Shanghai Tour

11 July, 2009

Shanghai

China's largest city, Shanghai is also the country's most important industrial and commercial center, as well as its largest seaport for foreign trade. Once known as a "paradise for adventurers" in pre-1949 days, Shanghai now opens its arms to visitors and investors alike in its energetic drive to regain its former leading position as an industrial, commercial, and financial center of the entire Far East. This city of 12 million people combines the legacy of the past with the creative energy of the 21st century. No city in the world is quite like it.

Departure from Tianlin Hotel on tour bus. Departure time to be announced.

City drive-around. Stops include the following (not necessarily in this order, though):

Xintiandi: Xintiandi means “new heaven and earth” and it’s the name of one of Shanghai’s most popular tourist spots. A neighborhood of old Shikumen (a type of tenement found only in Shanghai) has been saved by a restoration that turned the old stone buildings into boutiques, clubs and restaurants. Xin Tian Di is not only China's finest historical redevelopment project, but also a model for Asia.This area of upscale restaurants, bars and boutiques is prized because it’s part Disney, part old Shanghai and part Faneuil Hall in Boston. An American architectural firm, Wood & Zapata, splendidly renovated and recreated a district of old Shikumen lane houses — the early-20th-century stone-and-brick edifices that were a blend of European and Chinese architectural styles. While the area is small, and often crowded, it’s now a must-see in Shanghai. Some of the city’s best dining spots are here.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower: The Oriental Pearl Tower (468m) is the highest TV and radio tower in Asia and the third tallest in the world after the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada and the Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia . It was also the tallest structure in China from 1994-2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. The Oriental Pearl Tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers. On 7 July 2007, Oriental Pearl Tower was host to the Chinese Live Earth concert.

We'll swing by the place, but won't go up as we are short of time.

Hyatt on the Bund is a 5 star luxury hotel, uniquely located on the banks of the Huang Pu River at the northern end of the Bund in Shanghai, China. This central Shanghai hotel offers spectacular views of the Bund and Pudong, with convenient access to Shanghai's airports and major areas of the city.
 

We'll take a tour of the hotel guided by a UN family member, who works at the hotel as a manager.

Click here to see a PPT of the views from the hotel.

People Square: People's Square is the site of Shanghai's municipal government building, and is used as the standard reference point for measurement of distance in the Shanghai municipality. There are quite a few famous landmarks in the area such as the Shanghai Museum and the Grand Shanghai Theater.

Prior to 1949, People's Square was a part of the horseracing course of Shanghai. After gambling and horseracing were banned by the new government, a part of the race course became the People's Square, which included a large avenue and spectator stands for use during parades.

In the 1990s, major changes were made to the square. The Shanghai Municipal Government was moved from the former HSBC Building, and the Shanghai Museum was also moved away from its previous site in a former office building. More recent additions include the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.

Other parts of the race course still remain today. The clubhouse buildings became the Shanghai Art Museum, while part of the race track became People's Park, a public park.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall  is located on People's Square, adjacent to the municipal government building.

The Exhibition Hall is a six-story building, with two basement levels, which displays Shanghai's urban planning and development. Exhibitions include models of planned and recent developments, as well as Shanghai's history. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a huge scale model of the city of Shanghai, showing all existing and approved buildings. Visitors can view the model at "ground level", or ascend a gallery running around it for views from above.

The model is intended to represent the entire city, including all planned developments.

The Bund or waitan as it is know in Chinese meaning foreign shore derives its English name not form a German expression as commonly mistaken, but from the Hindustani word “band” meaning an artificial causeway or embankment. The Bund is a throw back to the colonial days of foreign powers, before the second world war. The Bund is slowly sinking and in the early 1990s the front along the Bund was redeveloped to prevent flooding. A walk along the Bund in the evening offers excellent views.

Nanjing Road: Shanghai's most famous shopping street extends more than five km (three miles) from Jingan Temple to the Bund. There are a variety of department stores along the stretch. The Chinese love to shop and it is no more evident anywhere else throughout China than on Nanjing Road. If you want to avoid the hankers trying to sell counterfeit goods then, a good way to view the street is to ride the tram that goes up and down this mostly pedestrianised road.

Cruise on Huangpu River

Huangpu River, a symbol of Shanghai, originates in Dianshan Lake and empties into the Yangtze River at Wusongkou (mouth of Wusong River). It is 114 kilometers (71miles) long and 400 meters (0.25 miles) wide. Huangpu River is ice-free year round. The river divides Shanghai into east and west. It is a silent eyewitness to Shanghai's history and its development.

Scenery along the Huangpu River:

A spectacular sight is that the two suspension bridges, Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge, appear to arch over the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, resembling 'Two dragons playing with a ball'.

The west bank (Puxi) of the Huangpu River is the cultural, residential and entertainment center of Shanghai. The Bund, Monument to the People's Heroes, Waibaidu Bridge and the oldest park in Shanghai - Huangpu Park, are located on the west bank. In addition, many historical buildings left over from Shanghai's colonial days have been preserved. The east bank of the river (Pudong) is the newer district of Shanghai and its financial and commercial hub. Steel and glass structures are abundant here. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jin Mao Tower, skyscraper hotels, offices and malls of the Lujiazui Financial Zone are located on this side of the river.

Ships from all over the world dot the river. The busy wharfs and the 'three-layer waters' (or three-color waters) at Wusongkou are also within sight. The 'three-layer waters' is formed by the convergence of Huangpu River (gray white), Yangtze River (yellow) and the East Sea (green) during high tide.

When the sun sets, Huangpu River is veiled in the glittery neon lights on its banks. Cruising on Huangpu River in the evening, visitors can experience its silence and beauty under the moonlight.