The Olympic city of Shanghai (Football)

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Shanghai

Shanghai

The Olympic city of Shanghai (Football)

Situated on the estuary of Yangtze River, Shanghai nicknamed Hu is China’s larger industrial city. It is home to 18.7 million people, including floating population of about 2 million.

Like Hong Kong, Shanghai was originally a seaside fishing village and its gradual enlargement led to it being given ‘County’ status on 19^th August, 1291 during the Yuan Dynasty. Shanghai today is multi-cultural with both modern and traditional Chinese features.

Shanghai is well known throughout the world being the largest base of Chinese industrial technology. It is also an important sea-port and financial centre.

Sightseeing, Business and Shopping are the main areas of interest and are located around the People's Square and along the Huangpu River. Also of interest is the city's Cultural Centre with its public activities and community facilities. The holiday and entertainment areas are to be found at Mt. Sheshan, Dingshan Lake, Chongming Island and the Shenshuigang area.

If you enjoy shopping then Shanghai is paradise. Don’t miss Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road and Sichuan North Road. If you are looking for something to take home then good places to go are Xujiahui Shopping Center, Yuyuan Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City.

Those wishing to taste traditional Chinese food won’t be disappointed either. A wide variety of cuisines are available including local dishes and those of Beijing, Yangzhou, Sichuan and Guangzhou. You will be welcomed at anytime in Shanghai’s restaurants recognised as some of the best in China.

How to get around

Sightseeing Bus are a good way to tour if you want to see the well known sights.Jinjiang and Dazhong sightseeing buses are recommended. Huaihai Road which has a double decker bus and the special sightseeing bus on Nanjing Road will take you to the busy commercial areas.

The oldest sightseeing tour line is Jinjiang which circulates sights such as People’s Square, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden and the Bund. At a cost of 18 Yuan the ticket is valid for the whole of the day on which you buy it so you can use the buses as often as you want on that day to do the whole tour if you like.

You can get on the bus at the following places: Shanghai Railway Station Area: East China Hotel, Post & Telecommunications Mansion, Longmen Hotel, Caoyang Area: Jinshajiang Hotel, Jiangsu Hotel, Tianshan Area: Xianxia Hotel, Yuping Hotel, Hongqiao Area: Friendship Company, Sanxiang Mansion, Hongqiao Hotel. The bus runs every 45 minutes from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Another bus to take is the Dazhong Sightseeing Bus which travels to the West Jiading District of Shanghai.

Those familiar with the double decker bus will enjoy a trip on the new sightseeing bus. The bus is red, roofless and has large windows to give a panoramic view of the city With comfortable soft seats at the front and tea tables at the rear this stylish way to see the charming streets is a good choice for those who find walking long distances too tiring. At a price of 2 Yuan per person you can travel for 7 kilometres starting from Longmen Road stop and finishing at Panyu Road stop on the Huaihai Road taking in ten stops in all.

Finally the Nanjing Road Sightseeing Bus (linked carriages like a train) which is electric powered moves slowly enough to allow tourists to take photos. They run along the bustling Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street from 8.00 am until 10.30 pm every day. The small cost of 2 Yuan per person is a good way to see the sights.

Time to Eat

Shanghai is renowned for its delicious food with many styles to choose from including dishes from the 8 Chinese cuisines and foreign dishes which they are always willing to adopt. There is something to suit everyone’s tastes.
Shanghai delicious snacks on the street

Ben Bang (meaning local) Cuisine uses fresh fish very effectively. The Shanghai dish which is strong flavoured is the colour of Soya bean sauce. Two fine examples of this type of cuisine are Xiang You Shan Hu and Ba Bao La Jiang . If you want to try these dishes head for Shanghai Classical Hotel at 242, Fuyou Road or De Xing Guan located at 29 Dongmen Road.

Local snacks also have the Ben Bang flavour and Nanxiang Steamed Stuffed Buns are a good example .This snack, famous for its thin wrap, heavy flavour, and tender meat had a 100 year old history and varies from season to season. In summer bamboo shoot is used while for spring shrimp is the filling and Crab for autumn. It’s about the size of a water chestnut. If you want to try it go to 238, Guyiyuan Road, Nanxiang Town, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Another delicious snack isXie Ke Huang Pan Cake which looks like boiled crab shell. Crispy on the outside and delicious on the inside this pancake is stuffed with green onion, pork, sugar and bean paste. To try it go to Wuyuan Bakery, 1530, Beijing West Road, Jing'an District or 255, Yanping Road, Jing'an District.

Another snack originating in shanghai is Fried Stuffed Buns which are Golden in colour with a thin, crispy wrap and delicious meat stuffing. Best eaten hot you can try them at Fengyu Eatery, 48, Guangling Er Road.

Steak with rice cake is another famous dish which has a couple of alternative ways of preparation. Both are delicious so try them out at Xiao Chang Zhou, Sichuan Middle Road or Xiandelai Steak Rice Cake, 12 Yunnan South Road or Shanghai Xiandelai Steak Rice Cake 10 Xinzha Road Huangpu District. You are sure to enjoy them all.

For those who are vegetarians Shanghai has something special for you - Vegetable stuffed buns which contain vegetables, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, dried bean curd, etc. Go to Chunfeng Songyue Vegetable Dish Restaurant at 23, Bailing Road, Cheng Huang Miao.

Many other tasty meals are on offering Shanghai and restaurants and other eateries abound in Yunnan South Road, Huanghe Road and Zhapu Road. Whatever type of Chinese or Foreign food you are looking for here is a small selection of places to try.

Yan Yun Lou( Beijing Cuisine): Fl. 8th and 9th, 699 Nanjing East Road. Roast duck is a speciality and very reasonably priced.

Sunya Cantonese Restaurant (Cantonese Cuisine): 719 Nanjing East Road. Roast suckling pig recommended.

Shanghai Dong Ting Chun Hunan Cuisine Restaurant (Hunan Cuisine): 58, Yueyang Road, Xuhui District.

Duo Li Si Chuan Cuisine Restaurant (Sichuan Cuisine): in all districts of the city.

Yangzhou Restaurant (Yangzhou Cuisine): 72, Nanjing West Road. Crab powdered steamed stuffed bun and meatballs.

Entertainment and Night life

One of the most unmissable night scenes is the Bund. Lit up by myriads of coloured lights the beautifully ornate, classical and modern buildings take on a new look.
One sight you are sure to be impressed by is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower as you look across the Huangpu River.
Shanghai the Oriental Pearl TV Tower

You can take a night time river cruise with a choice of 30 or so boats which carry tourists and a choice of styles.... ancient dragon boats of Ming and Qing styles, boats of Shikumen style of old Shanghai and Pirate Boats, etc will take you back to a magical past as you glide along marvelling at the view. 68 Yuan will purchase the ticket and you will have a memory that will stay with you for ever!

After your boat trip why not walk along Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street to see the shops. There are bargains to be found and snacks to enjoy on this gaily lit and bustling road. Linked by subway line 1 you have access to Nanjing Road, Hunhau Road and Xujiahui and the shops are open until 10.00 pm

Now perhaps it’s time for bars or tea-houses. Tea Houses are open 24 hours a day and a good place to relax and chat or watch the locals playing cards as well as sampling the tea of course.

For the younger people there are the usual selection of Nightclubs, Karaoke, discos, bars and coffee houses. Shanghai Xin Tian Di is a good place to go - an area with distinctive buildings from the 1920’s and 30’s of both Eastern and Western styles based around South Huangpi Road and Xingye Road.
Modernised inside, the buildings are now international galleries, fashion shops, themed restaurants, coffee house and bars. Open-air bars are also popular here.

Two from a choice of many are ARK Live House which is a music restaurant and bar located at 15, North block of Xin Tian Di, No. 181, Taicang Road and Ven Ice coffee bar, located at Unit 1, No. 22, north block of Xin Tian Di, No. 181, Taicang Road.

Another very popular bar area is Hengshan Road which is close to Xujiahui Commercial Circle. A multitude of bars for all tastes sit side by side offering tea and coffee from the lively and noisy to the more quiet and intimate. Take your pick!

Other popular bars include Judystoo, Babyface and the “The Colours” and Face clubs inside the Ruijin Hotel all of which can be found in Maoming south Road.

Three clubs worth a look at are Park97, Guandi and Cash Box. Located in Fuxing Park at 2, Haolan Road. Park 97 consists of Baci Restaurant (Italian cuisine), Tokio Joe Restaurant (Japanese cuisine) and the California Club from Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong. An elegant place to enjoy music, good wine and company.

Guandi, the most noted club here, is the first superior club opened in China after which Taibei's. Cash Box (Qian Gui) which is Shanghai's oldest is the largest. The Fuxing Park branch is the best in Shanghai.

Shanghai Olympic Football Stadium

The Shanghai Stadium, built in 1997, will host Football for the 2008Games and has a seating capacity of 80, 000.

The Olympic Football stadium of Shanghai

The Olympic Football stadium of Shanghai, interior