Shanghai Vacations

Overview

Shanghai is located along the Yangtze River, which often left it vulnerable to unwanted intervention from other countries wanting to impose their exports on the Empire. While its position in the country led to vulnerability in the past, it has since then become an international trade center. Shanghai is often referred to as the Oriental Pearl. This area has seen rapid growth and development over the last hundred years. There was a decline in growth and economics toward the middle of the 20^th century, but interest in the city has been renewed and it once again thrives. Shanghai has grown from a provincial city into an international metropolis on par with New York and Paris in just a matter of ten years. In fact no other city in the world has seen such unprecedented growth as Shanghai.

Activities & Attractions

Shanghai is the host of many traditional and modern Chinese festivals. Shanghai continues to host celebrations as the New Year Bell Striking, the Yuyuan Lantern Festival, and the Longhua Temple Fair. Another famous attraction in Shanghai is the Bund. The Bund is located on the east bank of the Huangpu River. You can see many of the activities from this area. The lights in the Bund at night are incredible. Also, along the west bank, there are many elaborate buildings with European architecture. A statue of Marshal Chen Yi gazes down on the square, where musicians often gather to sing and play music. The Shanghai Museum is also a must see attraction. It houses over 120,000 relics and artifacts of the past. Paintings, calligraphies and pottery are abundant in the museum. You may also want to visit the Jade Buddha Temple which houses two white jade Buddha statues that were brought here from Burma. It is a place of worship for many, but visitors are also welcome.

There are also private and commercial tours of Shanghai available at some of the travel agencies and businesses in the area. If you are the kind who likes packaged tours, this may be the apt choice for you.

Lodging

There are many hotels in Shanghai that start in the price range of around $50 a night. You can also find hotels for as low as $20 per day. There are also hostels and service apartments which range $29 and up. Many online resources are available that give information on lodging, which list various hotels in Shanghai.

Transportation

Shanghai has the world's largest public transportation system in the world. It is considered to be convenient and satisfactory although congestion is sometimes a problem. Considering that Shanghai has the largest population in China is not surprising. There are subways, buses, and shuttle services available for transport.