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China Travel Guide » Places in China » Shanghai Municipality
Places in China: Shanghai Municipality
Shanghai's new airport, opened in 1999, is already planning for expansion. There are so many people flocking into this largest city in China, both for business and for tourism. The highlights alone in this city should encourage anyone to plan on a trip. Shanghai is a must-see in Asia.
Whether you know much about the history of this city or not, you will enjoy a visit for sure. Whether you have heard that it is the Pearl of the Orient or the most decadent city in China, a visit will help you to understand the reason why people return many times to this delightful destination.
Shanghai has had its less-than-ideal residents in the past. However, those days have been replaced by a world-class modern city with all of the things one expects from China's largest city. The days of corrupt policemen, gangs and factory owners who would take advantage of anyone have been replaced by the offices of the top companies in the world. Shanghai is now the "Pearl of China".
In the middle of the nineteenth century, various other nations claimed portions of Shanghai. Britain led in this activity after the First Opium War in 1842 when it established a settlement in what is called the Old City. Later, the United States, Japan and France did likewise. All of this helped to create a lot of attention to the city, beginning to make Shanghai a world-class city.
Various other factions brought the city down for some time until Deng Xiaoping helped to make Shanghai a more open city. From 1970 until the present, the city has been progressing toward being the most modern city on Earth.
Shanghai is at the mouth of the Yangtze River and is on the Pacific Ocean. These elements make it an attractive entryway into China. Beaches, waterfront activities and luxury hotels add to the attractiveness of the city. The skyline is dominated by the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a 553 metre tall landmark of the city. Many skyscrapers join the TV tower to mark Shanghai's presence.
Shopping in Shanghai is thrilling. Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road) is the business shopping street in the country. Other shopping paradises in Shanghai include Huaihai Road, North Sichuan Road, Xujiahui Shopping Centre, Yuyuan Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City.
Attractions besides the Oriental Pearl TV Tower include such places as Huangpu River, the Bund, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Museum and Xin Tian Di. The Bund is a symbol of Shanghai in its most modern image. It is old Shanghai's commercial heart, located on one side of the river with former banks and trading houses on the other side.
The most famous garden in Shanghai is Yuyuan Garden from the Ming Dynasty. Another great garden is the Grandview Garden, a few kilometres from the city centre.
Round out a trip to Shanghai with visits to Buddhist temples and a few hours in the local museums. There are many galleries here as well.
Entertainment and great eating places must be experienced while in this great Chinese city. Shanghai dishes and the favourites from other areas of China are all available as well as cuisine from other countries.
Shanghai is a mixture of the old and the new in China. Modern skyscrapers amid criss-crossing bicycle traffic blend well and reveal the activity of China becoming more and more modern.
A visit to Shanghai during the most pleasant weather will be in the autumn or the spring. However, if your budget dictates a less expensive trip, the warm summer or the cold winter will be cheaper. At any time, you will not be disappointed by a visit to Shanghai.
Major cities in Shanghai Municipality:
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