Shanghai is one of those magical Eastern cities which has firmly captured the Western imagination, being once described as “the Paris of the Orient” during the colonial era. Guest author Patricia Bieszk+ loves to travel and write about it.
Architecture
I am a buff of colonial architecture and Shanghai, although much changed, still holds some treasures that the avid entrepreneurial developers haven’t yet gotten to. It also has to be said that contemporary China’s appreciation for its own history is growing and due to ongoing tourist interest in, for instance, the fabulous art deco buildings along the Bund, they are now being meticulously renovated. Do try and talk your way into the various banks and hotels to take a peek at the superbly preserved and rather grand interiors from the turn of the century to the 1930s.
Food
Language barriers do make for a challenge in China, but try to steer clear of Western establishments such as Starbucks and Pizza Huts, they are not only much more expensive here, but you will miss out on all the culinary delights that the largest and most sophisticated city in China has to offer. On another note, please beware of super-friendly young girls and boys that chat to tourists in English at the major sights, as they are paid employees of the local tea houses that are infamous for extortion – excessive payment for the tea and the pleasant company. For vegetarians, it’s a must to have a meal at one of the several Buddhist restaurants in the city – ordering can be a challenge if there are no pictures on the menu, but you can also just point at somebody else’s dish at the table next to you, that you fancy. It is a misconception however that China is cheap – you may be surprised at how close the prices – and the standards – are to the ones in the West, especially in the shopping malls.
Yuyuan Gardens
One of my very favourite places in Shanghai are the gorgeous Yuyuan Gardens, full of picturesque spots, traditional pavilions, meandering paths and ponds full of koi karp. The gardens are situated in the old historic part of Shanghai, famous for its decorative wooden building façades, housing traditional handicraft stores – not to be missed. If you like the traditional architecture and would like to experience a market that locals go to, make time to also visit the suburban water town of Qibao, easily accessible by the convenient train system.
Nowadays, Shanghai is a bustling and very contemporary city, and home to increasing number of Westerners who enjoy the lifestyle and the booming economy. You will find many innovative building designs, like the notorious Oriental Pearl TV Tower, peppered around the city – the Pudong skyline can rival any other major metropolis in the world.
Nowadays China is booming and flights to Shanghai are more frequent and more affordable, too. It is also a great idea to fly into Beijing and travel to Shanghai via the comfy and inexpensive sleeper train and fly back to home from there.
