Shanghai is a wonderful, bustling modern city with a good mix of the old and the new cultures of China. Traditional architecture jostles with modern skyscrapers. Sparkling new restaurants cater to international tourists alongside the run-down carts of street vendors. Here are a few fun things to take in while visiting this metropolis. Whether you have a day or a week, most of these are close enough to each other to fit into any itinerary.
1. Shanghai Museum
Over 200, 000 cultural artifacts and 120, 000 books. The building itself depicts a “round heaven and square earth” and impresses locals and foreigners alike. Its famous collections include bronze-ware, pottery, porcelain, calligraphy and classic Chinese paintings.
Admission: Free
Hours of operation: 09:00 – 17:00
Phone: 021-63724550
Address: 201 People’s Avenue, Huangpu District
How to get there: Metro Line 1, 2, and 8 to People’s Square Station
2. Shanghai Art Gallery
Founded over fifty years ago, the gallery houses about 10, 000 contemporary works from China and the rest of the world.
Admission: Free
Hours of operation: 09:00 – 17:00 (no entry after 16:00)
Phone: 021-63272829
Address: 325 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu District
How to get there: Metro Line 1, 2, and 8 to People’s Square Station
3. Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Currently, the biggest urban planning exhibition hall in the world. This building displays the past, present and future of Shanghai’s urban planning and construction. The site continues to get rave reviews from friends and relatives who have stumbled across it. “A must see”, according to all.
Admission: Free
Hours of operation: 09:00 – 17:00 (no entry after 16:00)
Phone: 021-63722077
Address: 100 People’s Avenue
How to get there: Metro Line 1, 2, and 8 to People’s Square Station
4. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is located just next to the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai’s busy financial district of Lujiazui, Pudong. It is the largest aquarium in Asia covering an area of about 13,000 square metres and a total construction area of over 20,000 square metres. It is the only aquarium which has a Chinese Aquarium Species Exhibition Area, highlighting the aquatic species of the Yangtze River Valley.
Admission: 135 Yuan
Hours of operation: 09:00 – 18:00
Phone: 021-58779988
Address: 1388 Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong
How to get there: Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui Station
5. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Admission: 60 Yuan (adults), IMAX 3D – 40 Yuan, IMX Dome Theatre – 30 Yuan,
IWERKS 4D Theatre – 30 Yuan, Space Theatre – 20 Yuan
Hours of Operation: 09:00 – 17:15 (closed on Mondays)
Phone: 021-68542000
Address: 2000 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area
How to get there: Metro Line 2 to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station
6. Jin Mao Observatory 88
The Jin Mao Tower is an 88-story supertall skyscraper in the Lujiazui area of Pudong district. It contains offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel. Until 2007 it was the tallest building in the PRC, the fifth tallest in the world by roof height and the seventh tallest by pinnacle height. Along with the Oriental Pearl Tower, it is a centerpiece of the Pudong skyline. Its height was surpassed on September 14, 2007 by the Shanghai World Financial Center. The observation deck is on the 88th floor.
The highest post office in China, on the observation deck of Jin Mao Tower, provides collectors’ stamps and special services to tourists. There is also a digital photo service on the deck to provide visitors with memories of the trip.
Admission: 88 Yuan
Hours of operation: 08:30 – 21:30
Phone: 021-50475101
How to get there: Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui Station
7. World Financial Center
The Shanghai World Financial Center another supertall skyscraper located in Pudong district. The Shanghai World Financial Center towers over all other structures in Eastern China. It is a mixed-use skyscraper, consisting of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. The Park Hyatt Shanghai, on the 79th to the 93rd floors, is the second-highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 53rd to 87th floors of the neighboring Jin Mao Tower.
The skyscraper is the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest structure in the People’s Republic of China. The SWFC opened on 28 August 2008, with its observation deck opening two days later. This observation deck, the world’s tallest at the time of its completion, offers views from 474 m (1,555 ft) above ground level.
Admission: 150 Yuan
Phone: 021-58780101
Address: 100 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area
How to get there: Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui or Dongfang Road Station
8. Shanghai Maglev Train
This is the first and only commercial maglev line in the world. It connects Longyang Road Station of Metro Line 2 in the west and ends at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the east. Shanghai Maglev covers 30 kilometers in less than 8 minutes!
Admission: One-way ticket: 50 Yuan, Round trip – 80 Yuan
Hours of operation: 07:00 – 21:00
Phone: 021-28907272
Address: 2100 Longyang Road (at the intersection of Longyang Road and Baiyang Road),
Pudong International Airport
9. Jade Buddha Temple
The most famous and ancient temple in Shanghai, located in the city center. It gets its name from the many jade Buddha sculptures found in the temple.
Admission: 30 Yuan
Hours of operation: 08:00 – 16:30
Address: 170 Anyuan Road {near Jiangning Road)
How to get there: Bis No. 19, 36, 113, 206, 24, 54, 68, 76, 112, 138, 738, 13, 63, 105, 950
10. ERA – Intersection of Time
A multimedia theatrical spectacular focusing on acrobatics. It has the reputation of “Exporting Culture without Going Abroad.” You need to book in advance and it is full ticket price for children.
Admission: 580 Yuan (VIP), 380 Yuan, 280 Yuan, 180 Yuan, 80 Yuan
Hours of operation: 19:30 nightly (check for additional matinee shows during holidays)
Phone: 021-66527750, 66300000
Address: 2266 Gonghexing Road
How to get there: Metro Line 1 to Shanghai Circus Town Station
Pretty awesome stuff!!