Cruise Destination—Shanghai

In Shanghai, a magical place with the nickname of “Modu” (magic and modern city), the oriental and occidental cultures mingle with each other. The western buildings standing at the Bund and the skyscrapers lying in Pudong enhance the beauty of each other. In Xintiandi, you will find the ancient Shikumen and old foreign-style houses as well as the latest fashion elements. The shopping center of Shanghai is located at Shanghai Road, Huaihai Road, Xujiahui Commercial Center and Yu Garden Shopping Center. The humorous “Huaji Comedy” (local comedy in Shanghai dialect), “Dujiao Comedy” (stand-up comedy in Shanghai dialect), Shanghai Opera played in small theaters and the newly established Shanghai-style talkshow bring much laughter. Authentic Shanghainese cuisine provided in old restaurants, authentic French cuisine and the snacks at Chenghuangmiao Temple are all renowned far and wide. There are also some antique teahouses in old streets and lanes. And in the foreign-style houses on Hengshan Road lie all kinds of amazing bars.

Must-see Sights

The Bund of Shanghai

The Bund has also been known as Zhongshan First East Road, which measures about 1.5 kilometers in length. It starts from Yanan East Road in the south and extends to Waibaidu Bridge on Suzhou Creek in the north. To its east is the Huangpu River. To its west are 52 classic buildings of Gothic and Baroque styles which used to house old Shanghai’s financial institutions and trading companies; therefore, the Bund is now acclaimed as an outdoor museum of international architecture. The Huangpu River is the largest river flowing through downtown Shanghai. It rises at Longwang Mountain Nature Reserve close to Anji, Zhejiang province. It experiences the ebb and flow of tides twice everyday, and the water levels could have a drop of up to 4 meters. Facing the Huangpu River, Shanghai’s mother river, the Bund has been a symbol of the city for over 100 years. It was not only witness to Shanghai’s legendary past, but also fully demonstrates to the world the city’s remarkable ability to absorb foreign cultures. The peaceful river, the long dyke and the green belt against the dazzling backdrop of charming buildings make the Bund Shanghai’s signature spot. In the morning, early birds come here for morning exercises. In daytime, it is a bustling attraction. In the evening, the buildings lit up along the Bund are like crystal palaces, and visitors are amazed by unforgettable night vistas.

Lujiazui Station, Subway Line 2; Bus 583/774/779/791/870/961/985

Yu Garden

This ancient property owned by a Ming dynasty official is the only Ming garden in the northern part of the Old City. Built in 1559, the 2-hectare garden has been around for over four centuries. It boasts over 40 ingeniously conceived, well laid out ancient buildings, which have interesting names like Iron Panther, Moon Tower and Hearing-Waves Pavilion. With its pavilions, artificial mountains and ponds, it’s widely advertised as a gem of classic Chinese gardening and an oasis of calm marooned in the urban bustle. It is not only a tourist attraction, but also a worth-a-dedicated-trip shopping destination where trinkets, local products and famous snacks attract those ready to shell out.

Yu Garden Station, Subway Line 10; Bus 11/26/64/66/920/926/929/930

Lujiazui

Lujiazui is Shanghai's leading financial center. Located on the bank of Huangpu River in Pudong New Area, it is now one of Shanghai’s most charming places. It provides the most convincing cross-section of cosmopolitan Shanghai. Lujiazui boasts not only an “outdoor museum of global architecture”, but also modern high-rises that frame the skyline of modern Shanghai. Lujiazui is just the spot where you can marvel at Shanghai’s modernity. Lujiazui is home to myriad shopping venues, eating establishments and attractions. Zhengda Plaza and Guojin Center are where you can splurge. Qiao Jiang Nan, Heng Yue Xuan, Dynasty Hotel, Jun Yue Xuan, Pujiang II, Suzhe Zonghui, Haiyi Seafood, Tian Cui Ting are just some of the venues where you can please your taste buds. You can walk off your meal in Lujiazui’s central green area. You can also trek up to the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower and the World Financial Center for commanding views of the city.

Lujiazui Station, Subway Line 2; Bus 583/774/779/791/870/961/985

Shanghai Expo Park

Zone A, Zone B and Zone C of the World Expo Park, which span 3.93 square kilometers, brought together the national pavilions and themed pavilions during the 2010 World Expo. Some of these pavilions have been turned into venues serving new purposes and opened to the public. The China-Pavilion-turned China Art Palace opened on October 1, 2011 is one of the examples. City planners envisage creating what's known as "Five Districts and One Belt" on the site of Expo Park, including a 18.72-hectare pleasant, eco-friendly and easily accessible district that is home to the headquarters of state-run companies, offering 600,000 square meters' worth of offices.

Yaohua Road Station, Changqing road Station, Houtan Road Station, Subway Line 7; Yaohua Road Station, China Art Museum Station, Subway Line 8

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Shanghai's Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street sets an exemplary model for Asia's shopping scene. It's positioned for the middle-end and high-end brands and is visited by both the locals and visitors alike.

The "Big Four" are can't-misses: the Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, Yong An Company, Shanghai Fashion Company, and the Shanghai First Food Chain Development Company. The well-established Shanghai No. 1 Department Store stands right where Tibet Middle and Nanjing East Road converge. In its previous incarnation as Daxin Company before 1949, the department store was the moust illustrious building on Nanjing East Road. Although today it's no longer a symbol of chic and trends, it's still paradigmatic of Shanghai's commercial culture.

It's quite an experience to cruise through this 1200-meter pedestrian street paved with colored bricks and stones, with pedestrian traffic flowing irresistably and sightseeing trains trundling through small stalls and boutique shops. This is one of the best places where one can savor up Shanghai's signature modern metropolitan style, with the rickshaws, incense shops, and classic cigarette ads being a thing of past.

Stroll eastwards from Henan Road to Shanghai's most celebrated attraction: The Bund. You feel you are no longer in the 21st century and are transported back in time; you feel you landed in Charles Dickens' London seen only in photos. Narrow streets, tall buildings, grey walls, high ceilings, pointed roofs - everything has a story to tell. In the glow of the setting sun, the Bund exudes the unique charms of the 30's and 40's of the last century.

Nanjing East Road Station, Subway Line 2/10

People’s Square

People’s Square, a garden-style square in downtown, is known as the “Green Lung of Shanghai”. To its north are the premises of Shanghai government, to its west Shanghai Grand Theater, to its northeast Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, and to its south Shanghai Museum. People’s Avenue runs through the square flanked by a green belt 17 meters wide, offering a total green area of 80,000 square meters. Measuring 140,000 square meters in area, the square can accommodate over 1.2 million people. As an important hub of urban traffic, People’s Square is starting point of many public transportation lines. Subway lines 1, 2 and 8 stop at the square.People's Square Station, Subway Line 1/2/3; Bus 4/123/46/Suidao Line 6