Things to do in Shanghai
There is much to be said for spending a day or two leisurely walking through Shanghai's many distinct quarters in an attempt to make sense of how the city's history has shaped its current layout.
Those with time on their hands will be able to loiter in the picturesque French quarter, founded by settlers in the mid 19th century and head down to the Bund, the large riverside area where the early 20th century colonisation took place with its former banks and hotels. Then why not move on to city's gardens, temples and traditional Chinese quarters around the Chenghuangmiao temple before finishing off a tour in the new, vibrant, business district that towers over the city. Visitors may also wish to include some of the following sights on their itinerary.
If it's ornate gardens you're after, Shanghai won't disappoint. The Yuyuan Gardens are the pick of the bunch and took 18 years to build between 1559 and 1577 only to be partially destroyed in the 1842 Opium War. These days they are back to their former glory with Ming garden designs, the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse and the Jade Rock among the attractions housed here.
The Jade Buddha Temple is one of the city's few active temples and attracts a large number of Chinese tourists as well as those from further afield. The temple houses a two metre white jade Buddha encrusted with jewels, who demands an extra fee for the privilege of seeing him. Built in the early part of the last century, the temple receives around 20,000 Chinese Buddhist visitors each year for the Spring Festival in January or February.
The Jinmao Tower, which is visible from most points of the city, boasts some 87 floors of office space. On the 88th floor is an observatory which affords some spectacular views of Shanghai and its environs. Perhaps best visited towards the end of a stay once some knowledge of the surroundings has been grasped, the viewing platform is open daily from 08:30 to 21:00.
Those after a good museum or two will find themselves well catered for. The Shanghai Museum contains some 120,000 art works, a third of which have never reached public view. The museum is set out as something of a historical guide to Chinese art, with many purely historical exhibitions thrown in for good measure. Do not expect to cover the entire span of Chinese art in one day.
The Shanghai Art Museum has a far more modern and international bent. Housed in the former British racecourse club building, the modern collection is extensive although a sizeable exhibition of older works from the Shanghai school of art keeps the purists happy.
Visitors looking for a little light relief may be inclined to head to the popular China Sex Culture Museum, which is evidence of the increasingly liberal nature of the country while for a final day treat, why not join a tour boat for an hour's cruising along the Huangpu river. Trips leave regularly from the harbour on the Bund and provide great views and a superb insight in to the waterfront activity of this great city.
|
Things to Do
