If one has to be any where in the world today, it has to be Shanghai . It is the most happening place today and its exciting to witness it grow bigger and jazzier every day. If one wants the most stunning view of the city, the way to do it is to take a river cruise on the curvy Huang Pu just when the sun goes down and the city lights are switched on. It has become a view that has been captured by so many cameras in the world and continues to amaze every one. Huang Pu forms the natural divide between the old Shanghai and the Shanghai of tomorrow. On the Puxi side one can see the stunning, European style old buildings and on the Pudong side are the mind boggling Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower which houses the Hotel Grand Hyatt with its lobby on the 55 th floor and an atrium which goes up to a neck snapping and jaw dropping 88 th floor.

It's a city which invites you to walk and explore. The tree lined streets of Shanxi Lu, the lanes and by lanes of the French Concession, the restored houses tucked away in the deep streets, Hua Hai Lu –the fashion street, the amazing bird market, the antique street, the boutique lined Taicang Lu, the flower market, the fabric market, the bags and ready made clothes market, the old town of Nanshi, the dancing and exercising groups of Fuxing Park, the kite flying buddies in the early morning Bund, shoulder rubbing crowds on a weekend on the pedestrian Nanjing Dong Lu ...Shanghai just goes on and on…..A city and a people that charm and disarm….

Shanghai is a shoppers' paradise. You can literally shop till you drop and still feel rich enough to carry on for another one year….from pearls to fabric and handicrafts to furniture…Shanghai has it all…at prices that you can find no where in the world.

Shanghai makes a lovely base to explore China . Its very well connected to all the major cities and the flights are frequent and regular. Train rides are a very interesting option. You must during your stay cover all the closest towns first like Hang Zhou, Nanjing , Suzhou , Putoushan, etc. Cover the ancient water villages as well as it is such a unique experience to take a boat ride in the canals that wind thru the antique, beautifully appointed residences of village officials.

Try the wide variety of cuisine available here from all parts of China and the world. Chinese love good food and are lavish hosts. So don't really clean up your plate otherwise the host will carry on ordering and serving more!

Shanghai is a city you will truly enjoy living in. Especially now when all the conveniences of the modern day –malls, movie halls, heated/air-conditioned homes, imported groceries, fashionable salons and spas, hotels, all makes of cars, good medical services - are available to you with the conveniences of having the age old eastern comforts of dedicated and honest ayis at home to cycle down to the wet market for you and cook delicious meals and enthusiastic drivers to help you navigate through the roads and streets of this gigantic city.

Soak in the ambience, enjoy the four seasons, mouth watering fresh fruits and vegetables and a wide variety of meats and fishes that are in the market, get charmed by the sweetness and disarming approachability of a people who have just come out of their cocoon of years of isolated existence. That isolation may have cut them off from the world, but their resilience, their culture and their determination to do well have deepened. In fact they are holding the world in awe. You are lucky to be witnessing this giant bird opening its wings to take flight.

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www.travelchinaguide.com
www.wildchina.com

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