Shanghai
Shanghai
- Formerly an unimportant fishing village, Shanghai (translated
literally, "on the sea") is one of the world's largest
seaports and a major industrial and commercial center of China.
It is located on the coast of the East China Sea, between the
mouth of the Yangtze River to the north and the bays of Hangzhou
to the south. Since first opening to the outside world in the
19th century, a result of the expansion of foreign nations abroad
and, more recently, reopening to the outside world after the
period of upheaval of the Cultural Revolution, Shanghai has
become China's most energetic and cosmopolitan city. It has
attracted immigrants from within China as well as abroad. Its
residents are known for their business talents, quick wit, and
sophistication. It is the site of China's first and foremost
stock exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Its industrial
products rank the best in quality in China. It is one of China's
leading centers of higher education and scientific research,
including the famous Fudan and Jiao Tong universities. In 1993,
with the strong support of the central government, Shanghai
established the Pudong New Area Administration to oversee the
development of the Pudong New Area into a special economic zone,
including a modern financial center, a high technology development
park, and an export processing and free trade zone. A tourist
city, Shanghai attracts travelers from both home and abroad
because of its commercial activity rather than for its scenic
beauty.
Local Places of Interest, Activities and Tours of the Surrounding
Areas
Shanghai
Old Town – Narrow streets and alleys, traditional
Chinese stores, restaurants selling delicious dumplings, this
is the original pre war Shanghai. It is also called Chinatown
or Nanshi. During the pre World War II times of the International
Settlements, and the French Concession when Shanghai was inhabited
and dominated by many foreign businesses and companies this
is where most Chinese lived who were not employed as live in
help by wealthy foreigners. Chinese law was observed in this
area of Shanghai. Prior to 1911 Shanghai, Old Town, was a walled
city made up mainly of fishermen, but the walls of the city
were torn down to allow freerer movement and easier trade. The
center then, as now, was the Yu Garden and the Huxingting Tea
House. Both of which should not be missed. In recent years redevelopment
has seen the construction of newer buildings in the Chinese
style which house many stores and restaurants, but a small part
of Old Shanghai still exists. The Old City is located to the
west of the Bund and Huangpu River and south of Nanjing Road.
Yu
Gardens – Located in the Old Town of Shanghai,
south of the Bund. It was first established in the Ming Dynasty
by a Mandarin named Pan Yunduan who used to be the governor
of Sichuan. The Yu Garden was considered the best garden in
Southeast China. The Yu Garden enjoyed a history over 400 years
since its first establishment by Pan Yunduan who had intended
to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives.
It became the headquarters of the Dagger Association or Small-Sword
Group Uprising (an uprising in 1853 led by the Dagger Association,
a secret organization, against the foreign imperialists in Shanghai
and Xiamen of Fujian Province). Now a great number of weapons,
home-made coins and announcements used by the Dagger Association
are on display in the Spring Hall of the Garden. A large-scale
restoration of the Yu Garden was conducted after the establishment
of PRC and it was opened to the public formally in 1961.
Oriental
Pearl Tower - Anyone arriving in Shanghai at night
from the airport for the first time is immediately taken with
the Oriental Pearl TV Tower as it monopolizes an already amazing
emerging skyline. It soars over the Huangpu river from the Pudong
area and one might imagine it as an incredible space ship landing.
Dramatic lighting effects highlight this unusual structure.
The tower is referred to by the Chinese as "two dragons
playing with a pearl". In 1995 it began broadcasting nine
television channels and 10 FM radio channels. It is 1,245 feet
high, and is one of the tallest structures in Asia. The viewing
area is half-way up and offers a splendid unparalleled view
of the Bund, the emerging new modern Shanghai, and the most
recently developed Special Economic Zone of Pudong. A cafe is
located on the first floor and on the viewing platform there
is a souvenir shop.
The
Bund - As you walk through Shanghai, it may feel as
though you are entering a fair of world architecture or an art
gallery of human civilization. In fact, Shanghai is unique among
world cities in its variety of architectural styles. This variety
reflects the wisdom and efforts of architects, engineers, and
workers both foreign and domestic and is a precious legacy to
the world. Take a walk along the Bund (Zhongshan Road), once
the most famous street in Asia. It is a tree-lined promenade
along the Huangpu River. The major firms of the Far East had
their headquarters in the buildings facing the river. First
among them is the former Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, which
after 1949 was used as the city Communist Party Headquarters.
It is now the home of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
Suzhou
and Zhouzhuang - Take a day tour to experience two
picturesque towns, Suzhou and Zhouzhuang, each unique in the
splendors they reveal. Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in
the Yangtze basin, founded in about 600 BC. With its interconnected
waterways and beautiful environment, the city is often referred
as “The Venice of the East”. Suzhou was one of the
few cities in China to escape the ravages of the Cultural Revolution
and its famous gardens survived almost intact. It is the gardens
here, which are the most famous attraction in the city. The
gardens embody the harmonious principles of Chinese garden construction
which dictate that gardens should 
attempt
to create a microcosm of the universe in a confined space. Upon
arrival in Suzhou, the first stop should be the Net Master Garden,
one of the best preserved Ming Dynasty Gardens in all of China.
Then it's on to Silk Embroidery Research Institute, famous for
its traditional techniques of double-sided and double-faced
embroidery. The Institute is world renowned for its stunning
animals, birds, butterflies and flower embroidery. No visit
to Suzhou would be complete with a visit to the Ancient City
Wall and Grand Canal. After lunch, it's on to the water town
of Zhouzhuang where you'll board a Chinese-style gondola to
cruise on the waterways of the city. Zhouzhuang is well known
for its beautiful environment and simple architecture, well
preserved for over 900 years. The majority of the town's residences
were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and nearly 100 classic
courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are still in use. In
this water village, locals live life on waterways, still doing
everyday activities from washing clothes to shopping from vendors
in boats.
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