This is Shanghai's famous waterfront and has been it's symbol for hundreds of years. The Bund became the site of some of the earliest foreign settlements after Shanghai was opened as one of five "Treaty Ports" in the Treaty of Nanjing that ended the Opium War in 1842.  Shanghai grew rapidly as the economic center of foreign trade.  There are 24 major buildings which haven't changed much since the 1930s.  All were built in 17 different western styles (including classical, Gothic, renaissance, eclectic and modern).  The Bund has been called a 'museum of international architecture,' and indeed it still is. It's now full  of international banks, hotels, international headquarters etc.

The world's third tallest TV and radio tower (468 meters / 1,536 feet high) lower than: Toronto (Canada) and Moscow.  The unique design that makes it an interesting sight. Completed in 1994.  It rests on green grass and gives the appearance of pearls shining on a jade plate.  The double-decker elevators can hold up to fifty people and move at seven meters per second.  The elevator attendants give an introduction English and Chinese during the 1/4-mile ascent.  On a clear day a visitor can see all the way to the Yangtze River.

A perfect combination of Chinese Traditional and modern Architecture.  Designed to withstand an earthquake of 6 on the Richter scale and the strongest level of typhoon.  Tallest building in China, about 5th in the world. Started in 1994, finished in 1998, consisting of 93 floors.  It houses the Highest deluxe 5 star hotel in the world (Grand Hyat) on floors 3-87.

Renmin Park and Square Free

Originally the site of the Shanghai racecource (Gambling was so popular that by the 1920s the Shanghai Race Club was the 3rd wealthiest corporation in China).  It later became a sports arena, then a camp for prisoners in the war, then a mortuary (for dead bodies), then it was concreted over for military parades then turned into Renmin Park and Square.  The race course clock tower is the only original thing left.  The bomb shelters have become shopping malls.

Nanjing Road Free

China's Number 1 (and first major) shopping street (3.4-miles long).   One of the world's busiest shopping streets.  Starts at the Bund in the east and ends at Jingan Temple in the west.  After the Opium War (1839-1842), Shanghai became a treaty port. Nanjing Road was first the British Concession, then the International Settlement. Importing large quantities of foreign goods.  Today there are over 600 businesses from to KFC to Tiffany and about 100 traditional stores and specialty shops  (silk goods, jade, embroidery etc).  Also open-air bars, abstract sculptures, street musicians etc.  A popular place to celebrate important festivals (Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival etc).

Museum of ancient Chinese art, a collection of 120,000 precious works of art.  Ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy, sculpture, jade, coins, furniture, seals, and minority nationalities.  First opened in 1952, In 1992, the Shanghai government moved it to the very center of the city, the People's Square.  It took 3 years to build.  A unique building, built like a Tang Dynasty vase/pot (round top with a square base) symbolizes a round heaven and a square land.  Eleven galleries and three special temporary exhibition halls.  One of the most impressive buildings in Shanghai.

Not part of the international/foreign settlement.  It was a walled ghetto for many Chinese who lived in very poor conditions.  It's  oval shaped and about 4 square kilometers.  Roads replaced the walls and moats (water) around 1912.  The main part is called Chenghuang Mao (named after a local Temple).  Many people feel that it's a bit like walking into a China town in a different part of the world.  YuYuan and Huxin Ting teahouses are popular attractions (The Queen of England and Bill Clinton have visited them).

A classical Chinese garden with pools, walkways, bridges and rockeries 20,000 square meters (about five acres).  Similar to the Suzhou gardens, It is the only Ming garden left in the city.  Built 300 years before the international settlement (1577) by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty called Pan Yunduan (specially built for his parents in their old age).  Now it's about 400 Years old, there have been many changes, damaged when his family was in decline and during the opium war.  The garden declined along with the Pan family's fortunes.  It survived the cultural revolution because it was being used as a headquarters for a group of revolutionists (The little sword society).

The Chinese traditionally believe that guardian gods watch over their cities.  The first temple to the God of Shanghai was founded in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when a shrine was erected to the City God of Huating County.  However, the Huating shrine was located in Danjing Temple, far from its current location.  The present site was first used during the reign of Emperor Yongle (1403-1425) in the Ming Dynasty.  A statue of General Huo Guang of the Han Dynasty was put in the front hall, while a statue of Qin Yubo, the god of the City, put in the back hall.  Qin Yubo is a Taoist deity known for his character and learning.

In 1882, an old temple was built to keep two jade Buddha statues which had been brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen. 100 or more monks live here, training novices to go to monasteries all around China.  There are only a few Buddhist temples in Shanghai.  During the spring festival 20,000 Chinese Buddhists come to worship here.  The temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. The statues were saved and a new temple was built on the new site in 1928. The statues are rare cultural relics and porcelain artworks. Both the Sitting Buddha and Reclining Buddha are carved with whole white jade.

Shiji Gongyuan or Century park is the largest eco-city park with natural characteristics.  It's 140.3 hectares and was designed by the British LUC Company.  It combines eastern and western cultures, human and nature and with a feature of Chinese gardens.  With large areas of grassland, forests and lakes as its main part, there are scenic spots like islands in the lakes, meeting square, country gardens and grasslands and facilities like a birds reservation, scientific experience and experiment, children’s park etc.

Also known as the 'Paris of the East', the style is international, European influence with Chinese living habits. The area is well-preserved. You can see some fine examples of traditional architecture set in a thriving Chinese neighborhood. A bohemian atmosphere is attracting cafes, galleries and restaurants, making for plenty of interesting discoveries along the way. Something new seems to open up every week.  It emerged in mid-19th century, but most of the buildings were built with European money in the 1920s-1940s.  Before 1949 it was a low rent area, mainly for Chinese and Russians (not so many French). 

On July 23rd 1921 13 representatives from all over China met (including Maozedong).  French police discovered the illegal meeting.  They went to Zhejiang to continue their meetings on a boat.  It includes a small exhibition hall and waxwork diorama of the 13 representatives.

Includes the world’s biggest model of urban planning.  It displays the achievements of Shanghai in city planning and construction with the theme of “city, man, environment, and development”. The Exhibition Hall uses modern technology. You can see the changes and achievements of Shanghai since the reform and opening-up of the country, in particular, since the 1990s, and the rapid changes of the Pudong New Area. And most importantly the future of Shanghai. The main model of urban planning, which is in the proportion of 1:2000, shows the geography and scenery within the inner elevated ring road.  On top of the building are 4 giant steel caps symbolizing the city flower-magnolia.

Xintiandi The first development in the Taipingqiao Redevelopment Project, is an urban tourist attraction with the city's historical and cultural legacies. Located at the City Centre of Shanghai, and only one block south of Huai Hai Zhong Road and its Metro station, the project has a site area of 30,000 square meters and a gross floor area of 60,000 square meters. Shanghai Xintiandi has many specialist F&B, retail, entertainment, cultural, recreational, commercial and residential facilities in the restored "Shikumen" houses - a special old form of architecture only found in Shanghai - as well as state-of-the-art new buildings, made for  both residents and visitors.

The largest and most historical Catholic Cathedral in Shanghai. It has a high status among the Chinese locals. At the western end of the French Concession. This Cathedral was originally known as St. Ignatius Cathedral and was built in 1904 by the Jesuits. Notice the different color of the Gothic spires.  The spires were taken off during the Cultural Revolution. The Cathedral has been restored and in fact was declared as a historical landmark worthy of preservation in 1989 by the Shanghai People's Government.

Located in the center of Minhang District of Shanghai, only 18 kilometers (11.18 miles) from the downtown area, Qibao Ancient Town can satisfy your curiosity about ancient water townships without the bother of either long distance or the rush of crowds.  As the only ancient town forming part of greater Shanghai, with a history spanning over one thousand years, Qibao is more than just a living fossil of ancient Chinese conurbation and urban planning. The town was built in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126) and grew into a prosperous business center during Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties

Longhua Park is famous for its ancient temple, the Longhua Pagoda, its evening bell-striking ceremony and beautiful peach blossoms.

First built in 242 AD, during the period of the Three Kingdoms, Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai with a history of over 1700 years. Due to wars, fires and other calamities, the original structures have all been destroyed. The present buildings date back to the reign of the Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty.  Most notable among the buildings is the seven-storied Longhua Pagoda that stands in front of the main temple. In late spring, when the peach trees in the park are in full blossom and the temple fair takes place, it is visited by large numbers of tourists.

The theme is "Nature, Man and Science and Technology" and integrates exhibition, education, scientific study and exchange, exhibits collection and production, and leisure and tourism. The museum has seven exhibition areas: the Earth's Crust, Life, Light of Wisdom, Audio-Video Paradise, Cradle of Designers, Children's Garden, and Natural Science. It also contains nearly ten thousand pieces of specimens including those of gigantic dinosaurs. Moreover, the museum also has a large 3-D screen cinema, a 360 degree circular screen cinema and a 4-D screen cinema.

Head over to the Yuyuan market and Yuyaun gardens, try some Chinese tea and see a completely different side of Shanghai.  Then see another side again in the French concession

Taxis are cheap and convenient.  Most of the attractions are very central (around 10RMB/$1.29 to 25RMB/$3.23).  The longest rides should be less than 60RMB/$7.60).  You can rent a taxi for the day for 8 hours (660RMB/$85).  However this is not recommended as there is no real benefit and parking can be problem.  The same goes for renting a car (also double or triple the cost of renting a taxi for the day).

Larger vehicles: If you require a larger rental vehicle, we can arrange this for you or you can book it through your hotel.  However we strongly suggest using taxis (use 2 taxis if you need to).