchanting entertainment venues.
History along Huangpu River
A good place to start any day of sightseeing in Shanghai is Waibaidu Bridge—a river overpass still in use today that has witnessed Shanghai's development from a small commerce hub into a modern financial center.
For much of Shanghai's history, people relied on boats to reach the north and south banks of the Suzhou River, which runs from west to east into the Huangpu River. In 1856, British businessman Charles Wills formed the Suzhou River Bridge Building Co. to construct a wooden bridge—named Wills' Bridge—over the river. To offset construction costs, a toll was required for the bridge's use, causing an uproar among local residents.
The Shanghai Municipal Council took action, building another wooden bridge to the east of Wills' Bridge. The council eventually purchased and removed the outdated Wills' Bridge, and replaced its wooden structure with a steel truss composite bridge in 1907. Since passersby no longer needed to pay a toll, the bridge was renamed Baidu Bridge, which means "free for passersby," and later acquired the name Waibaidu Bridge.
But more than just a river crossing, the bridge is a significant symbol of Shanghai. For 40 years after its construction, the bridge required very little maintenance—a testament to its ingenuity.
After the founding of New China in 1949, the bridge was structurally reinforced. In April 2008, Waibaidu Bridge was removed for renovation work. On the principle of "repairing the old as it used to be," the framework of the bridge was restored and the bridge's piers were rebuilt. A year later, after maintenance and reinforcing efforts were complete, Waibaidu Bridge once again graced the Suzhou River.
Today, Waibaidu Bridge still serves as a vital artery for traffic along the two sides of the Suzhou River and the Bund area.
The Bund—the most renowned Shanghai landmark—is home to a variety of architectural styles that add to the landscape along the Huangpu River.
In the late 19th century, a number of foreign and Chinese banks set up branch offices and headquarters along the west bank of the Huangpu River. The area, which was named the Bund, became Shanghai's financial street and later earned the name the "Oriental Wall Street." Owning a piece of land on the Bund was regarded as a symbol of wealth and honor. After acquiring land, the commercial and financial firms began massive, intricate construction projects. More than 20 buildings in different architectural styles, most of which have been built or rebuilt three or more times, stand proudly on the relatively small Bund area.
The Bund is home to the headquarters of the China Pacific Insurance Co. Ltd., located in what was originally called the Asia Building. Built in 1913 by the Asiatic Petroleum Co., the Asia Building was once the tallest building on the Bund and is the oldest high rise in Shanghai.
The Bund was also once home to the most luxurious club in the city—the Shanghai Club. Now, the East Wind Hotel stands on the former entertainment venue's location, and although not exclusively a club, the hotel boasts a 110-foot-long bar—once the longest in the Far East.
The English-language newspaper North China Daily News, established by British residents in Shanghai in 1850, once had offices on the Bund. The newspaper was the largest in Shanghai and continued publication until 1951.
The classically designed former Shanghai headquarters of the Standard Chartered Bank, built in 1923, has been preserved by the Shanghai Government as an architectural relic. When people walk into the restored building today, they can still see the four original marble columns taken from a 200-year-old Italian church.The Peace Hotel, one of Shanghai's earliest hotels established more than 100 years ago, also stands proudly along the Bund stretch. With a classical Western style, it was once known as the No. 1 Mansion in the Far East.
But two buildings that particularly stand out are the Customs House and former headquarters of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC), now called the HSBC Building.
Built in 1927, the Customs House was a sister construction of the HSBC Building. The clock on the building's facade, known as Big Ching, is the biggest in Asia—its clock and bell mechanism were made according to the design of Big Ben in London. Tourists and residents who frequent the Bund can hear it play The East Is Red every quarter hour.
The HSBC Building is also a truly unique structure. Its three bronze doors and bronze lions were specially cast in Britain. The cast mold was destroyed after the lions were completed, making the two proud bronze beasts a rare find. The building's spacious business hall ceiling is adorned with eight colorful mosaic murals depicting architectural landscapes from eight world metropolises from the early 20th century, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok and Calcutta. The building was widely considered the most elegant from the Suez Canal in Egypt to the Bering Strait in eastern Russia.
Not far from the magnificent buildings of the Bund is Shiliupu Dock. With a history of 150 years, Shiliupu Dock used to be the largest in Asia. It also served as Shanghai's door to the outside world.
The name Shiliupu dates to 1860 during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In order to resist attacks from Taiping rebel troops, local officials organized 16 (shiliu) stores (pu) and commercial companies to help support public security and local affairs. The Shiliupu eventually grew into an important commercial dock.
Today, an observation platform overlooking large clusters of trees, and steel and glass structures are spread across Shiliupu, earning it the name "Cloud on the Huangpu River."
A curved waterfront terrace was also completed here, to fully present the Bund and all its features and fulfill citizens' wishes to "approach Huangpu River, approach the mother river."
When lunchtime rolls around, there's no better place to eat than Chenghuang Temple near Yu Garden—and there's no better snack to indulge in than small steamed buns.
Yu Garden is located in the northeastern section of old Shanghai, with Fuyou Road to its north, Anren Street to the east, and old Chenghuang Temple to the southwest. Widely considered the most beautiful garden south of the Yangtze River, Yu Garden was built more than 400 years ago, in 1559, as a private garden. The garden—a legacy of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)—is the only one remaining in the old section of the city.
The garden has more than 40 scenic spots, including pavilions, terraces, stone fixtures and steles, and ponds, all in the architectural style from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).
After New China was founded, the Shanghai Municipal Government launched a large-scale renovation of the garden. In February 1982, the State Council listed Yu Garden as a key cultural relic.
And just as important as the architecture and sights of Yu Garden is the food—specifically Nanxiang small steamed buns served in the garden. The steamed buns are made of white flour and filled with chopped meat. The fillings are mixed with liquid from chicken and pork soup instead of artificial flavoring, with a small amount of grinded sesame seed sprinkling and crab roes, spring bamboo or shelled shrimp according to the season.
A great way to spend the afternoon after a hearty lunch is a stroll through Tianzifang, an art street rebuilt in a labyrinth of narrow passages and old stone houses.Tianzifang is located on Lane 210, Taikang Road. While once a cluster of street factories, dilapidated warehouses and ordinary people's homes, the area has been transformed into a SOHO style district.
Artists from all over the world have set up their studios, cafés, bars and restaurants here giving the area an international feel. With an area of 20,000 square meters and more than 100 visual art, industrial art and interior design houses, the former 1930s street factories have become studios for American, Japanese, Belgian and French designers and have earned the name "Shanghai SOHO."
In the 1930s, many people took refuge in the foreign concession areas—including what would become Tianzifang—and built houses combining Western and local architectural styles. Since the gates of the houses are ringed and fixed in stone, they became known as stone gates, or Shikumen.
Visitors looking for a panoramic view of Shanghai, as opposed to the up-close streets of Tianzifang, typically flocked to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jin Mao Tower in the Lujiazui area on the east bank of the Huangpu River.
Now, in Lujiazui, stands the tallest tower on the Chinese mainland—the Shanghai World Financial Center.
Completed in 2008, the Shanghai World Financial Center stands 492 meters tall. The center has observation platforms on the 94th through 100th floors. A suspended observation corridor at a height of 474 meters allows viewers to see the tip of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, look down on the neighboring Jin Mao Tower and see all the sights along both sides of the Huangpu River. And of course Expo Park can be seen in the distance.
In the 1920s and 30s, Shanghai was a favorite destination among China's northern neighbors, the Russians. The Russian influence on the city can be seen in structures such as the Russian Consulate on the bank of the Huangpu River and the stone sculpture of the great poet Alexander Pushkin on Yueyang Road.
The bust of Alexander Pushkin was first erected on February 10, 1937 by Russian nationals in memory of the 100th anniversary of the poet's death. The sculpture was destroyed in November 1944 during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and rebuilt in 1947. But in 1966, the bust was destroyed once more during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). The reform and opening up beginning in 1978 brought a new era of sculpting to the city. A large sum of money was appropriated to promote local sculptural constructions across China, with Shanghai receiving the largest sum. After some deliberation, it was decided the Pushkin monument would be rebuilt. In August 1987, the 150th anniversary of Pushkin's death, the statue was erected for the third time in itsThe magnificent urban architecture and tourist attractions seen during the day are just one side of the city. Once the sun sets, Shanghai becomes an even more special and attractive place.
Located in the prosperous Lujiazui area, Riverside Avenue is just opposite the Bund along the Huangpu River. The modern avenue compliments the classic architecture of the Bund area. Riverside Avenue is 2,500 meters long and features numerous sightseeing opportunities and abundant green space. It consists of a waterfront terrace and a broad walkway dotted with kiosks that resemble a slightly smaller, yet modern Bund.
The Shanghai International Convention Center, Pudong Shangri-La, Oriental Pearl Cruise Dock and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium can also be found along the avenue.
The Huangpu River is characterized by these two distinct riverbank sceneries—one a collection of classic architecture from various countries built decades ago; the other touted as an oriental financial center.
Entertainment and culture come together nicely in Xintiandi, an area of Eastern and Western design, to form a tourist hot spot as well as a relaxing place for local residents.
Time seems to travel backward to the 1920s with a leisurely walk through Xintiandi, but the building interiors and shop inventories remind visitors of the current date. International galleries, fashion boutiques, themed restaurants, coffee houses and so much more can be found in Xintiandi. Handicrafts sold at the China Cultural Store are unique to Shanghai, and the rich cultural performances in the open square attract and encourage tourist participation. The Shikumen Museum vividly portrays the lifestyle of a Shanghai family in the early 20th century, enabling tourists to get a glimpse of life in Shanghai from a historic perspective.
Hengshan Road offers travelers an alternative to the upscale Xintiandi. The road and adjacent streets are full of stylish entertainment establishments, like bars, teahouses, hotels, entertainment centers, beauty saloons and galleries. The Shanghai people are especially proud of the road's Chinese parasol tree shade. Hengshan Road is home to the most bars in Shanghai and at night, with its spectrum of colored lights, provides a calming atmosphere after a tiring day of work or travel.
The size and style of the bars on Hengshan Road vary, but each bar—the passionate American style Bourbon Street, British style Sasha's, and modern-classic Chinese style Lapis Lazuli, for example—has its own atmosphere.
While Hengshan Road and Xintiandi are known as entertainment centers, Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road are by far the city's focal points for shopping.
Starting from the Bund in the east to the intersection of Jing'an Temple and West Yan'an Road in the west, the two streets are 5.5 km long with skyscrapers and more than 600 stores on both sides. The department stores in Nanjing Road are filled with a dazzling array of beautiful exhibits.The impressive Nanjing Road is magnified by the colorful neon lights of a large number of high-rise buildings, like the Shanghai Silk Mall, Shanghai New World City, and Shanghai No.1 Department Store, dazzling every inch of the street.
South Maoming Road is located in the former French Concession area. Differing from the crowded Huaihai Road, South Maoming Road is more suitable for enjoying the time-honored architecture, listening to jazz music and enjoying a peaceful dinner.
Before Hengshan Road and Xintiandi became popular, South Maoming Road was the best choice for those looking to go out for a night on the town. The famous Maoming bar complex can be found between Fuxing and Yongjia roads.
1931 Café Pub is the very reason Maoming Road became the heart of the city in terms of relaxing. The cafe is small—it only admits 10 guests at a time—but its nostalgic atmosphere has become legendary among foreign and domestic visitors. 1931 Café Pub is now a favorite restaurant for people wanting to truly experience and immerse themselves in life of the1920s and 30s.
Located at No. 207 South Maoming Road, Blue Frog is relatively tranquil compared with the other Shanghai bars. It is a classic American pub with no dance floor or loud music, but is ever popular among first-time foreign visitors to Shanghai. The high wooden tables, chairs and bar counter distinguish Blue Frog from other bars, and the cocktails come highly recommended.
Starting from Guotai Cinema and making its way south along South Maoming Road, the sceneries along the street have changed significantly over the years—the section between the Middle Huaihai Road and Nanchang Road has become an area dedicated to cheongsam and Chinese style dresses. The clothes displayed in shop windows are indicators of the fashion trends currently in style in Shanghai. Famous cheongsam boutiques include Jinzhiyuye Cheongsam Shop and Shanghai Tang.
Shanghai Tang is the only cheongsam shop to boldly alter the traditional cheongsam into a modern dress. The fashion design, classic style, and elegant and embroidered patterns make the altered cheongsam a hot item among travelers.original location.