Gauss-Telegraph: World trip from home in 30 days – Shanghai

 

Gauss-Telegraph: World trip from home in 30 days – Shanghai

by Andrés Muñoz

My impression of Shanghai

Shanghai (上海 – Shànghăi) is a very international and cosmopolitan city, which is often underrated by tourists. As a megalopolis, it has a lot to offer, from museums, shopping areas, delicious Chinese and Western restaurants to skycrapers. Language barrier might be a problem, but locals are very friendly towards foreigners and are always willing to help you. Signs on the streets or metro are in Chinese and English, so you can get around town pretty easily without knowing Chinese. Though it’s always useful to know some phrases in Chinese in order to communicate.

 Must-see attractions

My favorite spot in the city is the Bund (外滩 – Wàitān), especially at night. The Bund ist the waterfront area along the Huangpu River in the center of Shanghai. You can get an amazing view of the modern skyline from there and see the tallest and most iconic buildings in the city: Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower and Jin Mao Tower. Meanwhile, on the side of the Bunde you can see historic landmarks built during the era of the European concessions in Shanghai, like the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Customs House, the Russian Consulate and the former Shanghai Club (now the Waldorf Astoria Hotel). From the Bund, you should also head towards the west across Nanjing Road, one of the main shopping streets. If you keep walking, you’ll come across People’s Square, where the Shanghai Museum and the Urban Planning Exhibition Center are located, among others. Afterwards, you can visit Jing’An Temple, a buddhist temple right in the middle of the city, contrasting all surrounding skyscrapers. Other must-see areas in Shanghai are the former French Concession and the M50, a contemporary art district which many studios open to public (for free).

Best museum in the city

The Power Station of Art (678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu District) is a contemporary art museum housed in a former power station (thus the name). The art exhibitions change every few months, but you can check their website to inform yourself about the current exhibitions. After having a look around the halls, you can head to the café on the top floor, where you can enjoy a nice view of the former Expo site.

Favorite local dish

Xiǎolóngbāo (小笼包)! Roughly translated it means „little steamer buns“. Xiǎolóngbāo is a type of dumpling, which is filled with a broth, so you must be careful when eating them, otherwise you might burn your tongue or spill the broth everywhere. Eating this dish will put your chopstick-skills to test. My second favorite dish is braised pork with rice (红烧肉 – hóngshāo ròu). Something particular about this dish and Shanghainese food is that is sweeter than in other parts of China.  

Note: Due to the spread of the coronavirus, we don’t recommend to travel until the all restrictions have been lifted.