The city of Shanghai is one of the most booming cities in Asia and has been so for a long time. The port town had to open up to the West after the Opium Wars and became the economic and entertainment centre of China. Even today, the many remains of the western trade commissions still indicate the city's vivid past. There is also a lot of new things to discover. The Padong district, for example, is the contemporary financial centre with spectacular skyscrapers and futuristic structures.
Shanghai - China's Way to Modernity
Padong will have visited many visitors to the Expo in Shanghai last year. In the last 15 years, the former farmland has developed into a remarkable financial city with huge skyscrapers. The symbol and landmark of the city: The Pearl Tower. The modern television tower is the world's third-largest tower and is equipped with pearl-like structures at the top and in the middle. They change colour at night. Other attractions in Padong include the large Jinmao Tower, which is located right next to the Pearl Tower, and the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium with interesting exhibitions on the underwater world. Most of the flights to Shanghai also arrive in Padong.
Discover the old Shanghai
Those who have to discover the old Shanghai can and should visit the Old Town with its classical Chinese architecture. The Yuyuan Gardens, for example, are an impressive legacy from the Empire. Classical western architecture, for which Shanghai is particularly famous due to its commercial history, can be found in the old concessions. The French Concession and The Bund are districts that are dominated by many trading companies from other European countries. You should not miss a walk through this quarter. Among the temples from the empire, the Jade Buddha and Longhua are very interesting.
Cultural Highlights
A cultural recommendation is to settle in one of the many tea houses to experience a real Chinese tea ceremony. The exquisite teas are usually accompanied by small Chinese delicacies. However, as a holidaymaker you should be careful of fraud. Many tourists are lured into the tea shops and are confronted with much too high prices for the corresponding teas. For relaxation we recommend a small boat trip off the coast. Especially around Padong there are many small ferries and excursion ships that take visitors to Shanghai from a completely different side.
