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Places of Interest in Shanghai

Shanghai

If you are planning a visit to Shanghai, you might consider the places of interest suggested below by Barbara Markland, Secretary of the New Zealand China Friendship Society’s Nelson Branch.  This article is based heavily on a document that Barbara gives to people who are going to China and ask her “What can we do in Shanghai?

Yuyan Garden and surrounding area
Yuyuan Garden and surrounding area [copyright: TravelChinaGuide.com]
Dragon wall in
Double Dragon wall in the Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar: Yuyuan Garden with Double Dragon Wall and long zig-zag bridge; nearby market/shopping (many very attractive shops in restored Ming Dynasty buildings). The temple behind Yuyuan Garden is the Buddhist nunnery: Chengxiang Ge.

 

 

 

 

 

Chengxiangge Buddhist nunnery
Chengxiang Ge Buddhist nunnery

Fangbang Lu – Antiques in 4-5 story building on right when walking away from Yuyuan.  This street is also popular for its street food.

The Bund: Walking tour of what was centre the International Concession.  Go to the Pudong Development Bank (ex HSBC Building – 12 Zhongshan Rd East) to see the fabulous Dome mosaics; Peace Hotel (jazz in evenings); Shanghai Gallery of Artboat trips on the river.

Pudong: Oriental Pearl Tower: Take lifts up both for views of the Bund, the Huang Po river traffic and the Pudong commercial centre, including the once-World’s tallest World Financial Centre.  Another must in the Pudong area is the Chinese Art Museum (of modern Chinese art), which in the stunning building that was the China Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo

Shanghai Urban Planning Centre
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition  Hall

Renmin Square: Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: Scale model of Shanghai on 2nd or 3rd floor – a must see!; Grand Theatre; Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art, site of former Racecourse Club.

Xin Tian Di: An affluent car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district, Metro: South Huangpi Road. Lively at night. Restored buildings – restaurants and bars. Communist museum (where the first Chinese Communist Party Congress started to be held): 76 Xingye Lu.

Acrobats: Circus World or the Shanghai Centre for shorter show for tourists, well worth seeing.

"Shanghai Jade Buddha temple outside" by Iamtherealnick - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons
“Shanghai Jade Buddha temple outside” by Iamtherealnick. Wikipedia Commons

Jade Buddha Temple, with 2 jade buddhas, one is almost 2m tall. 170 Anyuan Lu. Metro Changshou Lu

Longhua Temple and Pagoda. In the temple precinct is the Martyrs Cemetery, the location of airstrip which became a concentration camp during the war and then the location for filming ‘Empire of the Sun‘: Metro Longcao Lu. Head east on Longshui Lu 1 km.

Qibao Old Town: Metro Qibao Line 9. Ancient settlement with 9 official sites [e.g. Cotton Textile Mill; the Shadow Puppet Museum (performances from 1pm to 3pm Wednesday and Sunday); Zhou’s Miniature Carving House and the Old Wine Shop (still an active distillery and a good lunch spot) – read more]; canal.  Nan Dajie, south of canal, small eateries: No 14 dumplings, No 19 traditional teahouse.

Fabric Market: Shiliupu Cloth Market – houses an array of tailors and seamstresses, ready to whip up commissioned clothing in a week or so; full range of materials.  Metro Xiaonanmen. Follow middle Fangbang Lu from Yuyuan Garden towards the river, 50m.

Clothing market: Qipu Clothing Wholesale Market. Metro Tiantong Lu. 168 and 183 Qipu Lu

Eating: Huanghe Lu for excellent dumplings; Baolu Restaurant, 271 Fumin Lu in the French Concession.

"Zhujiajiao canal 4" by BrokenSphere - Wikipedia Commons -
“Zhujiajiao canal 4” by BrokenSphere – Wikipedia Commons

Canal Villages:  Zhujiajiao, Pu An Lu bus station. Metro Station: Dashhijie, south of Renminn Square, or take Shanghai Sightseeing Bus tour. Tong Li (near Suzhou). Zhou Village.

I am sure that even if you only have time to see a few of these delights, you will have a great time in Shanghai!

Barbara Markland

For a pdf of this article: Click here.

For another list of of Shanghai tourist attractions, click here.