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Shanghai Attractions

Kathleen's 5

 

At the northwest corner of People’s Square stands a clock tower which once marked the grandstand of the 1934 British Racing Club. It now houses the Shanghai Art Museum. On top of the museum is K...

 

At the northwest corner of People’s Square stands a clock tower which once marked the grandstand of the 1934 British Racing Club. It now houses the Shanghai Art Museum. On top of the museum is Kathleen’s 5, which serves up simple but pleasing American brunch, afternoon tea, and evening meals.

The restaurant itself is a glass box on top of the older building. The result of this design is that Kathleen’s should be avoided on the very hottest and coldest days of the year. The advantage of essentially eating in a greenhouse is that almost all the tables offer a great view overlooking People’s Square. Kathleen’s is also ideal for an evening drink out on the balcony. Brunch, served from 10:30-3:00, offers a decent Eggs Benedict (65RMB). However, the Mushroom Risotto (90RMB) and the admittedly meaty steak sandwich (120RMB) are a little overpriced. The highlight was the desserts. The Crème Cassonade with Lychee Sorbet (40RMB) and the Chocolate Mousse Brownie with Pistachio ice-cream (45RMB) were both excellent.

After your meal be sure to take the stairs down on your way out. The walls are decorated with photos of People’s Square in its past life as a racecourse in the old British Concession. 

Directions: The art museum is at the intersection of Nanjing Lu and Huangpi Nan Lu on the northwest corner of People’s Square

Xintiandi Shopping and Restaurants

Shopping in Shanghai is a mixed bag. Big spenders will be appeased by the big names on Nanjing Road such as Cartier, Hermes, Prada and Gucci. Others might prefer to shop 'til they drop at the more special...
Shopping in Shanghai is a mixed bag. Big spenders will be appeased by the big names on Nanjing Road such as Cartier, Hermes, Prada and Gucci. Others might prefer to shop 'til they drop at the more specialized and often locally owned shops in Xintiandi. My advice, particularly if you are headed to Hong Kong as part of your trip, is to avoid shopping on Nanjing Road. High-end imported luxury goods are heavily taxed upon reaching China. Prices found in Shanghai are therefore much higher than the duty free prices in Hong Kong.
 
Xintiandi provides a fantastic area to explore, eat great food and browse special shops stocked full of beautiful high end products.  The following are a few of my favorites:
           
            Simply Life – This large 2 story store on the outside of the Xintiandi development carries a wide array of stunning porcelain pieces, including an interesting selection of Chinese bone porcelain. They also carry ultra modern cool furniture, great lamps, unusual glassware and other useful and fun kitchen items.  Two storefronts down from Simply Life is Simply Thai, owned by the same company.  This delicious restaurant is well worth a visit when in Xintiandi. 
         Address: South Block No. 5, 123 Xing Ye Rd; Tel: 21 6387 5100
  
            Xavier – This privately owned, one of a kind store, carries everything from beautiful clothing and scarves to hats, furniture and jewelry.  What is particularly special about this store is that all of the clothing comes in a vast array of sizes, a noteworthy option in a city full of generally tiny women. 
            Address: Unit 2, No. 15, 181 Taicang Road, Tel: 21 6328 7111
 
            Shanghai Trio – This small, yet lovely store carries alternative and modern Chinese accessories made from truly unique fabrics.  From purses and computer bags, to duvets and children’s bathrobes – all of the items are so creative and special here that I'd honestly love to buy just about everything. Perfect for gifts.
            Address: Lane 181 Taicang Rd. (close to Huangpi Rd.) Tel: 21 6355 2974
           
Wander around the entire development, and you are guaranteed to discover more specialty shops owned by local Shanghai residents. Keep an eye out for shops such as Shanghai Tang and a small indoor “mall” that offers other upscale and unique chains. Xintiandi is a shopping experience not to be missed.
 
All of the shops stay open late – most until 10 or 11pm.  I recommend first eating dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants in the area early and shopping afterwards. Making a late reservation and shopping before dinner also works. Shikumen Bistro, T8, or Kabb come highly recommended for a meal.
 
For a quick culture and history lesson try the Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party on Huangpi Road.
 
Visit Xintiandi’s website
 
How to get there:  Xintiandi is set two blocks south of HuaiHai Rd between Madong Rd and Huangpi Rd. Take Metro Line 1 to Huangpi Rd Station. Head south for two blocks on Huangpi Rd.  Xintiandi will be on the right.  

Tongji University


 

The Gate of Tongji University (上海同济大学校门), Photo by Willie (王伟立)

German Centre for i...

City SuperMarket

City SuperMarket is an international foods grocery at the base of a department store on Huai Hai Road. This branch is a larger version of the perhaps more well known (but smaller) location at the Portman Ritz Carlton complex on Nanjing Road.  I prefer this branch of City SuperMarket for a few reasons. This locale is a much larger space, so while it has a bigger selection, it also does not feel as claustrophobic as the branch at the Portman.  The larger space also means that it is much easier to find and see less visible products, as they are not stacked on top of each other. I also think the prices are better at this location.  
  
I like the produce, deli products, and meats that are offered here.  Western cuts of pork, great fresh salmon, well chosen veggies (although not a huge selection), and a pretty generous selection of imported cheeses and salamis help me feel at home. City SuperMarket also boasts an enormous selection of western dry goods: countless cereals, crackers, cookies, and other snacks. The fresh bread selection is small, but varied and reliably tasty. We love the pita (from HaYa’s Mediterranean Cuisine) and whole wheat bread. The candy selection is mouth-watering for those longing for a sweet treat from back home. I can actually find “Red Vines” here, a candy I have only ever seen on the west coast of the United States.
 
Prices here are certainly higher than those of a Chinese grocer, but that is to be expected when intending to buy American, Swiss or French products in China.  The prices are not out of control in the grand scheme of things. There are quite a few items that I find completely worth paying an extra 10-20RMB for here than I would in the States. For example, good, hearty, crackers that might cost $2 in the States may cost $3.50 here. Still, I make up the difference by purchasing fresh cherry tomatoes which cost about a quarter of what they do at Whole Foods in America.  Pick a few items that are simply craving, and spoil yourself with a little taste of home in China!
 
How to get there: Take Metro Line 1 to Shanxi Rd. Station.  From the subway follow signs for the Hong Kong New World Department Store and take the escalators up one level. The supermarket is hidden behind the second level of escalators near the Watson’s Pharmacy.
 
The Other Location of City SuperMarket:
Shanghai Center, No.1376 Nanjing Xilu, Shanghai
+86 (0)21 6279 8018

Sushi Tei

Sushi Tei is an excellent choice for either novice sushi fans or sushi veterans seeking a quality, reliable, and cheap place to fill up on a protein filled meal. The sushi bar itself features a conveyor belt serving mechanism for those in a rush or those who simply enjoy the novelty of it. Otherw...

Sushi Tei is an excellent choice for either novice sushi fans or sushi veterans seeking a quality, reliable, and cheap place to fill up on a protein filled meal. The sushi bar itself features a conveyor belt serving mechanism for those in a rush or those who simply enjoy the novelty of it. Otherwise, Sushi Tei has comfortable table seating, and an extensive menu to order from. 

 
From the conveyer belt, I recommend the salmon sushi. Depending on your preference, either lean or fatty salmon is Y8 or Y10 respectively for two generous pieces of fish. I also adore the California roll and the Inari, both priced at Y8.  From the menu, I always prefer the hand rolls; an impressive range of varieties cost from Y10-15.  The salmon roe is particularly fresh as well. Salmon roes fans will love it – if you’ve never tried it, Sushi Tei is a good spot to experiment. The only fish I haven’t been really impressed with yet in China is the Tuna, so I’d pass on it unless you cannot live without it. The miso soup is hearty and a classic starter.  If you’re overcome with hunger, check out the set meals, which offer a number of more standard Japanese dishes such as tempura or pork cutlet.
 
Expect to pay about Y50 at the sushi bar to stuff yourself with sushi – maybe a little more if you add in tempura and the like from the menu.  I also recommend going during standard meal times – the sushi is best from 11am – 2pm for lunch and 5:30pm – 7:30pm
 
How to get there: Take Metro Line 1 to the XuJiaHui stop. Take the mall exit.  Sushi Tei sits behind the mall (called Mei Luo Cheng in Chinese – it looks like a giant glass golf ball). I couldn’t find the restaurant at first, so I asked at the information desk on floor 1 of the mall and they pointed me in the right direction. 

Element Fresh

Element Fresh is a fantastic western style health food restaurant, focusing on inventive recipes that capitalize on the restaurant’s fresh ingredients.  The original location, which opened in 2001, is on Nanjing Road next to the Portman.  The indoor space is limited, but the patio...

Element Fresh is a fantastic western style health food restaurant, focusing on inventive recipes that capitalize on the restaurant’s fresh ingredients.  The original location, which opened in 2001, is on Nanjing Road next to the Portman.  The indoor space is limited, but the patio is wonderful for the warm months in Shanghai.  The newest location, which just opened in 2006, is on Huai Hai Road near Xiang Yang Market.  This much larger space is set on the 4th floor with a great view of the city. 

 
Guests at Element Fresh simply can’t go wrong with any of the selections on the menu, but I especially adore the huge Laffa bread salad: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, chicken slices, a miso yoghurt dressing, and layer of yummy bread on the bottom (60RMB).  I also love the hummus appetizer (49RMB), bacon and bleu  cheese sandwich (55RMB), and the turkey and bacon with goat cheese sandwich (68RMB).  The smoothies and juice are wonderfully fresh, and Element Fresh also serves impressive lattes.
 
I also really enjoy the music played at Element Fresh. To sum it up, Element Fresh is a great place, not to be missed!
 
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 1 to the Shanxi Rd. stop. Exit onto Huai Hai Rd, and walk west. After crossing Xiang Yang Rd Element Fresh will be on the right side of the street next to a very tall office building. 
 
Other locations:

No.1376, Nanjing Xilu, Shanghai. (上海市南京西路1376号上海商城112号)
Tel:+86 (0)21 6279 8682
Fax:+86 (0)21 6279 8687
Time: 7:00- 23:00, Friday & Sta. 7:00- 24:00

 
 
 
 
 
 

Ground Floor, Northwest Corner, Super Brand Mall, Lujiazui Xilu & Fucheng Lu, Shanghai(上海市陆家嘴富城路正大广场一层西北角)
Tel: +86 (0)21 5047 2060
Fax: +86 (0)21 5047 2070
Time: 7:00-23:00, Friday & Sta.: 7:00- 24:00

1F,No.279 Wuxing Lu (near ZhaoJiabang Lu) (上海市吴兴路279号)
Tel: +86 (0)21 5116 9897
Time: 8am -10pm
 
 
 

Shop 163, Ground Floor, Walking Street, Grand Gateway Mall,No.1 Hongqiao Lu, Shanghai (上海市虹桥路1号港汇广场内街1楼163室)
Tel: +86 (0)21 6407 5992
Fax: +86 (0)21 6407 5972
Time: 11:00- 15:00, Weekend: 10:00-16:00
Non-smoke

 
 
 

Unit 2, 2F, Headquarters Building,No.168,  Xizang Zhonglu, Shanghai (上海市西藏中路168号都市总部大厦2楼2单元)
Tel: +86 (0)21 6361 6556
Fax: +86 (0)21 6361 6556
Time: 8:00- 21:00 (Monday- Friday)

Shop 17, 2F, Building 2, Corporate Avenue, No.202 Hubin Lu, Shanghai (上海市湖滨路202号企业天地商业中心2号楼2层17号店铺)
Tel: +86 (0)21 6340 6966
Time: 7:00- 22:30, Friday & Sta.: 9:30-20:00

Shanghai Tower

As China’s tallest and the world’s second tallest building, Shanghai Tower is a must-see for every tourist in Shanghai. Standing at a height of 632 meters, it has 127 floors above ground and 5 floors below.

Suggest 1.5 hours for observatory

What you could experience: Sightse...

As China’s tallest and the world’s second tallest building, Shanghai Tower is a must-see for every tourist in Shanghai. Standing at a height of 632 meters, it has 127 floors above ground and 5 floors below.

Suggest 1.5 hours for observatory

What you could experience: Sightseeing, Coffee, Shopping, Rooftopping Photo Studio, Eye of Shanghai

Route:

B1F Exhibition Hall ----Downstairs to B2 Floor to take the Ultra High-Speed Elevator  to 118F Observatory(----sometimes accessible to 119F Observatory)----125F (Eye of Shanghai) (optional and not free of charge)

The elevators are the fastest in the world, travelling at 18 meters per second. You can reach the observatory at 118F of 546 meters within 55 seconds, stable and smooth, the elevator will arrive 118F before you realize it.

Ticket price

Top of Shanghai Observatory B1F+118F RMB 180  ; Top of Shanghai Observatory B1F+118F+125F RMB 220

Ticket office is on Rd. Huayuanshiqiao Lu.

Besides sightseeing in the Tower, there are some restaurants and retailing shops. And the other two skyscrapers, Jinmao Tower and World Financial Center are just next to the tower.

After finishing the tower, you could choose try some Chinese dim sum inside or outside (there are two shopping malls in this area), as this area is located in Lujiazui, in where hundreds of banks and insurance company can be found, in where the most expensive apartment can be found, so it’s not cheap for even a bottle of water here. However, considering the environment and service, it’s valuable.

Shanghai Articles

Top Shanghai Tours

$238 Per Day

Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.

This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.


$70 Per Day

Bike Tour - "Shanghai by Night"

What would be a better way to experience the “City That Never Sleeps” than hopping on one of our vintage Forever bicycles and explore a whole New World after dark? Follow our foreign expert Tour Leader on a multi-themed route from the narrow streets of the Old Town all the way to the dazzling lights of the Bund. Meanwhile, cycle around the famous landmark Yu Garden, learn about Ghost Wedding rituals, visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine outlet and get to learn more about the "Paris of the East". Finally, tickle your taste buds with some delicious street food in order to immerse yourself deeper into local life. In just one evening, we'll explore the many faces of Shanghai that make this city so unique. Easy and accessible ride for all!

USEFUL INFORMATION

- English-speaking (for other languages, please contact us)  

- About 9 km ride, easy ride for all.

- From 18:15pm to 21:30pm

- Up to 6 participants

- Departure and arrival at our Culture Shock Office in Xintiandi district.

- Minimum height is 1.50m. Tandem bikes are available for kids below 12

- Prices are all inclusive (Snack food, a bottle of water, a foreign experienced guide, a helmet and single-gear vintage bike rental with all lights)

- Join-in Group every Tuesday/Friday/Saturday (USD 70 per person)

- Private Tour possible every day (USD 210 in total for 2 participants)

$2202 Per Day

Beijing - Xi'an - Shanghai 10days study tour

Day 01 Arrival at Beijing

On arrival in Beijing, you will be met by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Beijing. Free for the rest of the day.

Day 02Beijing (B L)-- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo

After breakfast at your hotel, start your tour with the visit to Tiananmen Square(40minutes), the largest public square in the world. Then move on to the Forbidden City(2hours), the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Lunch at a special restaurant.

Then move on to Beijing zoo(1.5hours), which is one of the oldest zoos in China and has one of the largest animal collections in the country. The zoo and its aquarium has over 450 species of land animals and over 500 species of marine animals. In all, it is home to 14,500 animals. More than six million visitors come to the zoo each year. The zoo was founded in 1906 during the late Qing Dynasty. Like many of Beijing's parks, the zoo's grounds resemble classical Chinese gardens, with flower beds amidst natural scenery, including dense groves of trees, stretches of meadows, small streams and rivers, lotus pools and hills dotted with pavilions and historical buildings.

Day 03 Beijing ( B L )--Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Green, outside look the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, Shaolin kungfu school

Morning excursion to the most beautiful section of the Great Wall - the Mutianyu Great Wall. The hike takes about 2-3 hours. After lunch at Chinese Restaurant, Then head to the Olympic Green to have an outside look at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube(1hour). Shaolin Kung Fu is a huge scientific system, not the general sense of the "branches" or "boxing kinds". Chinese martial arts enjoy a huge structure complex with many branches, among which shaolin kung fu has the dominant place by its long history, the complex system and excellent technology boundary. Back to your hotel.

Day 04 Beijing-Xi'an( B L )

Hands-on D.I.Y Chinese dumplings(2hours) at the local family in Gaobeidian, enjoy these with other Chinese dishes and this will be your Lunch. Afternoon learn the Art of paper cutting, visit the gaobeidian school. After the tour, we go to the train station to Xian. Overnight on the train.

Day 05 Xian ( B L )--Big Wild Goose Pagoda square, Muslim Bazaar, Xi'an City Wall

Arrive in Xian, pick up. Breakfast at hotel. The Muslim Bazaar, the Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi'an.The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall,souvenir shop,coffee and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. We visit massive Xian City Wall. Have a nice walk in the North Square to view the fully illuminated Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Musical Fountain Performance.

Day 06 Xian ( B L )-- Qin Terracotta Army, Shaanxi Historical Museum

Morning pick up by local guide. Enjoy your full day visit to the Qin Terracotta Army, one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. Afternoon, visit the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Day 07 Xian--shanghai ( B L )

Visit Bell tower and Drum tower. Farmer paintings, and learning the painting. Then go to airport to catch a flight. Pick up by shanghai local guide, only transfer to hotel.

Day 8 Shanghai ( B L )-- Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Jade Buddha Temple. Jade Buddha Temple is a key temple in Shanghai that thriving with flows of disciples every day, especially on the 1st and 15th day of every lunar month as well as all the traditional Buddhism festivals. Visit pearl factory, it's a nice place to buy a necklace or bracelet. It is very good gift from China. Visit the lovely old Yuyuan Garden look nine zig zag bridge with golden fish pond, bridges and pavilions. Explore the Bund in the evening.

Day 9 Shanghai ( B L )--Shanghai Museum, People Square, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV tower, Children's Palace

The Shanghai Museum which is the largest museum of ancient Chinese art in Shanghai. Visit the People Square and Nanjing Road for shopping. Visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower 2nd level. Visit the Children��s Palace 30-45minutes.

Day 10 Shanghai ( B )

Your China Experience is over all too soon as you transfer to the airport and board the homebound international flight, bidding a fond farewell to this ancient land.