Shanghai

Shanghai is a city of many, many things, including the second-highest city population in the world with 26+ million people, a thriving culinary scene and shopping like you can’t believe. Located on China's east coast, Shanghai is about 750 miles south of Beijing and 750 miles north of Hong Kong and set along an estuary of the Yangtze River. With such a large population, Shanghai supports two international airports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the main international airport; and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, used mainly for domestic flights.

This powerhouse city, which is an economic, financial and cultural center, is also home to the second-tallest tower in the world, Shanghai Tower, at 2,073 feet and 128 floors. Getting around the city, which encompasses approximately 2,500 square miles (roughly the size of West Virginia) with a relatively flat elevation, is easy and full of options like via taxi, bus and metro train.

A city the size of Shanghai undoubtedly has endless things for visitors to do, see, eat and experience. One place you cannot miss is the Bund, also called Waitan, a mile-long waterfront promenade with buildings featuring architectural styles from art deco to neoclassical. There are bars, restaurants, museums, boutiques and more at the Bund, which is quite a sight to see at night when the buildings are fully illuminated. Foodies will delight in the city’s long list of restaurants, offering authentic Benbang (or local) dishes to modern Chinese food as well as Western cuisine.  Shoppers should head to Nanjing Road, one of the world’s busiest shopping streets with 3.5 miles of shopping, including many luxury brands. The street also has hotels, making it a one-stop dream for serious shoppers.