Walking Tour: Old City of Shanghai, Shanghai

The Huangpu district contains some of the best-preserved sites of old Shanghai. The old
town of Shanghai is a large area that remained walled when this city was divided into
foreign concessions. Take a walk around traditional Chinese buildings or make your way
through a large open-air market and enjoy the delightful Yuyuan gardens. The next walking
tour is all about the delights of Shanghai's old Chinese city.
Walking
Guide Name: Walking Tour: Old City of Shanghai
Guide Location: China » Shanghai (See other walking tours in Shanghai)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 2 hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 km
Author: emma
Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai (must see)

Yuyuan Gardens was built 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan, the
son of a high ranking official for the recreation of his aging parents. Yuyuan means happy
and Pan spent 20 years creating a space for the happiness of his parents.

Yuyuan Gardens fell into disrepair after the decline of Pan’s family and was purchased by
rich merchants in 1760. The garden was restored to its former glory but suffered damage
again during the Opium Wars. In 1956, repairs and restorations were undertaken and it was
opened again to the public in 1961.

The Yuyuan Gardens covers an extent of five acres. It has the oldest and largest rockery in
China and three halls, the Cuixiu Hall, the Sansui Hall and the Dianchun Hall. Other
buildings include the Yule Pavilion and the Wanhua Chamber. Visitors can view Ming
dynasty style rosewood furniture in the halls. A 400 year old maidenhair tree planted by Pan
stands in front of the Wanhua Chamber. The highlight is a large rock called the jade rock. It
is a 3.3 meter high rock with 72 holes positioned in such a way that water or smoke sent
into one of the holes comes out through all the holes at the same time. The Yuyuan garden
has pavilions, corridors, bridges, streams and courtyard to make it a calm and relaxing
sanctuary within a busy section of the city.
Sight Name: Yuyuan Gardens
Sight Location: Shanghai, China
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) containing this sight: Walking Tour: Old City of Shanghai City Orientation Walking Tour
II
Old Town Bazaar, Shanghai (must see)

Located in front of the Yuyuan Gardens, the Yu Market, also known as the Old Town
Bazaar has shops selling an array of Chinese handicrafts and textiles. At this market visitors
will be dazzled at the array of products that can be purchased at a bargain.

The location of the Yu market was once a residential area near the Yuyuan Gardens. Later
it became a place of trade for traditional arts and crafts and remains so till today. The
Bazaar covers an area of over 50 hectares with 3000 shops and nearly 10,000 vendors
selling second hand goods in addition to antiques and handicrafts. Nearly 60,000 tourists
visit the market every day to haggle over a price and buy traditional Chinese food, shoes,
jewellery, textiles, jade and wooden chopsticks, watches, clocks and caps.

Yu market is particularly attractive during spring when the city celebrates the lantern festival
on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, during which the market and the Old Town are
decorated with lamps and lanterns. Traditional music is played adding to the festive
atmosphere. This is also the busiest time of year at the market when the prices charged by
the traders are higher than usual.
Image by Sam Ose / Olai Skjaervoy on Flickr under Creative Commons License.
This sight is featured in a self-guided walking tour in the iOS app "Shanghai Map and
Walks" on iTunes App Store or the Android app "Shanghai Map and Walks" on Google
Play. Please download the app for travel directions for visiting this sight. The app turns your
mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline (so no data plan is needed).
The Bund Sightseeing Tour, Shanghai

The Bund is one of the most famous attractions in all of Shanghai. It represents the historic
and architectural heritage of one of the most important ports in China. This row of 52
beautiful buildings has for decades facilitated economic relations between China and other
countries. Take the following tour to get familiar with the historic buildings of the Bund of
Shanghai.
Meet your private guide at your central Shanghai hotel at 9am or your preferred start time as stated
in the Special Requests field on booking. Tell your guide if there’s anything you want to see more of
on your tour: your itinerary is flexible and can be customized around you. When you book, choose to
travel by private vehicle with lunch and Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple admission included, or
opt to explore by public transport or private vehicle with lunch and entrance fees at your own
expense. Start at Shanghai’s French Concession, once the center of colonial life and now a hip area.
Visit the ‘French Park,’ to see locals enjoying activities like ballroom dancing, Tai-chi, singing, and
water calligraphy, and stroll around the Concession with its charming avenues of ‘French trees’ and
traditional houses. Next, visit one of Shanghai’s most active temples: Jade Buddha. Admire its two
exquisite Jade Buddha statues from Myanmar and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere as you hear about
local Buddhist culture and history. Visit People’s Square, a garden-like square great for watching
locals go about their daily life. View the striking modern architecture of buildings like the Shanghai
Museum and Urban Planning Hall, and if it’s the weekend and the weather is dry, see the interesting
‘Marriage Market’. Have an authentic Shanghai lunch of select dumplings, noodles, meat, and
vegetables, or ask your guide to recommend another restaurant if you have special dietary needs.
Afterward, visit the 500-year old classic Chinese Yu Garden, and view the traditional Qing-Dynasty
architecture of the Old Town Bazaar. See the Huxingting Tea House near the ‘Nine Zigzag’ bridge
and enjoy free time to shop for tea, antiques, jade, pearls, silk, and other wares. If you wish,
experience a tea ceremony (own expense) and sample some high quality local tea. Next, travel to
The Bund, the colonial-era promenade along the Huangpu River. Admire the stunning views of old
and new Shanghai, including buildings such as the Bund's Old Customs House and iconic
skyscrapers like the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Financial Tower, Jinmao Tower, and
Shanghai Tower. If it’s a clear day, visit one of the towers' observation decks for bird’s-eye views,
and then walk along Riverside Promenade (Binjiang Da Dao). Afterwards, explore the trendy
Xintiandi quarter, where traditional shikumen houses, homes to the middle classes in the 1920s and
1930s, testify to Shanghai’s one-time European glamor. Aside from the above itinerary, talk to your
guide about experiencing other attractions such as Shanghai Museum, Tianzifang Art area, the
Jewish Ghetto, Nanjing Road, and the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, or riding the city’s
magnetic-levitation Maglev Train or other activities. Your tour ends with a drop-off at your central
hotel or other downtown area of your choice.

Read more about Private Full-Day Tour: Shanghai Old and New Highlights 2018
at: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Private-tour-Full-day-Shanghai-Splendid-highlights-Old-
and-New/d325-36522P11?pub=vcps

When you arrive in Pudong Airport and move further into to the city center of the megacity of
Shanghai, you will be bombarded with trendy and futuristic skyscrapers as well as amazed by the old
world charms of the colonial buildings and traditional Chinese pinched alleys and elegant architectures.

Shanghai has many superlatives which you won’t miss on your first trip to Shanghai – the fastest
maglev train in the world, the tallest observation deck, the highest hotel and the list could be longer.

If you are an old world charm enthusiast, you will be definitely excited by what the fish-village-turned
metropolitan Shanghai can offer. The surviving old town area, mainly inclusive of Yuyuan Garden,
Yuyuan Bazaar and the Twon God Temple will catch your imagination of the old world charm in
Shanghai.
Though a bit gone through some gentrification, the old town area still largely keeps its old Chinese
buildings, charming private gardens, Chinese temples, streetfront shops; teahouse, silk, Shanghai
cuisines, snacks and local products.

For more information on How to get to the Old Town in Shanghai, please check out How to Visit
Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar.

If you have enough time in traveling the old world in Shanghai, sit down in a teahouse which is
located in the heart of the Nine-Bend Bridge and Pond. The Nine-Bend Bridge and the Pond is the core
of the bustling area of the old town. The teahouse is known as “Huxinting Tea House” , literally “Mid-
Lake Pavilion Teahouse”.

Huxinting Tea House is an old wooden two-story house with up-turned eaves perched on the
pond. The two flags witht the big character “茶” ( Tea ) are fluttering in the wind, an old way to
attract visitors to come for a sip of Chinese tea and sit above a bit distant cacophony of noise and
motion.

Huxinting Teahouse perched on the pond

I walk up the ladder to the second floor and order a cup of green tea and some snacks which costs me
about 10 US dollors.

You have a quite varity of tea choices with some being very expensive. So be vigilant about your tea
selection.
I walk up the ladder to the second floor and order a cup of green tip of Chinese tea

Two qipao-clad Chinese girls are playing pipa, a traditional Chinese string intrutment.

Two qipao-clad Chinese girls are playing pipa

Sitting leisurely and sipping Chinese tea, talking, laughing and enjoying the quietness in the middle of
noise and human motion below.
Sitting leisurely and sipping Chinese tea,

You can have a better view overlooking the old world charm below with people moving against the
traditional Chinese buildings, zigzag bridges,alleys and people to people watch.

You can have a better view overlooking the old world charm below
On the first floor in the teahouse, you will have an opportunity to watch people how to manually make
green tea, by frying the tea on a big wok.

Watch people how to manually make green tea

Walk around the hustling area, have a peep show accompanied by singing commentary, an old
recreational performance.
A peep show accompanied by singing commentary,

Waiting in line to buy watering steamed buns with pork or other delicious fillings.

Sipping the soup in the bun by using a plastic tube.

A chic Starbucks housed in a traditional architecture

Planning your Shanghai tour? No matter you like it or not, a side trip to the old town in Shanghai is
worth your valuble time

Tip: Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here
are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Highlight Day Tour from US$ 65

Afternoon Ambling & Evening Brilliant Cruise Day Tour from US$ 55
Historic Shanghai and Ancient Water Town Day Tour from US$ 59
Shanghai 2 Day Tour Package from US$ 145
Shanghai 3 Day Tour package from US$ 199

Further Readings

Top 10 Attraction in Shanghai

Top 10 Markets in Shanghai
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do at night in Shanghai
Best Places for Autumn Leaves in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do in Winter in Shanghai
Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: The Old City in Shanghai, The old town in Shanghai

Posted in Shanghai Attractions, Shanghai Travel | No Comments »

How to Visit Shanghai World Financial Center

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017
by

Only after Shanghai Tower – the tallest skyscraper in Shanghai, Shanghai World Financial Center
(SWFC) is the second tallest building ( 492 meters ) offering no less magnificent panoramic views
from the sky over the magical city of Shanghai. The most outstanding feature of the building is an
aperture on its summit, which is often dubbed as “the bottle opener” by foreigners and Chinese.
In Shanghai, there are four major tallest buildings that have fantastic observation decks from the sky
with mesmerizing panoramas – Shanghai Tower, Jinmao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center
and Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
The left is Shanghai World Finacial Center ( the bottle opener )

If you are an enthusiast for panoramic views from tall buildings, you can choose any of the four
skyscrapers – Shanghai Tower ( 623 meters ), Shanghai World Financial Center ( 492 meters ) ,
Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower ( 470 meters ), and Jinmao Tower (420 meters ).

The Tallest Buildings on the concrete forest of Pudong Skyline

Today let’s go up Shanghai World Financial Center! Shanghai World Financial Center stands adjacent
to Shanghai Tower on its east and Jinmao Tower on its southeast. It is a multi-use skyscraper,
encompassing offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls.

How to Get to Shanghai World Financial Center?

Add: No. 100, Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai 浦东世纪大道100号

By Subway: Just take subway line 2 and get off at the station of Lujiazui and walk to the tower

Practical Information ( Tickets and Business Hours )

Business Hours: 8:00 – 23:00 ( latest entry at 22:00)
Ticket for the 100th floor deck: 150 yuan
The 1ooth-floor observation deck – sightseeing Sky Pavilion Deck
It is said that there are three observation decks on the building. But you won’t miss the tallest 100th-
floor observation deck known as “Sightseeing Sky Pavilion”.

Inside the Sightseeing Sky Pavilion

The Sightseeing Sky Pavilion is housed on the 100th-floor in Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC).
It is a 474-meter high suspended long corridor over the aperture of the bottle opener.
Taking pictures from the Sightseeing Sky Pavilion

From the transparent corridor, you can see both the turrets of Jinmao Tower and Oriental Pearl TV
Tower. As if walking in the clouds, you can glimpse all the beautiful sights on both sides of Huangpu
River.

Selfie from the Sightseeing Sky Pavilion

Inside the 55-meter long sightseeing corridor, there are three transparent floors through which you
can easily see the pedestrians, vehicles and the whole city moving under your feet.

The panoramic view from the Sightseeing Sky Pavilion

Tip: Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here
are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Highlight Day Tour from US$ 65

Afternoon Ambling & Evening Brilliant Cruise Day Tour from US$ 55
Historic Shanghai and Ancient Water Town Day Tour from US$ 59
Shanghai 2 Day Tour Package from US$ 145
Shanghai 3 Day Tour package from US$ 199

Further Readings
Top 10 Attraction in Shanghai
Top 10 Markets in Shanghai
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do at night in Shanghai
Best Places for Autumn Leaves in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do in Winter in Shanghai
Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: Panoramic Views from Shanghai World Financial Center

Posted in Shanghai Attractions, Shanghai Travel | No Comments »

How to Visit Shanghai Tower

Sunday, April 30th, 2017
by

Among the dazzling ziggurats of Pudong across the river from the Bund stands the tallest building in
Shanghai – Shanghai Tower, a 632-meter (2,073 ft), 125-story above the ground and 5-storey
underground. It is in a shape of spiraling curve with double outer glass walls, a green, human and
Knowledge skyscraper.

Shanghai Tower is also the second tallest in the world, adding to the superlatives of a city that already
boasts the world’ fastest train and highest hotels.

If you are planning your Shanghai tour, do you have the fancy idea of going up to its 118th-floor
Shanghai Summit Observation Desk for a 360-degree view of the magical city of Shanghai? Sure, you
won’t miss the opportunity to be safely huddled in a huge transparent triangle 546 meters vertically
high above the ground to experience the “Sky City”.

How to Get to the “Shanghai Summit Observation Deck” on the 118th floor of Shanghai
Tower?
Shanghai Tower is located at No.501 Yincheng Middle Road ( 银城中路501号) in Pudong District,

Shanghai. Shanghai Tower is adjacent to Jinmao Tower (421 meters ) on its north and Shanghai
Global Financial Center (492 meters) on its east.

By Subway
Taking Subway Line 2 and get off at the station of Lujiazui, exit from the Exit 6 and walk towards the
southwest direction and you will reach the tower.
By Bus
Taking Bus 583, 939 and 799 and get off at the stop of Dongtai Road ( 东泰路站), very close to the

tower.

How to Buy the entry tickets?

You can buy your ticket at the ticketing office on the northwest known as ” Shanghai Summit ” （上海
之巅）.

Entry fee: 180 yuan per person

How to get up to the 118th-floor “Shanghai Summit Observation Deck”?

First you go down to B1 “Shanghai Summit Exhibition Hall for some interesting interactive activities.
Then further go dow to B2 where you will take the fastest elevator and get to the 536-meter 118th
floor in 55 seconds and start your summit tour.

So the elevator of Shanghai Tower is the fastest of this kind in the world, 18 meters in a second.

The 118th-floor “Shanghai Summit Observation Deck”

The 118th-floor observation deck of Shanghai Tower is known as ” Shanghai Summit”, vertically 546
meters tall with an area of over 1000 square meters.

The covered observation deck is in a shape of a transparent triangle where you can have a 360-
degree of the city of Shanghai.
The 632-meter high Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Global Financial Center, Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower seen before dark from the Bund

Shanghai Tower viewed across the river opposite the Bund

Shanghai Tower stands prominently on the Pudong skyline.