Shanghai

Whether you visit Shanghai for business or for holidays, there are certain handy pointers that will make the initial phase of your journey quite smooth and hassle free. Those who arrive at Shanghai from international destinations will disembark at the Pudong International Airport, which is just three quarters of an hour from the city center. If you're making your way to Shanghai from within China, then Shanghai Airport is where you'll disembark; the Shanghai Airport is less than half an hour from the city center.

Although traveling by rail or bus is an option to reach the city, your best bet would be to utilize the services of a taxi. Keep in mind to solicit the services of the official taxi line at the airport and not random taxi drivers who are bound to approach arriving passengers. That way you can avoid paying more than the normal rates. Those who opt to travel via rail can find themselves a cozy seat inside the Maglev train.

Another important point to remember is to always have your destination address, or the address of the hotel you would be staying in, written down on a piece of paper in Chinese. Since the majority of the cabdrivers might not be familiar with English, it is always wise and useful to carry your destination address in the language they are more fluent in.

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Finding accommodation in Shanghai can be made quite easy once you decide on the kind of facilities you require. For those wanting a comfortable stay, wishing to enjoy a slice of solitude, several guesthouses are available in Shanghai. Business travelers and luxury lovers, however, are spoilt for choice with a plethora of hotels ranging from affordable three star hotels to slightly more expensive five star hotels.

Most of the luxury hotels are also custom designed to suit the needs of the corporate traveler, providing everything from Internet access inside rooms to conference halls, meeting rooms, voicemail, fax machines, and work desks. Choosing the right place to stay where your every corporate need can be fulfilled at the press of a button will definitely make the transition from working at your office to doing business in Shanghai quite effortless.

The majority of the hotels in Shanghai also come with the basic luxuries like swimming pools, gyms, restaurants, and complimentary breakfasts.

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Making your way about the city, regardless of whether you're a business traveler or a holidaying tourist, is not a complicated process. You have a handful of choices when it comes to navigating through the city of Shanghai. You can solicit the services of a taxi or a local bus; the sightseeing bus is another option for those travelers interested in covering all the tourist hotspots of city; for those who don't mind mingling with the local crowds, the subway is always an interesting and exciting option to get around the city.

The most amusing mode of transport would, however, have to be the ferryboat, which despite its hundred-year-old tradition, is still popular with the people in Shanghai, tourists and locals alike. The ferryboat is both convenient and cheap, although businesspeople, for whom appointments and time hold utmost importance, might be advised in using one of the other faster modes of transport, presumably the taxi.

For those who are keen on doing self-driving, several reliable car rental services are available. It's however imperative to carry along a roadmap and directions if you opt to drive yourself around. There are no other risks involved if you decide to hire a car, and this is often done by several tourists.

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Shanghai's uniqueness lies in the fact it's seldom you encounter huge, thronging crowds at the hotspots of the city. While one of the most favorite tourist spots in China, Shanghai distinguishes itself by gifting the traveler with a certain sense of privacy which enables you to explore the city at your own pace and leisure.

The Bund is arguably the most famous landmark in Shanghai that stays as the symbol of the colonial times of the past. It's a visually gratifying sight to see the old Shanghai and new Shanghai blend perfectly at the Bund.

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is perhaps the most aesthetically breathtaking structure in Shanghai and certainly the world. With six high-powered passenger elevators, a computer controlled lighting system that alters according to the climatic changes, and other state of the art technologies, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower stands tall as the epitome of the new Shanghai.

The Shanghai Museum, which is nothing short of an architectural wonder, is another sight that a visitor to Shanghai cannot afford to miss. A walk around the inside of the museum will enrich your knowledge pertaining to the cultural heritage of both Shanghai and China.

The Shanghai World Financial Center is a super skyscraper which is currently the world's second tallest skyscraper. It has a hundred and one floors rocketing into the sky and presents a visual spectacle that's unlike anything else you have ever seen. The building is nearing completion and is believed to rise as one of the world's most important business centers. Its estimated cost is $1 billion and is often considered as a structure of wonder for any visitor to Shanghai.

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It's not a steadfast rule that when in China you should eat only Chinese food. If you desire delicious Chinese food, then the numerous authentic Chinese restaurants all across Shanghai will satisfy your taste buds completely. If it's something other than Chinese cuisine that you crave, then you won't be disappointed on that front either.

You can choose from African, French, Middle Eastern, Italian, Australian, Mexican, and every other cuisine you can think of. The restaurants in Shanghai rule the roost when it comes to pampering one's taste buds. If it's eating out by the sidewalks in one of the food stalls, then you have the choice of doing that as well, which is cheaper too. For the business travelers who might want to discuss corporate affairs over a bowl of noodles or any food of their choice, one of the quieter, typical restaurants would be the place to go.

Shanghai cuisine is something that every tourist should try at least once. It's a commingling of several interesting dishes, especially exotic seafood. Fish, shrimp, crab, carp, eels, and prawns are the common seafood items that one gets while trying out the Shanghai cuisine. Shanghai is also famous for its sweets, rice cakes, and steamed breads filled with meat.

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The Longhua Temple, which is the oldest and the largest temple in Shanghai, is a breathtaking scrapbook of the vast cultural heritage of Shanghai. It is a must see for any tourist visiting Shanghai. The Jade Buddha temple, located in the Nanjing Road, is another renowned spectacle in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Grand Theatre, located in the People's Square, is described by many as a surreal, dazzling piece of architectural genius. Designed completely by a French architect, the Shanghai Grand Theatre appears to be made almost entirely out of glass. The stunning interfusing of natural and artificial lights gives rise to a rather breathtaking vision for any visitor. International artists from all arenas often perform at the main auditorium inside the Grand Theatre.

The Xin Tian Di is a unique area in Shanghai where an interesting blend of the West and the East is achieved with surprising efficacy. On one street corner you might be staring face to face at an authentic Chinese restaurant. While turning the corner, you might find yourself right in front of a McDonald's or a Starbucks Coffee shop.

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Shanghai is often hailed as the ultimate shopper's heaven and has even been dubbed the "Oriental Paris." The four predominant streets that hold the most attraction to the shoppers are the Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, North Sichuan Road, and the Middle Tibet Road.

Often people say, half-jovially, that there's nothing that you cannot get in China. Once you engage yourself in shopping in Shanghai, you will find that the half-jovial statement is more than half-true. Authentic items are often sold at discount rates and lowered prices to attract tourists and boost shopping. Even name brand clothes are sold at a discount rate, which for many shoppers is akin to a boon. Business accessories of all kinds are also available for purchase at affordable rates in the many shops of Shanghai.

Yuyuan Shopping City, Xujiahui Shopping City, New Shanghai Shopping City, and Jiali Sleepless City, which are collectively called the "Four Cities," form Shanghai's ultimate shopping points. From small local articles to silver to gold, anything and everything is available for purchase in these commercial arenas in Shanghai.
Much like sightseeing and dining, shopping in Shanghai too is a rather unique experience.

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It is perhaps one of the most picturesque and awe-inspiring sights existing in today's world. The city of Shanghai takes on a new life at night, one that's dazzling, colorful, and elegant. Both the olden buildings and the modern structures adorn themselves with stunning lights at night and display a magical radiance that goes beyond verbal description.

The Bund, during night, is a must see sight that's sure to leave you awestruck. A nighttime river cruise across the Huangpu River will provide you with the perfect views of nocturnal Shanghai. The brilliant display of lights, the moving dots that are the vehicles, and the truly spectacular sparkle of the river combine to present a sight that is truly extraordinary and seemingly out of this world. Another astonishing feature is that even as the night darkens, the crowd of people that populate the streets and sidewalks still remain constant. The city of Shanghai appears to go on living even through the night without getting a wink of sleep.

There are teahouses and certain restaurants that are open twenty-four hours where you can stop by to grab a dish of tasty morsels, whilst enjoying the magical nightlife of Shanghai. Several trendy bars too are open through the night all across Shanghai.

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Be it hectic business procedures or labored sightseeing and shopping, a good massage is not considered pampering, but rather something recommended by the doctors themselves. The Chinese believe that a good massage helps keep the energy flow in the body smooth and uninterrupted.

Much like everything else, the massages and the massage parlors come at varying price ranges. From body massages that involve just a masseuse and a massage table to more expensive, more indulgent massages, there's a whole range to choose from. The more expensive massages are administered in the exotic spas and health retreats in Shanghai that are often haunted by tourists and businesspeople looking to relax after a hard day's work. Aromatic oil massages, Indian head massages, and hot-stone aromatherapy massages are just some of the common massages. According to your requests and needs, whichever massage is more suited to your stress levels will be accordingly doctored.

Since a lot of Shanghai is often covered by many on foot, a good massage to end your day will not only prove useful to instill a sound sleep for the night, but also an exuberant day the next morning. Some of the renowned massage outlets are The Banyan Tree Spa, Double Rainbow Massage House, Dragonfly, and the Evian Spa.

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