On top of the world
Shanghai – China's boom town
Shanghai is one of the largest and most exciting cities in the world and a symbol of an ultramodern, booming China. Where just 30 years ago there were rows of rickety waterfront sheds and small factories, we now see massive new high-rise buildings rising up at a rate of about one a month.
Since it opened in 2016, the 632 metre-high Shanghai Tower has become China's tallest building and the third-highest in the world. The view from the observation deck on the 121st floor is breathtaking. The panorama of houses that accommodate the city's 23 million inhabitants stretches from here right to the horizon. On a clear day you can even see as far as the Yangtze Delta.
The old multi-storey buildings along the waterfront promenade (the Bund) seem like toy building blocks in comparison. And yet they were the original 'skyscrapers', the first to be built in China in the 1920s. The beautiful art deco façades stand testimony to the prosperity of those times. A stroll along the Bund reveals contrasting new impressions with every step. Take a look inside the famous Peace Hotel with its art nouveau decor and relive the glittering world of Shanghai in the 1930s. And a tip for visitors: an Old Timers' band plays great jazz here in the evenings.
Further to the south lies the Fuzhou (Cultural) Road, which is best seen by walking east. Here can be found all manner of restaurants colourfully interspersed with galleries and artist shops selling everything you need for classic Chinese painting. This is just the right place to take a break and sample the Shanghai speciality of Xiao Long Bao meat-filled dumplings in a delicious broth.
Soon you arrive at the People's Square with its municipal buildings, including the Shanghai Museum and the Opera House. But if you think that the past has been forgotten in Shanghai, just seek out the Yu Garden. This classic example of Chinese gardening art was created in the 16th century. It has pavilions with curved roofs, small ponds full of goldfish and Moon Gate passages, all a world away from the noise and bustle of the Old Town. But modern Shanghai is always in view, with the massive high-rise blocks in the background towering over the low buildings of the Old Town. In their shadow, we find the old narrow residential streets (known as Shikumen) where the locals come together to chat and play cards and where freshly washed laundry flutters in the breeze.
Just a few steps from the Yu Garden is the tiny and ancient Buddhist Temple of Chen Xiang Ge, where visitors can draw energy and peace under the kindly gaze of the resident nuns. The scent from the incense sticks wafts through the air, pennants flutter in the breeze and sometimes you may even hear the songs of the nuns echoing through the courtyards.
When evening comes it's time to return to the Bund, where you can plunge back into the mass of humanity and watch enraptured as the brightly illuminated skyscrapers perform their daily light show. And an absolute highlight is to watch the sun set from the Cloud 9 Bar on the 87th floor of the Jinmao Tower. With good food and cool drinks to hand you really feel that you are on top of the world.
Insider tips
Shanghai Global Harbor
"Shanghai Global Harbor is a modern shopping centre that opened its doors in 2013. It covers a total area of 480,000 m2, which includes nearly 320,000 m2 of commercial space and 120,000 m2 of high-grade office buildings as well as a five-star hotel that takes up 40,000 m2. It boasts the largest rooftop garden (30,000 m2) in Shanghai and a shopping mall with the largest number of parking spaces (2,200) in the city.
Global Harbor has more than 400 brand stores and over 100 food outlets, along with a number of cinemas, theatres, gyms, spas and foreign bookstores. One day at Global Harbor is simply not enough.“
Qibao Ancient Town
"Qibao Ancient Town, in the south-west of Shanghai, has a history that dates back thousands of years. With natural scenery reminiscent of Jiangnan Water Town, Qibao also has a long cultural tradition. It takes its name from the Qibao Temple, which was the first building of its kind in the east of the country.
The Ancient Town is now focused around the historic area of Qibao Old Street, which covers an area of some 57,300 m2. Old Street is divided into North Street and South Street. The latter is famous for its streetfood and snacks, while North Street is dominated by shops selling tourist gifts and handicrafts, antiques, calligraphy artworks and paintings. Qibao Ancient Town has become a prosperous market venue combining leisure opportunities, tourism and shopping.“
