Shanghai Travel Tips

Until the mid-19th century, Shanghai (meaning "above the sea") was a mid-size, but otherwise unremarkable river city. Things changed quickly following its designation as one of China's trade ports coerced to open for British merchants and entrepreneurs. France and the United States soon joined in and territorial zones were designated within the city establishing virtual "colonies" for the housing and entertainment of those countries' expatriates.

By the 1930s the city's downtown skyline, called the "Bund," could have been that of most any modern western city, so evident was the outside influence. By then Shanghai was the world's third largest financial center. It also held, perhaps just a bit unfairly, a reputation as a den of decadence, drug runners, and dance halls.

Of course, everything changed in 1949 with the declaration of The People's Republic of China.

The decadence departed, but so did the dollars. Businesses either left, were abandoned or were nationalized by the new government. For the next thirty years, Shanghai floundered, as if punished for its western ways. But following the death of Mao Tse Dong in 1976, Shanghai's future changed yet again. The country's "open door policy" instituted during the 1980s ushered in renewed growth that continues into the 21st century.

Across the Huangpu River from the Bund, now a treasured gem of pre-World War II period architecture, a new neighborhood arose – Pudong – which gained designation in 1990 as a special economic zone. With giant, glass-walled office buildings, hotels and shopping malls, Shanghai is back! Today, the city is China's largest – a trend-setting economic dynamo of over 13 million residents!

Shanghai's major attractions include:

The Bund:
A remarkable building boom occured between 1900 and 1940. Some of the world's wealthiest companies and financial institutions spared no expense to build the most fashionable structures of each era: the early 1900s favored the favored Beaux Arts style, the 1920s followed with Art Deco, and the tighter times of the 1930s produced the cleaner, more austere Streamline Modern look. The now-restored buildings and the riverside location – with views across to Pudong jumping ahead to 21st century, make this neighborhood a popular visitor attraction.

Shanghai Museum:
Once the site of a thoroughbred racecourse, the four-level museum is home to some 120,000 pieces, chronicling 5,000 years of China's history. Despite its size only about 3% of the pieces are on display at any given time. Calligraphy, painting, ceramics and bronze ware are museum highlights.

Pudong:
Generations ago, a "chamber of commerce" aerial view of Shanghai would depict the Bund; today, the city is known by the skyline of Pudong. Just across the river from the Bund, it's where the 21st century city of Shanghai rises. It's here where the giant 1,500-ft Oriental Pearl TV Tower soars above the Shanghai History Museum below. Yet even that tower is edged out by the 101 floors of the 1,614-foot Shanghai World Financial Center scheduled for completion in 2007. The building will become the world's second-tallest office building; only Taipei's "Taipei 101" is taller. For a unique view of it all see "Shanghai High," at right.

French Concession:
West of the Bund is the neighborhood called the "French Concession." In the mid-1800s, shortly after Shanghai was opened to trade, The British, French and U.S. were granted autonomous "zones." Into those zones flowed expatriates of the respective countries: businessmen, doctors, wives & families, grocers, etc. Charming reminders of the French zone remain; streets lined with French colonial-era architecture, restaurants, cafes, apartments, hotels, art galleries, designer boutiques and quiet parks make the region a popular tourist draw.

Nanjing Lu:
This is Shanghai's "Fifth Avenue." Major department stores, chic boutiques and plenty of restaurants to feed the hungry shopper are found along its length. The eastern leg of the street, between the Bund and the People's Park, is busiest.

People's Park & Square:
Look carefully at a map of the park and you can almost trace the racecourse the park replaces. Today, the park is flanked by the excellent Shanghai Museum and the People's Square, site of numerous rallies and demonstrations, the Great World Entertainment Center (a popular fairground), the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, the Shanghai Grand Theater and Fish and Flower Market.

Yu Gardens & Bazaar:
Old Shanghai is best appreciated by a visit here. It offers a step back in time – but not too far back. By China's standards, Shanghai is not an old city; the charming Huxinting Teahouse, built on stilts amid a garden lake, dates only to 1784. Some structures date to the Ming Dynasty but most of the buildings here are much newer. Yet it's absolutely appealing! The street bazaar, the curious dragon walls, the rockery, the dumpling restaurants lining the lake, the street performers, the Chinese Opera stage – all give it a festive atmosphere somewhat reminiscent of Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.