Shanghai : Top Attractions of Shanghai

Shanghai, Image by Leslin_Liu from Pixabay

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                Shanghai is the largest city in China and has a whopping population of 24 million. It is a very modern city with all kinds of modern amenities available. However, there are also a horde of places that you can go to if you want to get a quieter tough or take a more historical tour of the city. It is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River making it easy for you to travel using the inward water channels too! There are many fun and interesting places to go to or things to do while you are in Shanghai. So, here is a list of the few things you must definitely do in Shanghai, even if you are there for just a couple of days or even less.

The Bund at night. Image by 公子 吴 from Pixabay

The Bund

Zhongshan Lu, popularly known by its Anglo-Indian name, The Bund, is a splendid riverside promenade along the western banks of the Huangpu Jiang River. It is a popular place to visit in Shanghai and is known amongst tourists as the area that has retained a European feel from the colonial times when it housed the international settlers. There are many buildings of English and French origins that display various architectural features such as Neoclassical, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Romanesque styles. 52 such unique buildings serve as various galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and even offices. In fact, as you walk from the southern to the northern end you will also get to see the old headquarters of HSBC. On the northern end of the promenade is Huangpu Park which was opened in 1886 and is the oldest public park in the country.

Image by Bernd Hellmuth from Pixabay

Yu Garden
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Yù Yuán or Yu Garden is situated in the northeastern part of the old town. Also known as the Garden of Happiness this was laid out in 1559 on 20,000 m2 of land and is one of the most splendid places you can go to in Shanghai. The huge area covered by the garden comprises an inner and an outer garden. The Outer Garden is the oldest section of the garden with the most recent structure being constructed in the 18th century- Sansui tang, the main hall was set up during that time. There are beautiful roof ornaments, dragon-adorned walls, window openings, and several figurines made in bas-reliefs. The Hall of Spring, which served as the headquarters of the Company of the Little Swords between 1853-55 is the most famous building in the garden. The newer Inner Garden was laid down in 1709 and also boasts many attractions such as the Chinese writer's garden, decorative stones, a theatrical stage, miniature models of mountain ranges, little pavilions, and much more.

Jade Buddha Temple, Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Jade Buddha Temple
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The present Jade Buddha Temple in the Anyuan district was erected in 1928 as a replacement for the original temple which was constructed in 1882 to house the two jade Shakyamuni statues brought by monk Huigen from Burma. There are three halls within the temple and two beautiful courtyards. Tian Wang Dian or the Hall of the Kings of Heaven is the most notable one with four statues of the heavenly kings and two statues of Shakyamuni. Daxiong Baodian or the Hall of the Great Hero is also very interesting with the collection of Buddhas of the Three Ages and 18 other Luohan figures.

Old Museum Building. Image by Jojo Yuen (sharemyfoodd) at Unplash

Shanghai Museum
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The Shanghai Museum is one of the most significant museums in China and has a vast collection of Chinese classical art. There are many impressive displays of bronze and ceramic works spread throughout the 4 floors of the museum. Among other works, the museum also houses several ink drawings, calligraphy works and seals, and a large collection of artwork collected from ethnic minorities. The museum displays such works dating back to prehistoric times up to the 19th century. You will also find a collection of coins, jade works, and furnishing items belonging to the Ming and Qing dynasties in the museum.

Longhua Temple
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The Longhua Temple and the nearby wood and brick pagoda are two of the oldest religious structures in China with their origins dating back to 242 AD. Both the temple and the 40m tall pagoda have been rebuilt and renovated several times over the thousands of years with the present structures dating back to the 10th century. There are 5 main halls within the complex and regular Buddhist ceremonies are still conducted in the temple. The most notable halls to look out for are the Maitreya Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, and the Grand Hall of the Great Sage where there are wonderful statues and a great bell from the 16th century.

Nanjing Road. Photo by Ye Massa on Unsplash

Nanjing Road
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Nanjing Riad is the place to be if you are fond of shopping. It was constructed in the 19th century and spanned several miles selling all kinds of wares that you can think of. Chinese souvenirs sold by street vendors to exquisite boutiques selling traditional artworks, from trendy shopping malls to departmental stores such as Yibai and Jiubai, you will find it all on this road. There are also many restaurants as well as many options to try out the street food in Shanghai. You will have most fun visiting Nanjing Road if you are perchance visiting Shanghai during the Chinese New Year.

Xujiahui Cathedral

​Sheshan Basilica & Xujiahui Cathedral

​The Sheshan Basilica is a Roman Catholic church and quite a pleasant structure to visit while in Shanghai. It was damaged during the Chinese Cultural Revolution but has been impressively renovated since then. One of the highlights of visiting the Sheshan Basilica has to be the 14 stations of the Cross which take you zigzagging through the hill to the top where the church is situated. This journey is filled with some stunning vistas as you slowly travel to the top.

The Xujiahui Cathedral is another such monument that indicates the multicultural heritage of Shanghai. It was built in 1911 and features a Neo-Romanesque style of architecture. This is the largest place in Shanghai for catholic Christians to worship and offers a beautiful location to witness for any visitor. There are 50m high twin bell towers that make this place a must on your itinerary. The finely stained windows and renovated interiors are also something that you should look forward to.