Shanghai Hotels from RM288

Today, Shanghai is on the verge of reclaiming its 1930s status as China's most prosperous and populous metropolis. The Huangpu River is the dividing line between Puxi, where most of Shanghai's history and tourist attractions are located, and Pudong, where shiny skyscrapers and shopping centres are the symbols of the city's promising future.

Shanghai's leafy French Concession district, which earned the city its 'Paris of the East' nickname, is filled with refurbished shikumen houses. The Bund colonial riverside is often called 'the museum of buildings' because all sorts of European architectural influences can be seen in the structures which once contained trading houses and banks from around the world. These buildings can be admired from a recently reconstructed riverfront walkway or aboard Huangpu River cruises.

Even older Shanghai structures like Huxingting Tea House and the City God Temple have stood in the ancient Old City for centuries. Nearby Huangpu combines a mix of historic landmarks such as the Shanghai Museum, People's Park, and People's Square with a more modern urban planning exhibition hall and underground shopping centre.

This sprawling metropolis also contains a surprisingly large number of serene green spaces like the Old City's Yu Garden and Yangpu's Gongqing Forest Park. Shanghai Zoo, Zhongshan Park, and Hongqiao International Airport are all situated in the primarily residential Changning district.

Sweet and oily are the two words most commonly used to describe Shanghai cuisine, which is often prepared with fresh seafood and bright colours. The city's signature dishes include drunk crab, boiled eel, and small steamed buns called xiaolongbao. Street vendors and small restaurants situated along side streets often serve the cheapest food, while the Bund district is a good place to find familiar Western fast food chains.

Nanjing Road may be Shanghai's most famous shopping street, but there are plenty of other reasons why this city is China's primary shopping paradise. Handmade crafts and jewellery are sold at the Yuyuan Bazaar, while the French Concession is filled with small clothing boutiques which sell cheaper clothing than Shanghai's luxury designer shops. Fuzhou Road's shops sell Chinese calligraphy and stationery, while Yuyuan Gardens and Dongtai Road Antiques Market are the city's main antiques areas.