Shanghai's relatively small city center makes it easy to navigate. It consists of two basic districts, Pu Xi (western town) and Pu Dong (eastern town), facing one another across the Huang Pu River. As a general rule, Pu Xi embodies "Old Shanghai" and Pu Dong represents "New Shanghai." Excellent examples of this dichotomy are characterized in the architecture, with the early 20th century facades of the Bund on the Pu Xi side such as the
Pu Dong
In the early 1990s, Pu Dong consisted of little but farmland. In a plan to elevate Shanghai to the level of a major Asian commercial center, the Chinese government created the Pudong New Area Open Economic Development Zone, with a fast rising skyline and loads of investment money. After 1992 the rapid economic development of the area changed the demographics of Pu Dong, creating a growing cosmopolitan flavor with a more modern and technical sophistication than the older, traditional heart of the city in Pu Xi.
Chiefly a financial district but also a growing community, Pu Dong offers increasingly more to do and see east of the Huangpu River. The shops and eateries along Century Boulevard, a 21st Century main street to match the ultra-modern sky scrapers and business culture, is designed with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in mind. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the largest tower in Asia and symbol of Shanghai's prosperity, is an integral part of Shanghai's skyline. The tower houses the
Pu Xi
Pu Xi is a warren of city districts that together make up the cosmopolitan flavor of Shanghai. Unlike Beijing's city center, which emanates from the Forbidden City in outward rings, Shanghai's districts each offer a different flavor and diffuse the “center” of the city into well connected neighborhoods: densely populated Huangpu; historic French Concession, which spans the Luwan and Xuhui districts; park-like Changning district; expat-friendly Jing'An district; crowded Putuo district; Zhabei district, home to the Shanghai Railway Station; Hongkou district, where 20th Century writer Lu Xun made his home; and Yangpu district, home to Shanghai's distinguished Fudan and Tongji Universities. Most of the places of interest to the traveler are in Huangpu and Luwan districts, and the grid-like city plan makes it easy to find your way around Shanghai. The city has areas that range from the traditionally Chinese
Huangpu
Huangpu District houses several of the top sites of Shanghai, including the Bund, Nan Shi,
The Bund
Definitely one of Shanghai's major highlights, the Bund offers an impressive showcase of Shanghai's colonial past. Beautifully preserved art deco and neoclassical buildings line the waterfront that faces the developing Pu Dong skyline. In the early morning one can join in on Tai Chi practice. In the evening one can stroll along the water to watch the skyline light up with the night. For a taste of nostalgia, visit the
Nan Jing Road
Shanghai's historical shopping street became an exclusive pedestrian thoroughfare in 2000. On the western side stands the massive Shanghai Center, a multi-complex that houses the
Nan Shi
Set in the district that was formerly the Chinese-governed Old City outside colonial jurisdiction, Yu Yuan Gardens is a traditional Jiang Nan (south of the river) style garden. A popular destination every day of the week, it offers a rare visit to peace and tranquility from an older time to balance the quick pulse of most of the Shanghai experience.
People's Square
In colonial days People's Square Park, was a horse racing track. After 1949 when gambling was banned it became a public square and parade ground. With the rapid development of the 1990s, People's Square became the residence of Shanghai City Hall. The Shanghai Museum now stands where the race track clubhouse once stood. The
Jing An District
Jing An is a popular residential district for the city's large expat community. Western-oriented shops full of curios are in ample supply. Jing An is also a popular leisure district and as such the fitting home of the historic
Old French Concession Area
The French Concession was where French law prevailed before the revolution. It was here that the Communist Party of China was started in 1921 and revolutionaries found refuge from the local Chinese police. The shikumen townhouses, architecture unique to Shanghai, have been preserved, several sport plaques detailing their long lives. The tumultuous history of the French Concession can be explored at
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Shanghai is home to some of the most varied and high quality cuisine in China. As a world destination, top-class restaurants are definitely one of the things people remember on a trip to Shanghai. If you have been traveling through China for some time, this may be your first chance to indulge in the international cuisine supported by Shanghai’s diverse population. Competition is fierce for French, Vietnamese, Japanese and Italian cuisine. Satisfying interpretations of Chinese regional cuisines, from the hearty roasts of the north to the spicy creations of Sichuan, and even difficult-to-find Yunnanese choices make a traveler wish there were more than three meals to be had in a day.
Shanghai’s native cuisine is known for delicate dim sum, including the incredible xiaolongbao, a soup-filled bite-size dumpling in a thin dough wrap. Try to figure out how there is such a thing as a soup-filled dumpling while you order more of them by the jin.
Shanghai’s drinking establishments are among the most developed in China and frequented by the widest range of people. Uber-chic world class lounges set in highrise towers welcome patrons to drink among the beautiful people. Hip neighborhood bars welcome travelers and give a relaxed chance to practice and expand your recently acquired Chinese phrases in directions most important, such as how to order another drink. Live music has an established following in Shanghai and night clubs support a wide, eclectic range of musicians, from Filipino rock cover bands to jazz quartets to Beijing punk to acoustic folk types.
Below is a partial list of just some of the great dining in Shanghai by neighborhood.
Nan Jing East Road
With so many things calling for your attention as you walk down Nan Jing Road, restaurants promising delicious dim sum or American style burgers are a tempting choice. There are some memorable places to dine here, but how to choose? If you crave the comfort of American ribs, Tony Roma’s will not disappoint. If you seek traditional Chinese food, head over to Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant for satisfying flavors and fresh dishes. A comfortable cafe with wine by the glass and a staple of pastas and salads is found at Kathleen’s 5 Rooftop Restaurant on People’s Square. For family style Italian, dip into Palladio for authentic cuisine. Further investigate the French influence in this Paris of the East at Allure. Any evening that includes a martini at 789 Nanjing Road is bound to be memorable. With the Shanghai skyline out the windows and a cocktail that cost as much as your entre, you might find yourself arguing that it is completely worth it.
The Bund
Perhaps the priciest neighborhood to dine in, but with most restaurants and lounges sporting waterfront balconies and menus that justify the price tag, the Bund plays host to several of the Shanghai bars, lounges and restaurants that make world-wide dining guides. M on the Bund is home to a high quality family of restaurants, including the French Jean Georges, widely popular for weekend brunch. Another building that has made a culinary name for itself is Three On The Bund, which houses New Heights cocktail lounge, the home of Shanghai haute cuisine Whampoa Club, and French supper club Hamilton House. The collection is crowned with the top notch fusion restaurant Laris. Rich selection and world class views can leave one breathless, but the ambiance and pseudo-sexy intellectual atmosphere of Glamour Bar gives any evening a classic feel. Never a disappointment, Bar Rouge gives any Shanghainese establishment a run for its money when it comes to ambiance and the ability of its barkeeps. If hearty northern brew is what you seek along the Bund, head to the Dutch brewery Fest for a draught.
French Concession
The French Concession holds the heart of Shanghai nightlife. Spanning Xuhui, Luwan, Xintiandi and the Mao Ming Nan Lu bar street, it offers a variety of dining and drinking for a broad range of budgets. Many establishments take advantage of this area’s early 20th Century houses with decadent gardens to create an elegant dining experience suitable for brunch, business lunch, or romantic dinner.
Mao Ming Nan Lu
The garden, drinks specials and burgers are what keep customers coming to Blue Frog. It also has some of the friendliest servers in the district. The fusion cuisine and interesting setting of Mesa & Manifesto are memorable, as is the wine list, set in a former light bulb factory. Beer and barbecue are the order of the day at Henry’s, popular with the happy hour crowd. O'Malley's Irish Pub offers a thirst-quenching draught of stout and a friendly crowd. Another neighborhood stop with satisfying light snacks and a great garden is Abbey Road. Popular for its pho, Foreign Culture Club offers French and Vietnamese cuisine in a refined setting that beckons patrons to sit up a little straighter.
Regional Chinese cuisine is also a hot item along Mao Ming Nan Lu. The draw of spicy Sichuanese pulls people into the gardens of South Beauty, set in an old estate. Di Shui Dong serves up satisfying Hunanese food. The ambiance includes homage to Hunan’s favorite son, Chairman Mao Zidong.
Luwan
The tree-lined streets of Luwan offer up a rich velvet atmosphere on a summer night. Even if you come during winter, the ambiance in Lost Heaven Yunnan Cuisine will fill one with a warm glow as the unique flavors of this remote province gets the loving attention it deserves. If the line is out the door, Southern Barbarian is never disappointing. The long established Melting Pot offers up nightly live music of an eclectic variety with well poured drinks, friendly staff and an adequate dance floor. Turn a few more alley corners to drop into Yin Yang, a hip local bar great for practicing your Chinese. If the evening has a more refined feeling, step into Face for an Eastern flavored darkwood setting and fruit infused cocktails.
Xuhui
Tucked in among the alleys lined with shikumen townhouses is a growing selection of some of the most memorable dining in Shanghai. Come wander the alleys as you seek out your dinner! Top points for innovation, ambiance and selection go to Xintiandi. Some people call the Enoteca wine bar their living room, preferring to meet friends in its casual and conversation-inducing lounge. Serving up Mediterranean tapas and a wide variety of wines by the glass and by the bottle, they also have a delicious selection of desserts and paired dessert wines. If you are craving the fresh tangy tastes of Mexico, slip into Maya for Yucatan cuisine and perhaps the most popular guacamole in town. Notoriously small, as well as notoriously crowded, Shanghainese cuisine reaches a peak at the small and nondescript Jesse. Within the realm of eclectic but satisfying lies A Future Perfect. Serving fusion flavors, a dinner here is something you will talk about long after wards. Raising the consumption of chocolate to something of a spiritual experience is the Whisk Choco Cafe. Order, enjoy, but do not linger, the waitstaff can be a bit of a joykill. Serving up a vast brunch is the Mediterranean inspired Azul. For a reasonably priced opportunity to sample dim sum suitable for both a novice or an old hand, a trip to Crystal Jade is highly recommended. Explore Shanghai’s Southeast Asian selection at Simply Thai. An ever popular spot is the Paulaner Brauhaus for hand crafted beer and a delicious German menu. As if homemade German beer in Shanghai wasn’t enough, there is a constant stream of events and live music to keep patrons coming back. Anyone who has spent a moment in China’s cold and robust north will appreciate the colorful and boisterous Dong Bei Ren, where the red and green decor is the setting for delicious cumin roasted lamb, hearty northern dumplings and singing waiters. Upbeat is one way to describe Zapatas Mexican restaurant, especially after one of their fishbowl margaritas and a turn on the dance floor. After dinner, head over to one of the longest established night spots in Shanghai. Cotton Club offers up nightly live jazz. If your night out in Xuhui approaches the early morning hours, head to Dragon Club for a bit more dancing before you searching out breakfast.
Jing’An
Jing’An has a more residential feel than Huang Pu and the French Concession. That does not necessarily mean it is sleepy, as this district is home to many Shanghai expats. If fresh salad is what you crave, head to Element Fresh for vegetable-packed sandwiches, wraps and salads. Their fruit smoothie menu alone has a loyal band of followers. A great choice for Thai is Coconut Paradise, while Jing’An also hosts one of Shanghai’s pre-eminent Japanese restaurants, Shintori. Food this good requires a special finish. We recommend the Long Bar for one of a kind cocktails of mind-bending but agreeable ingredients.
Pudong
If you find yourself east of the Huangpu River, you are truly in for a dining treat. As the neighborhood is still relatively new, it first relied on satellite restaurants of good repute from Puxi to fill its wide boulevards and international hotel cafes. For example, popular Dublin Exchange is owned by the same team that opened O'Malley's Irish Pub. Dolar Shop is another satellite that serves refined hot pot with a high grade selection of meats, mushrooms, vegetables and more. Most Pudong dining and drinking establishments are aimed at business class clientele, however Jade on 36, the crown jewel of the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel, is a romantic spot overlooking the Bund, especially spectacular in the evening at the moment the waterfront buildings light up. A similar effect can be viewed from 24 hour Grand Cafe on the 56th floor of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai. Meanwhile, superb dim sum and Yue cuisine can be found at Canton and Gui Hua Lan. A comfortable place to take it easy after a long flight or long day of meetings is the Canadian-owned Malone's Cafe.
Hongqiao and Changning
While not as lively as its neighbors in the French Concession, this part of Shanghai has some wonderful restaurants and gathering spots. Ever-popular Mexico Lindo serves Tex-Mex style cuisine, perfecting classics such as empanadas. People travel from all parts of Shanghai to pay a visit to Dan Tai Feng for memorably delicious dumplings, including xiaolongbao. Champion’s Sports Bar offers a comfortable dining room and typically American food, including chicken wings and burgers. Long considered one of Shanghai’s finest, Da Marco serves authentic Italian cuisine with an emphasis on quality. You might have to get a little lost to find it, but a visit to Patiala Pearl for Indian tandoori is especially satisfying.
Befitting its role as China's most cosmopolitan city, Shanghai boasts a bewilderingly large number of business and luxury hotels. If you want to travel in style, there is no better place in China to do so than Shanghai. Travel within Shanghai proves fairly fluid, and getting across town is generally hassle-free. Hotels abound, and travelers with sufficient funds can get finicky about location necessities and desires. However, hotels in Shanghai are not cheap, leaving little variety and few options for the budget traveler. The selection of moderately priced accomidation is wider if you are willing to stay in Jing'An, Pu Dong, or further away from the city's main tourist attractions.
The Bund
Nostalgic visitors looking for a taste of Shanghai's colonial past should not pass up a stay at the historic Peace Hotel. The hotel's art deco interior and famous cafe are some of the reasons it maintains an internationally renowned reputation as one of the most famous hotels in the world. The affordable Pu Jiang Hotel on Huang Pu Road provides travelers a taste of Shanghai's past at considerably lower prices (with correspondingly lower amenities) than the more famous Peace Hotel. Once known as the Astor House Hotel, it also dates back to the turn of the 20th century but is more popular with backpackers and budget travelers as it is one of the few hotels in Shanghai that offers economical dorm-room beds. Also in the Bund is the esteemed Manhattan Bund Hotel, and the more modest Metropole and Ocean Hotel. All are in buildings that date back to the Bund's heyday and have atmospheric qualities.
Hong Qiao District
This district provides a home to the ShanghaiMart, Intex Shanghai, Shanghai International Trade Center and the Hong Qiao International Airport. Most hotels in this area cater to the needs of business travelers. Highly recommended lodgings include The Westin Tai Pin Yang Hotel, the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai, and the Hotel Nikko Longbai Shanghai. Also noteworthy are the Shanghai Worldfield Convention Hotel and the Galaxy Hotel.
Nan Jing Road
Along with Yanan Road and Huai Hai Road, Nan Jing Road spans Shanghai's city center from east to west. For the ultimate in hotel stays, try the elegant Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the Shanghai Center. Half a block east on Nan Jing Road lies the ever-pleasing Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel. Also on Nan Jing Road, the Sofitel Hyland Hotel sits within walking distance of the Bund and shops on the pedestrian-only section of Nan Jing East Road. Just off Nan Jing Road but within walking distance of everything is the moderate City Hotel. Refined and comfortable, Le Royal Meridien is top notch. The Salvo Hotel in the area gets great reviews, and has multilingual staff. For those on a budget who would like to be in the center of town, YMCA at People's Square is a cheap and reliable backpacker's staple.
Old French Concession Area
Several small hotels are placed within older residences, surrounded by gardens and in districts that provide interesting walking tours of this historic neighborhood. The Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai affords all that plus a touch of history. It once housed the French Club, and its lush gardens have provided respite from Shanghai's congestion for almost a century. Across the street lies the equally impressive Jin Jiang Hotel. Originally built to house foreign diplomats and businessmen, the hotel retains its lavish art deco design. Radisson Plaza has all the comforts a business or leisure traveler can dream of. More modest, the 88 Xintiandi is a cute boutique hotel in a neighborhood slowly filling with eclectic shops and small, chef-owned restaurants. Hengshan Moller Villa Hotel is in a historic estate with a lovely garden and surprisingly modest rates.
Jing'An
This area has deluxe rooms as well as comfortable and affordable accomodation for those on a slimmer budget. The Grand Pacific Suites has full amenities yet modest rates in the center of one of the main shopping districts. The Jing'An Regalia seems conveniently close to everything. The Hengshan Hotel is a good value and set in a historic building, as is the Picardie Hotel, which is noted for its unusual French architecture. Those wishing to splurge on a room away from the bustle of Nan Jing Road but still be in the center of it all may want to check into the Four Seasons.
Pu Dong
The 88-story Grand Hyatt Shanghai, responsible for holding Shanghai's skyline up and boasting the record for the world's tallest hotel, claims title to the most notable of Pudong's hotels for business-travelers. The surrounding Lu Jia Zui financial area also houses the Pu Dong Shangri-La Hotel and the Shanghai International Convention Center Hotel. Other noteworthy hotels located in Pudong include the New Asia Tomson Hotel, the Holiday Inn Pu Dong, the Grand You You Hotel and the Hotel Nikko Pu Dong.
Once known as "Paris of the East," Shanghai in the early 20th Century laid claim to being the most glamorous, decadent and cultured city in China—and all of Asia. After years of being closed off to the rest of the world, Shanghai is rapidly regaining its reputation as a cosmopolitan city. While Beijing remains the capital, the center of politics, culture, information and academia, the world knows Shanghai as China's financial center, the center of fashion, and a progressive enterprising city open to new ideas.
Unlike Beijing, Shanghai's history does not date far back. Until 1842 it was a sleepy fishing village. Its name in Chinese literally means on the sea, which describes its advantageous location on the banks of the Yangtze (Chang Jiang) River delta, close to the silk and tea producing regions of China. Its geography propelled it to prominence when sea trade with the West became more important.
The 1842 Opium Wars are central to Shanghai's origins as a cosmopolitan destination. To even out the trade imbalance between England and China, England began importing Indian opium to China, against the wishes of the Qing imperial court. Unable to stop the opium trade, which was quickly decimating every social class in China, the Qing declared war on opium traders. The English quickly won the war, as indemnity the Qing were required to open Shanghai to foreign merchants. Before the opium wars, foreign merchants were restricted to the treaty ports of Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Portuguese held Macao. This port was further north and much closer to production areas, a huge advantage.
After the war, Britain declared Shanghai a treaty port, and the sleepy village was suddenly transformed into a cosmopolitan destination. The British, French and Americans took up autonomous concession zones in the city, each of which was independent of Chinese law. All three brought colonial influences to the city, which can still be seen today in the European architecture of the buildings on the Bund and in the Old French Concession area.
Shanghai quickly became an important industrial center and trading port in China. During these prosperous times, Shanghai gained a reputation for being one of the world's most cultured and sophisticated cities. The rich, foreign tai pans led self-indulgent lives in casinos, cabarets and brothels. One such remnant of Shanghai's decadent past is the Great World Entertainment Center, once a den of illicit pleasures, the building today offers more wholesome entertainment—such as Chinese acrobatics, karaoke and a video arcade.
Amidst the imported splendor of the concessions was the poverty of the Chinese-controlled parts of town. The dichotomy brewed social discontent that helped bring down the Qing court in 1911. In the ten years between the founding the Republic of China and the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921, Shanghai was the portal for new ideas such as democracy, modern science and communism. Today, people can trace history by visiting a number of historical sites commemorating the birthplace of the Communist Party and its original members, including the Memorial Hall of the Site of First National Congress of Communist Party of China and the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Former Residence & Memorial Hall.
Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek's power base was in Shanghai and during the Republican time an uneasy and sometimes violent relationship existed between the Communist party and the Nationalist Party. The invasion of Japan forced the two into an alliance that did not last beyond the end of the Japanese occupation. At the end of Word War II, civil war errupted between the two factions.
In 1949, the People's Republic of China emerged under Chairman Mao Ze Dong. Shanghai's reign as the most cosmopolitan city in China ended as foreigners fled the city and the property of the wealthy was taken over by the state. Chairman Mao's wife Jiang Qing was formerly an actress in Shanghai and had several connections to the city. During the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s she made Shanghai the base for new cultural experimentation, most famously remembered in her revolutionary "operas". Following the Chairman's death, Madame Jiang and her colleagues, referred to as the Gang of Four, were arrested in Shanghai as they planned a coupe. In 1979, Deng Xiao Ping initiated a program of market liberalization and reform to kick-start China's economic development. Shanghai did not immediately benefit from these reforms because it was considered more industrially advanced than most of China.
In 1992, reforms opened to new economic conditions that allowed it to quickly regain its place as the country's economic head. A booming construction industry, increased private businesses, larger personal incomes and growing foreign investments made it one of the most industrialized bases in the country. The city's resurgence in economic prosperity is best exemplified in the development of the Pu Dong New Area. The Shanghai government invested millions of dollars on infrastructure projects in Pu Dong, such as the aggressively modern Pu Dong International Airport. With its economic progress, Shanghai continues to undergo a renaissance of its arts and culture. The impressive Shanghai Museum and the architecturally striking Shanghai Grand Theater are just two examples of the city's cultural rebirth. Since the mid-1990s the city has gained a reputation for experimental and extravagant architecture rivaled domestically only by Beijing. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center contains a model of the city as planners anticipate it for the 2010 World Expo, including the rebuilding of entire neighborhoods.
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