Shanghai: The Modern Symphony of the Oriental Pearl

Shanghai is an international metropolis where the century-old grandeur of the Bund seamlessly merges with the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui. Here, the lingering charm of Jiangnan culture in Shikumen lanes coexists with cutting-edge creativity under plane trees; it’s both a pulse point of global finance and a world where street-side coffee shops share sidewalks with shengjian bao stalls. Shanghai’s allure lies in its constant creation of captivating “Magic City” moments through a dialogue between history and future.

Top Attractions

1. The Bund & Beyond · A Dialogue Across Time

• The Bund’s Architectural Gallery: From Yan’an East Road to Waibaidu Bridge, 52 historic buildings outline Shanghai’s financial epic, with night light shows painting a “Golden Symphony.”

• Lujiazui Skyline: Ascend to the 118th-floor observation deck of Shanghai Tower, where the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center form the iconic “Kitchen Trio” amidst clouds.

• Riverwalk at Pudong Art Museum: At sunset, capture double reflections of the Bund’s architecture and Huangpu River ripples through the Mirror Hall’s glass corridors.

2. Urban Fabric · Haipai Culture Code

• Xintiandi Shikumen District: Where international luxury flagships and art galleries converse within old brick walls, just steps from the Site of the First CPC National Congress.

• Wukang Road-Anfu Road Zone: Under French plane trees,网红 brunch spots, indie bookstores, and drama theaters create a bohemian lifestyle triangle.

• Yu Garden & City God Temple: By the Ming dynasty garden’s Zigzag Bridge, steam from Nanxiang Bun Shop blends with silk-bamboo music from the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse—a living Jiangnan street scene.

3. New Wave of Art

• West Bund Museum Mile: Long Museum’s concrete vortex structures and the transformed industrial tanks of Tank Shanghai witness the Huangpu River’s shift from factory belt to art corridor.

• Power Station of Art: The former Urban Future Pavilion of Expo 2010, where a giant chimney-turned-thermometer has become a cultural landmark.

4. Urban Oases & Wonderlands

• Disney Resort: Home to the world’s first Zootopia-themed land, with the nighttime “Ignite the Dream” light show painting the castle sky with lasers and fireworks.

• Chongming Dongtan Wetland: A migratory bird sanctuary at the Yangtze River’s mouth, where whooper swans and hooded cranes grace autumn reed marshes.

Essential Shanghai Experiences

• Breakfast Ritual: Start the Haipai day with the “Four Heavenly Kings” (sesame flatbread, fried dough sticks, sticky rice rolls, and soy milk) at century-old shops on Yunnan South Road.

• Night Bus Tour: Glide along Zhongshan East Road No. 1, watching Bund lights flow across bus windows like a golden river.

• Suzhou Creek Stroll: Walk from the Sihang Warehouse Memorial to Shanghai Postal Museum, reading Eileen Chang on Cherry Valley Café’s terrace.