'Paris of the Orient' as known in the
past, today Shanghai is the commercial center of China and has one of the
most vibrant skylines in the world. The Old Centre in the Yu Yuan area,
where one can witness one of the oldest streets of China and the lovely '
sights, is the heart of the modern town.
Shanghai is a fabulous point to begin a boat trip on the Huangpu river or
visit the Yu Yuan Market. This is a small city that can be covered on foot
and during this one can see the city museums and other interesting sites
along the way. Although the city is fairly commercial these days, Shanghai's
residents have made a major effort in creating 'green zones' in the city and
they've succeeded. There are parks and traditional gardens in the city which
make the city fresh and green.
Fact File
Country : China
Population : 13.4 million
Area : 6,340 sq km
Languages : Standard Chinese or Mandarin, English
Climate : Shanghai summers are hot and humid with temperatures
reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The rainy season begins in June. Fall is mostly
mild. In winter (January to February) temperatures can reach below freezing.
Spring begins again in March
Official Currency : Chinese Yuan(CY) ; 1 CY = 5.2633 Indian Rupee =
0.1203 US $ = 0.1001 Euro (subject to change).
Location
: It is located in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea
Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.
Getting There
By Air : Hongqiao International Airport in western Shanghai, about
15 kilometers from the city center, handles all international flights. By
taxi, the trip from the airport will take you about 30 min. to an hour. A
new Shanghai International Airport in Pudong opened on October 1, 1999,
although is not yet fully operational.
Getting Around
By Subway : It is the best choice for reaching places that are
beyond walking range. Besides this, it is cheap, regular, and efficient.
There are 2 lines underground and one elevated line.
By Bus : Local buses provide good service except that they are
crowded and extremely slow.
By Taxi : This is another source of moving around the city which is
regular and convenient.
By Ferry : To cross the Huangpu River over, the cheapest and most
wonderful way is to take the ferry from the central part of the Bund
opposite the end of Jinling Dong Lu. The ride will take about ten minutes.
Accommodation
The city has very good hotels to ensure a comfortable stay for the
tourists. Mentioned below is a list of some of the hotels in the city:
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Shanghai East asia
The Westin Shanghai
Renaissance Shanghai Pudong
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Ritz – Carlton
Shangri La hotel Pudong
Hotel Panorama century court
3 star hotels in the city:
Sofitel Hyland Shanghai
Shanghai Peace hotel
Shanghai hotel
Major Tourist attractions
The
Bund : It symbolises the city’s colonial presence and is impressive
in its unabashed celebration of the almighty dollar, and a visit to Shanghai
isn’t complete without a stop here.
People's Square (Ren Min Guang Chang) : Surrounded by important
government and cultural buildings this is an important square and includes
the impressive Shanghai Museum, which holds a prestigious collection of
Chinese art and historical pieces.
Great World Entertainment Centre : Built in the 1920s, this is the
oldest entertainment establishment and is one of the city’s major
landmarks and attractions.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower : This is one of the highest towers in the
city and is 468 m high. The view from the lower part of the tower is great.
Nanjing Road : This 3.4 mile stretch of shopping area is a heaven
for the shopping lovers.
Other attractions :
Yu Gardens
Jade Buddha Temple
Huaihai Lu
