In the versatile metropolis of Shanghai, there are countless places of interest to be found. In the walled Old City you will find many historical sights such as ancient temples and picturesque streets and towns. A walk on the Bund will amaze you. The old stately buildings give the boulevard a special appearance. Especially because it is located on the water, this gives the whole extra allure. A completely different side of the city is the part with its huge skyscrapers such as the famous Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Jin Mao Tower. It is precisely this versatility that ensures that millions of visitors explore and experience the city every year.
Shanghai ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. The Bund (Zhongshan Lu)
According to bridgat, Shanghai and the Bund are inextricably linked. This boulevard is located on the Huangpu River. The most old and colonial buildings are located in this part of the city. With a walk on the wide promenade you will pass beautiful buildings such as those of the Customs Office, the Shanghai Bank, North China Daily News and various luxury hotels. Especially in the evening when the lights come on, it is an enchanting sight.
#2. Jade Buddha Temple
This very important temple in Shanghai is a Buddhist temple also known as Jufo Si. It was founded in 1882 and then had two seated Buddha statues from Burma. After a devastating fire, the temple was rebuilt in another location. It now stands in the northwest of the city. There are several halls and rooms such as the Chamber of the Four Heavenly Kings, Great Hall of Opulence and the Hall of the Jade Buddha.
#3. Nanjing Road
This influential street in Shanghai is one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. The street also known as Nanjing Lu consists mainly of pedestrian area, so you can walk around without danger. Here you will find about six kilometers of shopping pleasure. Big and small brands are offered here. Of course the majority of the ‘chains’ are represented here. In the eastern part is an open air market with mainly gadgets and other electronic and digital equipment.
#4. Yu Yuan Gardens
This imposing ancient Chinese garden is located in the northeast of the Old City. The garden dates back to the Ming dynasty. It was designed by Pan Yunduan who created it for his father Pan En. After that it ended up in different hands and adjustments and expansions took place. The gardens were not opened to the public until around 1780. Today it is partly a large bazaar where everything is for sale. In addition to the City God Temple, the Tea House Huxingting and the Dragon Wall, there are always several street performers. The large rocks in the east are impressive.
#5. The Shanghai Museum
The very special Shanghai Museum is located in the People’s Park. The site was once used for horse racing, but this museum was established in 1959. In 1993, the newly built museum was opened with an area of approximately 39,000 m². It includes a collection of more than 120,000 Chinese historical objects. Or what about bronze wine barrels from the 18th century BC. Or visit the museum library with its excellent collection of some 20,000 art and history books. The collections are so diverse that you can easily set aside a day for this.
#6. Largest port in the world
The port of Shanghai is a busy trading area, especially for containers. Located on the Yangtze River, the port is an important gateway for foreign trade. Every year, 650 million tons of goods pass through here on their way to various destinations. There is also a very long sea bridge at the harbor. This is the Donghai Bridge that connects Shanghai to Yangshan Container Terminal. The bridge is 31 kilometers long.
#7. Oriental Pearl Tower
On the Huanpu River in the Lujiazui district stands a special building. With its height of 457 meters, the tower with its eleven large and small spheres offers various tourist attractions. In the Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World there are several exciting attractions in the entertainment field. For example, you can experience a trip to the South Pole. You will also find the Shanghai Municipal Museum in the base of the tower. Here, Shanghai’s history is showcased through documents, audio-visual devices, and other means.
#8. St. Ignatius
Cathedral The most special thing about this cathedral is its location. In the background rise the high, sleek buildings that radiate the opposite of the neo-Gothic built cathedral from the early 1900s. The cathedral, also known as Xujiahui Cathedral, is located on Puxi Road in Xujiahui. It is crowded every Sunday.
#9. Xintiandi
This district of Shanghai is known as an entertainment district. Here you will find many theatres, bars, discos and good restaurants. It is even referred to by some as China’s first luxury and leisure commercial shopping area. With many old historic facades and narrow streets filled with small boutiques and art galleries, there are many tasteful spots to be found.
#10. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The most special and diverse underwater animals from all corners of the world can be admired here. The aquarium is not called the best in the world for nothing. Through a 150 meter long tunnel you walk into the sea, as it were. All parts of the world including Antarctica, Africa, Australia, South America and of course China are shown in great detail. There are different feeding times that you can attend.
