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When in Shanghai
The hectic metropolis of Shanghai has been likened to a Chinese version of New York. The city can be viewed as comprising a number of different quarters: old, new, and French among others and the city is a fascinating history lesson and an intoxicating insight in to the buzzing lifestyle of people in China's second city. Everywhere you look will be new skyscrapers or ones being built, evidence that this is a city very much on the up.
Shanghai has its roots in the fishing industry and was little more than a small port up until the mid 19th century when the British and French began taking an interest in the area. With the arrival of the Japanese in 1895 the city began to flourish as an autonomous state not guided by Chinese law. From the 1930s many international financial companies arrived in the city and Shanghai become known for its brothels, gambling dens and opium houses, as famously depicted in Hergé's Tin Tin cartoons. Following decades in the doldrums the city is on the up. Today, with the seedy reputation of the city gone, it is again attracting considerable financial investment and has become the leading light in China's recent economic and industrial rise.
The good news for travellers is that Shanghai is a wonderfully accessible city. The city has two international airports and attracts many additional flights making the long haul between the Antipodes and Europe. The majority of international flights arrive at Pudong, around an hour's drive from the city. Buses run in to the city centre although those in a hurry may wish to catch the Maglev, a tourist attraction in its own right and one of the world's fastest trains, which makes the 19-mile trip in just eight minutes.
Hongqiao handles the majority of domestic flights and lies just 11 miles from the city centre. Buses and a shuttle service run regularly to the airport and a special service connects the two airports.
Shanghai train station is a good entry and departure point for travellers as it is the junction of both the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Hangzhou routes, meaning there are few places not easily accessible. A number of visitors also arrive and leave from the city's large harbour, with regular ferries heading up the Yangzi river as well as to Japan and Korea. For those doing things on the cheap, the Hengfeng Lu bus station is the place to go for a variety of destinations within the country. From here Beijing is but 13 hours away.
Once settled in Shanghai, getting around is the next problem but one that is easily solved. Avoid the busy and bewildering buses and opt for the cheap and efficient metro and light railway system, although try to steer clear of the rush hour periods. Taxis are another good option as they are cheap and away from rush hour are a great way to see the city.
The cool April to mid-May and late-September to early November periods are the best times to visit for the active traveller. Winter in Shanghai can be bitterly cold while mid-May to mid-September can be extremely hot, with temperatures on occasion reaching as high as 40 Celsius.
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Introduction
