How to Visit Shanghai

The largest city in China, with over 13 million inhabitants, Shanghai is the epicenter of China's new economy. Not only is Shanghai a busy port city, it also became the largest cargo port in the world in 2005. Here's how to enjoy this bustling city.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Local currency
• Local tour company or private car set up through your hotel's concierge, or a taxi

1. Sprawling out from the banks of the Yangtze river, Shanghai became a city during foreign occupation and investment. Since ancient Shanghai wasn't considered a major city in China, there aren't many historical sites to visit.
2. If you have a chance to view the Yangtze river from your hotel or by taking a trip to a park along its banks, you will be amazed watching all the barges, tug boats and sampas all navigating the waterways.
3. Much of the surrounding area of Shanghai was rice paddies right up until 1990 when it was converted to hotels, office towers and the radio tower.
4. Old Town really isn't all that old. The oldest building is from the Ming Dynasty (sixteenth century); however, all the surrounding buildings were built in the 1990s. So it gives a historical feel to the area, but there isn't a true historical atmosphere.
5. The YuYuan Gardens are surrounded by dragon-topped walls, and was actually the home of a wealthy land owner during the Ming Dynasty. The 5-acre garden was built in honor of the owner's parents and is extremely beautiful. Of note is the "mountain" that was built out of rocks and mortar stuck together with gluttonous rice. Situated at the apex of the "mountain" is a pagoda which was the highest viewing sight in Shanghai prior to the building of modern high rises. Due to the fragility of the "mountain," you can no longer experience the view from the pagoda.
6. The Shanghai Museum is an impressive building--very modern, with an interior of marble floors and polished wood banisters. The collections date back to the thirty-fifth century BC, amazingly enough.
7. The Bund is the old area of Shanghai that was settled by "foreigners" after the Opium Wars. The buildings truly look very early twentieth century, and this is where the so-called "gangsters" of the 1920s and '30s ran casinos and brothels.

Tips & Warnings

• Double check all currency that you are given, even from a currency exchange office in the airport. If one doesn't feel "right," ask them to replace the bill. Every person you hand currency to in China will look at it very closely. If it is ripped in slightest way or doesn't feel correct, it will be handed back to you. You will be hard pressed to give a less than stellar Yuan bill to anyone, even to a currency exchange office to change it to another currency (even if it is the office that originally gave you that bill!).