Historical Shanghai
Description:
Once a small fishing town, Shanghai has blossomed into the fashion, finance and business center of China. See the city as it began, as it grew, and as it is today with this five day trip through Shanghai's history.
Author: shanghailulu
Day 1 - Shanghai
Before checking into your hotel in Shanghai, grab a fast train (45min) to Hangzhou. This will start your historical adventure off on the right foot. Hangzhou was once the capital of silk, and it was the height of fashion, culture and elegance in early eras. Witness the traces of ages long past while strolling around West lake or visiting the nearby Buddhist temples. When you return to Shanghai, check into the Westin Hotel on the Bund. This hotel has ties to the past, and its location on the Bund attests to its duration in the city. From here you will have access to the entirety of Shanghai's past and present. Treat yourself to a traditional Chinese dinner at Dongbei Ren and then enjoy a drink at Glamour Bar on the Bund, a converted building that has its roots in the colonial period. From here you can walk back to your hotel while observing other colonial structures, including the famous Bund side bank.
1
Hangzhou
Location:
view in google mapsHangzhou
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist information)2
Dongbei Ren
Location:
view in google maps1 Shanxi Nan Road
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5228 98983
Glamour Bar (The)
Location:
view in google maps6F, 5 Guangdong Lu
near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (The Bund)
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6350 99884
Westin Shanghai (The)
Location:
view in google maps88 Henan Central Road
Bund Center
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6335 1888Day 2 - Shanghai
Today we explore Shanghai's past, and the buildup to the Communist revolution. Start the day with morning Tai Chi on the Bund directly outside your hotel. From there, you can finish up your morning exercise with a brisk stroll to the famous Yu Gardens, a 5-10 minute walk from the Bund. This historical site was once the epicenter of the city's public life. Although it has been rebuilt, remnants of the ancient village survive. Bring a camera and some spending cash. After dropping off your purchases at the hotel, catch a cab to the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the Qing rebellion, and a figure of dire importance in Shanghai's recent past. From here, move a short distance to the 1st National Communist congress site, which will walk you through the occurrences from Sun Yat-sen to Chairman Mao. Take a break from revolutionary history to visit Taikang Road, a refurbished hutong (small village center) full of cafes, bars, shops and art. Have a nice lunch here and spend some time walking the maze of alleys and seeing history alive. After your lunch and walk, head to Zhou Enlai's former residence and continue your history lesson with this captivating man's life story. Form here, head to the Shanghai museum to round out your day with a final overview of Chinese events since the Xia dynasty. Finally, for dinner we recommend Sasha's a fine colonial-style British restaurant and bar, and then head to Cotton's- another colonial style garden pub. From here head back to the Bund and try another nearby Bund bar, we recommend Bar Rouge, where Shanghai's expats have hung out from colonial times to the present. With your last drink, say goodbye to a decisive foreign presence in Shanghai's history. Tomorrow we step into independence and self reliance!
1
Morning Tai Chi
Location:
view in google mapsZhongshan Dong Lu
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)2
Yu Gardens
Location:
view in google mapsZhongshan South Road & Renmen Road
200000 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6355 50323
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Former Residence & Memorial Hall
Location:
view in google maps7 Xiang Shan Road
200020 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)4
Memorial Hall of the Site of First National Congress of Communist Party of China
Location:
view in google maps374 Huang Pi Nan Road
200021 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5383 21715
TaiKang Road
Location:
view in google mapsTaiKang Road
Tai Kang Lu
200025 Shanghai, China
Phone:
+86 21 2311 5527 (Tourist Information)6
Former Residence of Zhou En Lai
Location:
view in google maps73 Si Nan Road
Luwan (2 blocks south of Fuxing Zhong Lu)
200025 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6473 04207
Shanghai Museum
Location:
view in google maps201 Renmin Da Dao
People's Sq., Huangpu District
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6372 35008
Sasha's
Location:
view in google maps11 Dongping Lu
Corner of Heng Shan Lu
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6474 66289
Cotton Club
Location:
view in google mapsFùxing Xi Lù 8
Huáihai Zhong Lù
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6437 711010
Bar Rouge
Location:
view in google maps18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
7/F, Bund 18
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6339 1199Day 3 - Shanghai
Nanjing Road, directly outside your hotel, is a walking street full of live, vigor and promise. Spend some time exploring the streets intricate mesh of cafes, spas and shops while heading west. Anywhere along this street you can hop on Shanghai's amazingly efficent and pristine subway system to see progress at its finest, head to Jing'an Temple Subway stop (will be in English and Chinese) and spend a few hours walking through the temple and the surrounding shopping district. After a traditional Chinese lunch at Bao Lu, head to the Spa for an afternoon of relaxation and invigoration the traditional way. To wrap up your afternoon, spend some time at the Shanghai Art museum, a must-see for any history or art fan. Try some provincial food for dinner at Guyi Hunan and then head for an after-dinner treat to Face bar, a delightful surprise awaits. To see the peak of modernization, head to the nearby MAO bar where you can dance the night away to locally composed and produced techno under flashing lights and stiff creative concoctions. If you have not seen the Bund at night, skip FACE and MAO and head to the Bund to watch the boats pour up and down the river.
1
Nanjing Road
Location:
view in google mapsNanjing Central Road
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)2
Jing'an Temple
Location:
view in google maps1686 west nanjing road jing an district
Jing An (corner of Huashan Lu)
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6256 63663
Bao Lu
Location:
view in google maps2721 Fumin Lu
North of Changle Lu, 1 block east of Changshu Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6279 28274
Shanghai JC Mandarin Spa
Location:
view in google maps1225 Nanjing Xi Lu
Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6279 18885
Shanghai Art Museum
Location:
view in google mapsNanjing Xi Lu 325
Huangpu (northwest edge of People's Park at Huangpi Lu)
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6327 28296
Guyi Hunan Restaurant
Location:
view in google maps87 Fumin Rd
Huaihai Zhong Rd
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6249 5628 / 86 21 6247 07587
Face
Location:
view in google mapsBuilding 4, 118 Rui Jin Er Road
Ruijin Guesthouse
200020 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6472 52228
MAO
Location:
view in google maps46 Yueyang Lu
Near Dongping Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 138 1609 56609
The BUND
Location:
view in google mapsZhongshan South Road & Nanjing Road
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
+86 21 23115527 (Tourist Information)Day 4 - Shanghai
The Huangpu was once Shanghai's life source. Today it bisects the city, with the financial and business districts on the Pudong (east) side while the historical and creative districts are on the Puxi (west) side. Take a river cruise up the Huangpu to truly experience the city's two sides. When you disembark, grab lunch at M on the Bund before heading to the Shanghai Urban Planning Hall. This museum has a massive model of the city on the 4th floor that is well worth visiting. See how vastly Shanghai is expanding, and witness first hand the city's future ambitions. Afterward, head back towards the Bund and cross via the Psychedelic tunnel or a river ferry to the east side. Explore Pudong, Shanghai's future, and check out the Oriental Pearl TV tower. Nearby parks offer a great view of the massive skyscrapers and boulevards. Grab dinner at Red Chopsticks before heading to the day's highlight event - the Jin Mao Tower. Once the world's largest, this skyscraper offers a panoramic view from the bar on the 87th floor. Plan to stay until the city's lights kick on in the late evening.
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Huangpu River Cruise
Location:
view in google maps239 Second Eastern Zhong Shan Road
(Exterior Zone, Eastern Jin Ling Road)
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6374 44612
M on the Bund
Location:
view in google maps7/F, No. 5 The Bund
Guangdong Lu
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6350 99883
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Location:
view in google mapsRenmin Da Dao 100
Huangpu (northeast of the Shanghai Museum; entrance on east side)
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 021/6372-20774
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Location:
view in google maps1 Shiji Dadao
Lu Jia Zui Road
200120 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5879 18885
Red Chopsticks
Location:
view in google maps777 Zhang Yang Road, First Floor
InterContinental Pudong Shanghai
200120 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5831 6666 (Hotel)6
Jin Mao Tower
Location:
view in google maps88 Shi Ji (Century) Boulevard
200121 Shanghai, China
7
Sky Lounge
Location:
view in google maps88 Century Boulevard, Jin Mao Tower
Grand Hyatt Shanghai
200121 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5049 1234Day 5 - Shanghai
Before leaving the area, you should explore the exquisite city of SuZhou. Like Hangzhou, this city is full of life, history and promise. While SuZhou houses some of Shanghai's factories and business centers, it is also home to some of the most amazing and intricate gardens. In old times there was a saying that Suzhou also had the world's most beautiful women. Near SuZhou you'll discover an ancient watertown that has survived intact called Zhouzhuang. This is worth a trip, and is something you'll remember forever for its beauty, simplicity and charm. Before your flight out, treat yourself to one final meal in Shanghai at Kathleen's rooftop, where you can look out over the city's you've come to know through the ages.
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Zhouzhuang
Location:
view in google maps60 miles from Shanghai
215325 Shanghai, China
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Kathleen's 5 Rooftop Restaurant
Location:
view in google maps325 Nanjing Xi Lu, Huangpi Bei Lu
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6327 2221