Shanghai is the megalopolis with a thousand faces: ready to read the article and start discovering them? The New York of Asia awaits you and cannot leave you indifferent!
Nothing could be easier than losing your bearings in a chaotic megalopolis like Shanghai, some advice on what to see will certainly be useful.
How to get around Shanghai
So I will not dwell on the means of transport, just know that the subway is really efficient and that will take you everywhere.
Not least: it is very cheap, on average 3 yuan each way. The important thing is not to be discouraged by the colorful tangle of Chinese characters on the map. Once you are going to buy tickets at the machines, set the English language and everything will become almost simple.
Furthermore, thanks to the competitive taxi fare, you can allow yourself the luxury of alternating this vehicle with the metro, to return to your accommodation late in the evening without this weighing on your wallet.
But remember to always have the address with you written in Chinese characters and large enough to show the taxi driver; the latter do not belong to the simplest category to talk to ...
Day 1. Shanghai: the New York of Asia
They call this city the New York of Asia and by visiting it you will understand why.
I recommend you start by doing one walk on the Bund, from which the view of the skyline is truly magnificent.
The zone beyond the is named Huangpu River: Lujiazui, which indicates the financial district of the city, the “home” of the skyscrapers you observe from the Bund.
There are numerous boats that will allow you to do river trips of different types and lengths: the view will be great if you do not linger too long to observe the murky waters of the river, very polluted!
The Bund area, or French Concession, is also characterized by a high concentration of European-style buildings, now home to numerous banks and financial institutions.
In the Liujiazui area (also reachable by metro) make sure you don't miss the breathtaking view by climbing one of the skyscrapers that offer this service: from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower to the famous corkscrew-shaped skyscraper. You will really feel like a dot in the world ...
Remaining instead in the area on this side of the river, it is really particular to note how modernity and antiquity coexist so naturally.
Continuing, in fact, along the river, you can walk to the YuYuan Garden area (otherwise you can take the lilac metro number 10 and get off at the stop of the same name).
Here lies the ancient soul of the city of Shanghai, Old Town or Nanshi: old streets and buildings with origins far back in time that would certainly not make you feel at the center of a megalopolis if it weren't for the skyscrapers that rise in the distance.
Within this city, the unforgettable Yu Garden built in perfect southern Chinese style (entrance fee) and a tea house; in the latter you can take part in the traditional ritual for the preparation of this drink that you will sip on lovely wooden stools overlooking the gardens, it really deserves! The unraveling of narrow streets will give you the opportunity to observe much more within this area, such as the Town Golden Temple.
And if you were also lucky enough to be in town for the Chinese New Year which falls in February, you can attend the Lantern Festival, unique event: magnificent parade of traditional lanterns and together with the different symbols related to the animal of the year.
Day 2. Past and present coexist
On the second day, take metro number 9 and take a walk in the artists' area: Tianzifang, my absolute favorite because it is romantic, very intimate and characteristic.
It is a tiny neighborhood full of small artisan shops and restaurants typical of the Asian tradition and beyond. In the evening it recalls the atmosphere of our Christmas markets because of the lights that dimly illuminate the block.
Another pedestrian area to go is that of Xintiandi (lines 10 and 13), the opposite of Tianzifang: you will feel like you are immersing yourself in the Shanghai of the 20s due to the historical and cultural link that is breathed through the buildings that populate it.
Thanks to this peculiarity, over time it has become a tourist attraction: almost a bit VIP, dotted with international galleries, cafes, boutiques and restaurants. Once again past and present coexist.
Not very far away the very long shopping street: Nanjing road, excellent choice also for the evening. Also, if you don't want to give up on cheap shopping, remember that China is famous for its black markets where you can find the most desired fashion brands. In Shanghai, just take metro number 2 and get off at the Science and Technology Museum stop: a world will open up below!
Day 3. Millennial Shanghai
In order not to lose too much contact with the antiquity of this millenary country, I recommend you also dedicate a day to the temples, still exist in Shanghai!
The most famous is certainly the Jing'an Temple, on Nanjing road and reachable by metro number 2 and 7. The golden roofs of this temple shine with arrogance and you cannot fail to notice it, truly magnificent even a little anachronistic.
The Longhua temple instead will transport you to another dimension: it is the largest temple in Shanghai as well as the most appreciated. Its peculiarity is the seven-story pagoda which seems to have been built even before the modern age. You can also visit the room with 500 gold statues lined up, adjoining another room with a large statue of the Buddha.
The temple can be reached by metro number 3 with the Longcao Road stop, from there you have to walk for about ten minutes.
Day 4. The Cities of Water
To diversify your stay in Shanghai, if you have the time, know that this is surrounded by what they call the Cities of Water: Zhujiajiao and Suzhou to name just two.
There are ancient cities crossed by narrow waterways on which there is the possibility of taking a tour with a tiny and traditional boat that recalls our gondolas, led by a gentleman who will probably sing an ancient Chinese chant ... suggestive!
These cities around Shanghai can be reached by train. I therefore advise you to book your ticket before your departure on the etrip china website (the one I use, but there are others) with the option "collect at the station window". You will pay for the ticket online and you will be sent a sort of boarding pass with which you will go to the ticket office to collect it. This is the safest and most practical option for those unfamiliar with China. Please, always carry your passport with youotherwise they won't let you take any train!
If you don't want to take the train, but still don't want to give up seeing a city of water, then I recommend that you opt for Qibao, easily reachable by metro even if a little moved from the center.
Day 5. A visit to the Shanghai museums
Also remember that a city like Shanghai also offers an incredible variety of museums for art lovers like it Shanghai Musuem or the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, not to forget the temporary exhibitions that certainly won't be missing!
In short, you are spoiled for choice, enjoy your stay!
