Shanghai, the beautiful dynamic city of China is renowned for its enriched diverse cultures, histories, and commercial developments. Being the epitome of China’s history for the recent 100 years, Shanghai occupies an area of 6340 square kilometers and has an approximate population of more than 18 millions making it one of the five China’s largest cities. Due to its geological advantage in central China and the well-preserved historical developments, Shanghai has become China’s gateway to the world for foreign investments and international affairs, as well as been chosen to be… Shanghai, the beautiful dynamic city of China is renowned for its enriched diverse cultures, histories, and commercial developments. Being the epitome of China’s history for the recent 100 years, Shanghai occupies an area of 6340 square kilometers and has an approximate population of more than 18 millions making it one of the five China’s largest cities. Due to its geological advantage in central China and the well-preserved historical developments, Shanghai has become China’s gateway to the world for foreign investments and international affairs, as well as been chosen to be the host city of World Expo 2010. Overall, Shanghai represents the fusion of traditional and modern China.

Shanghai is comprised of two areas divided by the Huangpu River. The older town on the west bank is known as Puxi, while the rising new district on the east is the Pudong New District. These two areas of Shanghai are well-integrated, providing Shanghai with a traditional Chinese ambience but also has her unique foreign flair that no other China city can compare to.

The erected skyscrapers, bustling traffic, fast-paced lifestyle, and glamorous night activities continually draw people to this booming city. Shanghai is an excellent city whether you are here for business or leisure. The contemporary Oriental Pearl TV Tower, beautiful Yuyuan Garden, vivid Huaihai Road and Nanjing Road plus many other Shanghai spots will assure you a memorable Shanghai travel.

Being the largest port city of China, Shanghai’s culinary tastes have changed from time to time. After the Opium War, five ports of Shanghai were forced to open market for foreign trades, which attracted massive local and oversea traders. The city was densely populated by the Chinese and foreigners and brought prosperities to Shanghai. All kinds of big culinary blocs entered Shanghai one after another, Shanghai is now emerged for a wide array of dishes, including Cantonese, Sichuan, Beijing, Yangzhuo, Ningbo and so on.

Shanghai cuisines are also known as Hu Cai, and is comprised of two styles: Benbang and Haipai. Benbang cuisines were originated in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors may find Shanghai dishes red and shiny for they are often pickled in wine offering a fresh, mellow and sweet flavor. The main cooking methods of Benbang are baking, stewing, teaming, and deep-frying. Haipai cuisines were originated in the late Qing Dynasty, and are a fusion of many other Chinese cuisines as well as the western tastes. The main ingredients used in Haipai cuisines are seafood: fish, shrimp, and crabs. Visitors surely do not want to miss the Shanghai signature dishes, as well as local dishes together with western cafes for your Shanghai travel.

Top 20 Best Restaurant in Shanghai

You may now enjoy Shanghai signature dishes and many other delightful cuisines at the top 20 Shanghai restaurants. Enjoy dinning at a colonial mansion or restaurant near the Bund for an unforgettable Shanghai culinary experience.

01. Blue Sky Rotational 
02. Juelin Vegetarian Restaurant 
03. Lupolang Restaurant 
04. Meilongzhen Restaurant 
05. Shanghai Old Restaurant 
06. Wangbaohe Restaurant 
07. Yangzhou Restaurant 
08. Bao Luo 
09. Crystal Jade 
10. Jia Jia Tang Bao 
11. Sens&Bund 
12. YongFoo Élite 
13. Yè Shanghai 
14. T8 Restaurant & Bar 
15. 1221 
16. Lan Na Thai 
17. Fook Lam Moon
18. La Villa Rouge 
19. Shanghai Uncle 
20. Danieli's 

Shanghai's Top 10 Attractions

1. The Bund - is located along the main river in Shanghai - the Huangpu River and faces Pudong. The Bund once housed a great number of banks and trading houses from Britain, France, USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium. Other foreign companies were also located in this area. Therefore, The Bund features a great number of buildings in different architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical and so on. The HSBC Building, Union Building, Bank of China are just to name a few of those buildings along The Bund.

2. Yu Garden - is one of the most important attractions when tourists do Shanghai travel. It was built in Ming Dynasty from 1559 to 1577, as the private garden of an administration commissioner of Sichuan Province. Yu Garden was later reconstructed in scale, making it a grandly noble garden and reputed as the top garden among Southeast Asia gardens. Yu Garden is the model of classical Chinese gardening architecture under state preservation. Covering over two hectares, Yu Garden is famous for several architecture marvels, including the Big Rockery, the Jade Boulder and so on. 

3. Xintiandi - Covering an area of 30,000 square meters, Xintiandi is conveniently located at the city center of Shanghai, close to the south of Huai Hai Middle Road and Tai Cang Road, with Huang Pi South Road, Ma Dang Road and Zi Zhong Road forming its boundaries. Xintiandi means New Heaven and Earth, and is considered one of the first lifestyle centers in China. It is an urban tourist attraction imbued with the city’s historical and cultural legacies. Xintiandi features a multitude of retail, entertainment, cultural, recreational, commercial and residential facilities in restored Shikumen houses.Shikumen house is a special old style of building architecture only found in Shanghai as well as traditional Chinese buildings, where one can find many things of Chinese and Western styles combined, and of modern and traditional mixture. 

4. People's Square - is located in the heart of Shanghai city, with a spacious area of 140 thousand kilometers, being one of the landmarks in Shanghai. As the famous city always has a representative square, People's Square perfectly presents the prosperity of Shanghai. Numerous important sites and commercial buildings densely aggregate around People's Square, such as Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Great Theatre, Shanghai Government Office, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, and so on. It has become an outstanding landmark in Shanghai due to its geographical condition and the city' s developing plan. 

5. Shanghai Stadium - is located in Xujiahui district of Shanghai. With a spacious area of 170 thousand square meters and a capacity of about 80,000 people, Shanghai Stadium is currently the second-largest in scale stadium with the most advanced facilities in China. Also known as Shanghai 80,000 People's Stadium, it has become a major stadium and a city landmark in Shanghai. The saddled-shape exterior and well-equipped facilities help make Shanghai Stadium reputed as Shanghai's best sports architecture in 1998. At Shanghai Stadium, a great number of sports events, concerts, exhibitions or fairs are held from time to time, bringing many local citizens or foreign visitors. 

6. Oriental Pearl TV Tower - With the height of 468 meters, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, and also the world’s 3rd tallest TV tower. Located in Pudong Park of Lujiazui, Shanghai, the stunning Oriental Pearl TV forms an interesting picture of “two dragons playing with pearls” by the Yangpu Bridge in the northeast and Nanpu Bridge on the southwest. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of the Shanghai must-sees which features an unique architectural design. This fabulous attraction is supported with 3 seven-meter wide stanchions on the base, 11 steel large and small spheres established vertically through the 3 nine-meter wide columns in the center, including 3 large spheres known as the space module and 8 spheres on the tower base.

7. Jin Mao Tower - Located in the Pudong district of Shanghai, Jin Mao Tower is the tallest building in China and the 5th highest building in the world. As a symbol for Shanghai and China's economic development, Jin Mao literally means Gold Luxuriance Building in Chinese. Being 420.5 meters high and having an area of 290,000 square meters, Jin Mao Tower's architecture is a combination of traditional Chinese architecture and western gothic influence that represents the East meets West characteristic of the 21st century. Based on the Chinese lucky number 8, Jin Mao Tower is an 88 floor high complex that consists of office spaces, a shopping mall, a hotel, and entertainment functions. Next to the Jin Mao Tower is the J LIFE building, which provides leisure services, such as spa, hair salon, luxury brand retails and Chinese and Western cuisines. 

8. Town God's Temple - Built in the 15 century and renovated in 1926, Town God's Temple is a well-known temple in Shanghai City, as one of the historical sites in this city. Near Town God's Temple is Yu Garden. Combining Yu Garden and Town God's Temple makes the Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, which features streets and shops of Chinese jade and traditional handicrafts, as well as those of local snacks. Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart is the best place for souvenir purchasing. Town God's Temple and Yu Garden are perfect places for those who are interested in Chinese traditional culture. They are must-go attractions for an enriched Shanghai travel experience. 

9. Shanghai Museum - With a collection of over 120,000 pieces, the Shanghai Museum displays some of the best cultural relics from China’s Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty, a span of over 5,000 years. While the highlights are the bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, and the painting, it also has excellent displays of jade, furniture, coins, and Chinese seals or “chops.” The museum was established in 1952, and the current building opened in 1995 with a design that recalls some of the exhibits and symbolizes “a round heaven and a square earth.”

10. Nanjing Road - is the most prosperous business street in Shanghai and it is regarded as "The first business street in China." At the length of 5.5 kilometers, Nanjing Road is separated into two sections: east and west by XiCang middle road. Built in 1851, Nanjing Road was a main road from The Bund to Honan road, playing an important role in the development of the city. After the rising of 5 grand department stores in this area, Nanjing Road has become a great commercial district in China. Today, as the best place for entertainments, Nanjing Road Walking Street is one of the most crucial places for retail goods shopping and commercial activities in Shanghai, offering all-in-one shopping centers, various stores, gorgeous restaurants and spectacular night views over this area. On Nanjing Road Walking Street there are trolleys for tourists to ride on.