Highlights Shanghai

Teppie

2 years ago

Shanghai is known for the hypermodern skyscrapers with neon lighting on the Huangpu River, but the “ancient” China can still be found here and there in this city. Go off the main roads and get lost in the neighbourhoods you end up in!

In the winter of 2013 I was in Shanghai for a few days to visit my brother who was studying there for a semester. In this blog I have listed a few of my favourite tourist and less touristy highlights of Shanghai:

Ancient China
Jade Buddha Temple
Other Highlights in Shanghai

Tip: Click the layers on and off in this map with the (square) button on the left in the grey beam.

1. Ancient China

Go in search of ancient China in the small streets behind the main roads. To find these streets you have to search well and especially go off the beaten track. For example, you can just run into a cricket market or see huge fish hanging at a market on the street. The photos below of a chaotic street were taken in a neighbourhood near Dagu Lu (Dagu Road).

Location: Dagu Lu (side street of Dagu Road) and surrounding streets, Shanghai.

2. Jade Buddha Temple

After a great New Year’s Eve in the night of December 31, 2013 to January 1, 2014 with lots of Chinese fireworks (which, by the way, is not very impressive from a great height on a skyscraper) and lots of champagne, we thought it was a good time to visit the Jade Buddha Temple on New Year’s Day.

The Jade Buddha Temple was built in 1928 and is an oasis of peace and reflection in the always hectic Shanghai. I don’t know how many visitors there are on other days in the year, but on January 1, 2014 it was packed in the temple and that resulted in beautiful scenes.

Location: Jade Buddha Tempel, 170 An Yuan Lu, Jing An Qu, China, 200061, website

3. Other Highlights in Shanghai:

The Bund (or ‘Waitan’): The Bund is a world-famous boulevard in Shanghai on the Huangpu River. There are colonial buildings on the west side and huge skyscrapers on the east side of the river, such as the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower in the Pudong district. Take your time and stroll from north to south or vice versa and enjoy the great contrasts of old and new along this impressive route. Visit this famous boulevard during the day when the locals start the day here with a morning walk or tai chi, but especially in the evening when all the neon lights reflect in the river and couples take a romantic evening walk along the river;
Bund Sightseeing Tunnel: This futuristic (tourist) tunnel is fun to move yourself from one side of the river bank to the other, for example if you are going to visit the Shanghai Tower or Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong (note: not suitable for epileptic people!);
Shanghai Tower: Take the elevator for a phenomenal view of this enormous city from the highest observation platform in the world;
Tianzifang: Take a stroll through this special French Concession neighbourhood to admire the well-preserved buildings in the Shikumen architectural style. Also enjoy the many cafes, shops and bars that are now located in these buildings;
Yu Garden: A Chinese garden from 1577 with buildings, bridges and ponds in the style of the Ming dynasty. You will also find several tea houses and shops with all kinds of (tea) trinkets. The garden attracts a lot of tourists, but it is still nice to walk around here, because the “people watching” here is great.

Locations:

The Bund (‘Waitan’): West bank of the Huanpu river

Bund Sightseeing Tunnel: 349 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Lu, Waitan, Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200002

Shanghai Tower: China, Shanghai, Pudong

Tianzifang: Tianzifang, Huangpu, China

Yu Garden: 279 Yu Yuan Lao Jie, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200000, website

Tip: When you’re in Shanghai in winter, don’t forget to look up from time to time to see what’s hanging in between the drying laundry! Many residents use the cold outside air as a natural refrigerator and hang meat, sausages and other food outside on the laundry line, between the clean laundry. Once you know this you will discover pigs’ feet, sausages, whole chickens and other meats hanging between the laundry at the tallest buildings.