Shanghai is a vibrant metropolis blending modern skyscrapers with historic charm. Shanghai, known as the Paris of the East, is a gateway city to visit China. Sightseeing in Shanghai can be a daunting task. In a megacity of Shanghai where there's something different to see around every corner, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are the top 10 must-visit places in Shanghai:
1. The Bund
The Bund is an iconic waterfront area of Shanghai. It is the most popular tourist attraction in the city. The Bund stretches for about 1 and a half kilometers along the Huangpu River. This waterfront for long has been considered the symbol of Shanghai. Several spectacular buildings of Western architecture run along the length of the Bund. These were built when the Britishers settled in the area in many styles like the Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Classicism.
2. Xujiahui Catholic Church
Xujiahui Catholic Church is adjacent to the prosperous Xujiahuidistrict. It is the largest Catholic Church in Shanghai. The red brick walls and two towering bell towers make this medieval Gothic building with hundreds of years of history particularly eye-catching. The simple exterior modeling and gorgeous interior decoration carry a strong religious atmosphere. You can also feel the rare tranquility in the city. Every night, the church is particularly charming under external lighting.
3. Yu Garden
Yu Garden or the Yuyuan Garden is the most famous classical Chinese Garden in a long list of numerous tourist places in Shanghai. The beautiful views offered by the Yu Garden have earned it the title ‘the crown of beauty in Southeast China’. It was built by the Ming Dynasty and it is a maze of many artificial mountains, green trees, dragon walls, rockeries, bridges, traditional buildings, and pavilions. You can explore the six parts of the garden namely the Sansui Hall, the Dianchun Hall, the Wanhua Chamber, the Yuhua Hall, the Huijing Hall, and the Inner Garden.
4. Jade Buddha Temple
The Jade Buddha Temple is home to two stunning white jade Buddha statues which were brought into the country in the late 19th century. One of Shanghai's most visited tourist attractions, the temple was built in 1928, after the old temple housing the statues was destroyed in the revolution. The two statues portray the Buddha in two positions. One in which he is sitting is meant to depict his time in meditation and achieving enlightenment. This statue is approximately 2 meters tall. The second statue is of a reclined Buddha, symbolizing his death and final resting, which is around 1 meter long.
5. Oriental Pearl Tower
One of Shanghai’s most iconic landmarks offers panoramic city views from its observation decks. The glass-bottomed walkway is a thrilling experience. The unique architecture of this TV and radio tower makes it one of the most attractive places in Shanghai. It is surrounded by green grassland on all sides, making it even more photographic. You can travel up and down the tower in its double-decker elevator and enjoy the view from any of its six observation decks.
6. Longhua Temple And Pagoda
Longhua, the oldest and largest temple of Shanghai was first built in 242 AD. The temple has several halls namely the Maitreya Hall, the Devaraj Hall, Mahavira Hall, Three Sages Hall, Abbot’s Hall, and the Sutras Hall. Here you will also find two accessory halls, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. The courtyard of the temple is built in a traditional Buddhist symmetry style. You can also see the seven-storied Longhua Pagoda located in front of the temple. The bells attached on each side of the octagonal eaves make the surroundings cheering and lively.
In the late spring, you can attend the temple fair along with several other tourists and pilgrims.
7. Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai Museum is one of the most modern museums in the world. It houses large collections of ancient Chinese art. The Shanghai Museum is one of the buildings located in the People's Square. It was shifted here in 1996 from its previous location on West Nanjing Road. The museum's huge collection is divided into 11 galleries and 3 exhibition halls. The collection comprises over 1,20,000 pieces of art, ranging from sculptures, ornament, paintings, calligraphy, coins, jades, ceramics, bronze, and seals.
8. Shanghai Zoo
Shanghai Zoo is near Hongqiao Airport. There are more than 600 kinds of animals in the zoo, including a panda, elk, golden monkey, Siberian tiger, and other rare animals. There are amphibians and reptiles, herbivores, beasts of prey, birds of prey, and other animal exhibition areas, as well as a science and Education Museum, goldfish Gallery, butterfly museum, and other exhibition halls.
There is also a reed-covered Swan Lake, inhabiting pelicans, swans, mandarin ducks, and other birds. It is also a good choice to stay in the zoo to rest on the lawn, bask in the sun, row boats, and ride the Ferris wheel.
9. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
A popular place with kids and adults alike, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is a well-built structure. It provides an experience of viewing marine life from all over the world with its special dedicated zones, thanks to its extremely long submarine tunnel. These special zones include China Zone, America Zone, Africa Zone, Australia Zone, Cold Water Zone, Deep Shore Zone and Sea and Shore. Apart from these, there is also a special zone for temporary exhibitions, with over 300 species of animals and vast knowledge about their habitats.
10. Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road is located between the Bund, Jing’an Temple, and West Yan’an Street. This premier shopping street in China is one of the top tourist attractions in Shanghai for shoppers seeking fashion. This shopping street is almost a century old and has gone through several significant structural changes.
Though modern specialty stores, theatres, shopping malls, and international hotels have overshadowed traditional stores, you can still explore and shop in almost hundreds of traditional stores. You can find many ancient traditional food stores here, offering you a taste of authentic Shanghai food.
