Shanghai Attractions

Shanghai Attractions -

Shanghai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. It is a modern city, but it has a lot of history and many different architectural styles. While the city can be quite expensive, it may not be. Whether you are arriving from another country or live in China, you can without breaking the bank a trip to this beautiful city.

The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two halves. Puxi is west of the river and where the old town is still standing, and 15 years of Pudong in the east. After arriving in Shanghai, you should take the Metro Line 1 to People's Square.

This area is worth to see the center of all the places in Puxi. There are two notable attractions here, to be a city planning exhibition center. On the second floor you can see pictures of Shanghai in the past and present. A 3D abstract layout of Shanghai and plans for the future are on subsequent floors.

The Shanghai Museum is another great site for those interested in history. It is free and open to the public with multilingual signs. The museum has galleries collections of sculptures, bronze artifacts and calligraphy display, to name but a few. At the time of my visit two galleries were closed for renovation.

From here you should south along Xizang Road in the Old Town. The actual old town is a very small part in the middle, and it is all that remains from the 1800s of the original village. The rest of the old town is transformed into the modern city that has become Shanghai, but it is still worth a look. There are many temples, gardens and old buildings here that are a good contrast to the modern city.

Also in this area, you are the famous Yuyuan gardens, which were further originally created in 1559 by Pan Yunduan honor of his father Pan En, a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty. Over time the gardens were dilapidated and were occupied and destroyed a couple of times. Finally, in 1961, the Shanghai government repaired it and opened it to the public.

In the west of the old town, the French Concession is. through this area on foot feels like you have left China and entered into Europe. This area will be used, where the French used to live. Now the area is a busy shopping street, but still keep the tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor villas a touch of the "Paris of the East." It's a great place to wander around and try some of the many fine restaurants.

Shanghai has a lot of history people, and the old town sightseeing and environment gives you a chance to see much of this history and peek into the local culture, without having to spend a lot of money. Modern Shanghai can be expensive, but old Shanghai is ideal for budget travelers.

Sean Weisbrot lives and teaches English in Wuhan, China. When he is not teaching, he writes about China and his travels on his website, travel the world in style.

Share this post