When to See the City
If you want to visit Shanghai in the summer or winter, then get ready to experience temperature extremes. The city, whose fashionable Nanjing Road, lights up in red hues at night, is better visited during the spring or fall when heat and moisture or wintry, Siberian winds are not sweeping over the landscape.
What to Wear
Since you’ll be traveling to a city that is relatively sophisticated, it’s best to don smart yet casual attire. Times have certainly changed in Shanghai, especially for Western travelers. In earlier times, visitors from the West could actually draw a crowd. Now, locals hardly give Westerners a second glance.
Places to Visit, Things to Do in Shanghai
That being said, this Shanghai travel guide will direct you to plenty of fun and interesting things to do in this ever-growing cosmopolitan Asian city.
A Visit to the Bund
One of the sites you’ll want to see is the Bund or the waterfront in Shanghai. This area of the city is noted for its numerous buildings that feature a variety of architectural styles, including Gothic, Classical, and Baroque.
Fashionable Nanjing Road: A Popular Shopping Area in Shanghai
Again, you can’t see Shanghai without visiting Nanjing Road. Now a thriving and bustling section, the area was established in 1851, when only a scattering of store fronts were seen. Today, the road is a notably popular shopping area. Hotels, shopping malls, specialty retailers and theaters all call Nanjing Road home. Although it won’t cost anything to walk down the street, you’ll no doubt spend money in any of the stores or restaurants along the way.
People’s Square
In the center of Shanghai is the People’s Square. The Grand Theatre and Shanghai Museum are both located here. A massive green area is also featured in the square as well. However, the best time to stroll through this section of the city is in the evening time. That’s when you can behold the beauty of the surrounding lights as they glisten on the Grand Theatre’s glass walls.
Take a Walk Down Tianzifang Street
Besides the aforementioned Nanjing Road, you’ll also want to pay a visit to Tianzifang Street in Shanghai too. This artsy section of Shanghai features a slew of cafes, art and craft shops, bars, boutiques and galleries.
A Peaceful Escape: Yuyuan Garden
You can escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai city by paying a visit to Shanghai’s most famous garden sancturary. Yuyuan Garden can be found in the heart of the Old City and is situated close to Shanghai’s bazaar. The bazaar is made up of area streets where local vendors feature a variety of goods and foods.
Watch a Nightly Acrobatic Performance at the Shanghai Center Theatre
While in Shanghai, you won’t want to miss a nightly performance of the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. See acrobatics displayed that include juggling, chair-stacking, plate spinning, and uni-cycling. Shows are performed at the Shanghai Center Theatre on Nanjing Road.
A Suggested Shanghai Accommodation: The Shanghai St. Regis Hotel
One of the beautiful places to stay in Shanghai is the Shanghai St. Regis Hotel, which features 328 rooms. The hotel caters to corporate visitors as well as leisure travelers. In addition, the hotel is home to the 24-hour Saints Restaurants, which serves global cuisine.
Some of the Amenities
Standard rooms are even well-sized in the St.Regis, showcasing just over 500 feet of space and such amenities as plasma-screen TV and soft and plush slippers and robes. Women travelers can book rooms on floors for ladies only where they are provided with an array of bath products and clothes hangers that are padded with silk.
