Welcome to Shanghai

Where is Shanghai?	Shanghai Local History	Shanghai Attractions
Shanghai Shopping	Shanghai Restaurants	Shanghai Bars and Clubs

Where is Shanghai?

Shanghai , called "Hu" for short, is a bustling metropolis located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Connected with Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the west, the city is exposed to the East China Sea in the east. With a total area of 6,341 square kilometres (about 2,448 square miles) and a population of more than 16 million, Shanghai takes its place among the world's biggest, most booming urban areas.

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Shanghai Local History

Originally a humble fishing port, this gateway to the Yangtze River was snatched by the British, tugged at by the French and parcelled out into different settlements in the 1800's. By the early 20th century this was the fastest growing city in Asia, bred and fed on the luxuries of tea, opium and silk. The area became known for decadence, vice and exploitation; opium dens and brothels springing up fast and furiously and managed by organised gangs and mafia groups.

European businessmen and political powers all had a stake in the thriving industries, with European imperialism being blamed for the exploitation of the poverty stricken workforce. This was the ideal breeding ground for radicalism and led to the formation of the Chinese Communist Party here in 1921. Once in power the CCP efficiently dealt with the slums, opium problem and child labour but also put an end to the voracious growth of the city. Parts of the old Shanghai are still to be seen today, alongside the new growth spurt of modern buildings and economic activity.

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Shanghai Attractions

Museums & places to visit

•  Shanghai Museum: An architectural statement quite unlike the usual stuffy museum stereotype. This impressive building houses stunning displays of the cultural, historical and archaeological riches of the Orient. You will need at least a day to take everything in!

•  Huangpu Jiang River trip: Take a trip which will reward you with great views of the Bund and interesting sights on the riverfront. Huge freighters and navy vessels, with drifting sampans and little junk boats weaving in between. These all create a colourful sight in one of the world's largest ports.

•  Nanjing Donglu: Take a walk down the Golden mile of China to admire buildings from the old era and glimpses of the opulence of the Shanghai of the early 1900's. Sun Zhongshan Guju - A former residence of Sun Yat Sen, the famous revolutionary, furnished in the style of a bygone era.

Festival:

•  The Shanghai Huangpu Tourist Festival from late September to early October in Shanghai.

Activities: Performances on large decorated floats, open-air concerts, Chinese-foreign tea culture exchanges, symposiums on international tourism and displays of the art and culture of the Red Mansions. Tours include Being a Shanghai Citizen for One Day, Discovering the Essence of Shanghai, a Night Cruise over the Huangpu River. There are shopping centres and a world of delicious food.

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Shanghai Shopping

Shanghai is also a great destination for shoppers and the best-known shopping street in China - Nanjing Road - is located here. This exciting avenue is lined with well-known shops and department stores selling clothing, food and speciality goods.

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Shanghai Restaurants

Yang's Kitchen: Hengshan Lu. Tuck into the delicious eggplant with porkmince or lemon chicken for a gastronomic delight. Reasonably priced and consistently good.

Fulin Xuan: Sinan Lu. Reputed to serve the best dim sum in Shanghai, this should be worth a try.

Xiao Shaoxing: Yunnan Lu. This restaurant is famous for their "white cut chicken" which sounds like a good low cholesterol meal but with great Chinese zing.

Grape Restaurant: 55 Zinle Lu. This well-known and popular restaurant is always a winner and has great service and an English menu- so that you can be sure of what you're ordering, for once!

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Shanghai Bars & Clubs

Fest Brew House: 11 Hankou Lu. Quaff the beer brewed on site at this enjoyable venue near to the Bund.

Cotton Club: Huaihai Lu. Not exactly a flapper club but a nice place to listen to the blues bands that play here on a regular basis.

Goya's: 359 Xinhua Lu. Don your jacket and tie for a sophisticated vodka martini and cigar, a short distance form the Crown Plaza.

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