City Breaks in Shanghai
Shanghai, the largest city of china and one of four Chinese municipalities is located in midpoint of Chinese River where Yangtze River flows into the East China Sea. The booming metropolis Shanghai is country’s financial and commercial capital that attracts smart, sophisticated and ambitious. From finance to fashion from art to architecture and from dining to culture, the buzzing city is a leader in virtually every field. Its popularity has earned many tags to it in the past such as “Pearl of Orient”,” Pearl of China” etc. In western society the images of city are more welcome and acceptable than any other Chinese city. Shanghai unlike Beijing is an old but young city. It is modern fast paced but at the same time does not lack cultural and historical sites that one can enjoy during their short breaks to Shanghai.
Shanghai is China’s megacity, and possible the most crowded, but it is cool, hot and lively. It oozes an atmosphere of vitality and modernization and is as much dynamic as New York in United States and Paris in France. Lots of different styles of architecture throughout the city make it particularly attractive and among the most sought after inland cities. Fast development of museums, galleries, restaurants and bars are signs of new modern urbanized shanghai. The unique old styled westernized architecture in Bund and modern skyscrapers in Pudong mutually glorify each other. The sound of reciting psalm at cathedral of Xujiahui, and the smoke of joss sticks at Jade Buddha Temple represents the cultural diversity of city and colorfulness and variety of local citizen’s daily life. So catch a flight to shanghai and on your arrival, you will immediately be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of a thriving city, its color, its people and its futuristic skyscrapers.
There are various interesting places to see and explore during Shanghai city breaks few of them are:
- The Bund - The Bund is a waterfront area in central shanghai. Located on the west bank of Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge it is famous and attractive sight. It has been called the museum of international architecture and indeed it was and still is because west side of Bund has 26 buildings of various architectural styles. Every morning people come here to take exercises and every evening people come here to appreciate the excellent view with their loved ones. It is a landmark that always shows the cheering changes of city which you can’t afford to miss on Shanghai holidays.
- Nanjing Road - Nanjing Road is one of the main and busiest shopping streets of shanghai. Reputed as the first commercial street of China, Shanghai’s Nanjing Road is most bustling and prosperous pedestrian commercial street in city that starts from the well known Bund in the east and extends to the historical Jing’an Temple in west. With total length of 5.5 km it is divided into two sections East and West. The street is always a source of fashionable goods in China is a must visit on Shanghai weekend breaks.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower - The broadcasting & Television Tower of Oriental Pearl is world’s third tallest TV tower after CNN tower in Toronto and Moscow TV Tower. Hanging from the blue sky to green grassland, the body of tower creates an admirable image which is described in Chinese verse as large or small pearls dropping on a plate of jade.
- Yu Yuan Garden - Yu Yuan Garden is among the most famous gardens in Shanghai which is located in the heart of Shanghai’s Old city .Close to the garden is Shanghai’s bazaar, with great number of small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products to locals and foreigners. In the past 400 years, Yu Yuan Garden was restored and reopened several times. It was last opened to the public 1n 1961 and is declared as a national monument in 1982 is a major attraction among visitors.
- Longhua Temple - Located in the south of shanghai, Longhua Temple is oldest and largest temple in shanghai. While the temple is thought to have been built in3rd century, the pagoda dates from 10th century. Near the front entrance of temple stands a three story bell tower where a 3.3 ton bell is rung at midnight every New Year’s eve. On third day of every lunar month a temple fair is held which has a history of more than 400 years.