Shanghai for kids!

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Shanghai's marquee hotels. Worth the money

Description:

Stay in luxury at the JW Marriott at Tomorrow Square. This 60 storey wonder is spread over 20,000 square meters of space. In sync with all Marriott properties this hotel too offers maximum comfort to its business and leisure travelers. The 342 rooms offer magnificent views of the city and are equipped with a wide range of facilities. From high speed internet access to hydraulic massage showers, they have it all. Guests can dine at any of the hotel's restaurants on site and burn it off at the pool or fitness club. As they offer babysitting facilities, parents can have a relaxed day out touring the nearby sights.

Description:

The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is a must see for everybody who visits Shanghai. The largest in the city, this aquarium covers an area of 20,500 square meters with nine thematic zones housing more than 300 species of aquatic animals collected from all over the globe. The various zones take you through a journey of the different regions of the world-from the Yangtze River in China to the Amazon River of South America to the mangroves of Australia. So, if you love watching the seals, sea dragons, electric eels and jellyfishes on Animal Planet, then it's time you come see the real thing out here.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you love birds, fish, flowers, dogs, and other interesting creatures, the Bird and Flower Market is a perfect place to search for your next pet.

Description:

Lining the streets between Nanjing and Weihai Roads are cages and cages of birds and animals. There are many different types of birds, including multilingual parrots that like to entice customers with their skills. There are tanks brimming full of fish, turtles, and frogs. The small streets are crowded with people and toys and accessories for you pet. There are also cats and dogs in some of the stores and you need to be careful, otherwise you will end up walking out of the market with a few cute new pets. You can find many different types of flowers on the streets as well, if you just look around.

Description:

Easy to walk by without noticing it, Whisk is tucked off Huaihai Lu down an unmarked alley. A casual dining space in cool greens and whites, the décor is also chocolate focused, with quotes about chocolate on the walls and huge jars of chocolate buttons. For those without a sweet tooth, there is a selection of risottos and paninis with ingredients such as prosciutto and artichoke, but the food is found lacking and drab, and the real reason to go is for desert. For the chocolate lover - chocolate shots, cupcakes and cookies are just the tip of the iceberg. Service is efficient and prices are reasonable. This is the most romantic desert place in town, or the perfect ladies out treat.

Our Local Expert Says:

One of the most amazing and memorable experiences of any stay in Shanghai, the Huangpu River cruise is a must-see.

Description:

The best time for a river cruise along the Huangpu is of course at night. Some boats will offer dinner and drinks while others will simply sail east or west for a half hour and then turn around. Be sure to learn the details of each cruise before buying your tickets as many have had bad experiences on boats that simply circle the peer. The dinner cruises can run a bit pricy, but will take you on a very scenic tour of the Pudong and Puxi cityscapes, both of which are beautiful at night and stung up in neon lights. Shorter cruises with drinks are fun, but will not take more than an hour to two hours, so plan your evening accordingly.

Our Local Expert Says:

This 50Rmb underwater transport from Puxi to Pudong is worth a try at least once if your stay in Shanghai is ongoing.

Description:

The psychedelic tunnel runs from the Bund in Puxi to the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong, though one means of conveyance between the two banks it should not be expected to be anything other than an amusing and funny one-trip-wonder. Board a modern glass portal car that zooms at an impressive walking pace beneath the Huangpu River. From the glass case you see flashing lights, Christmas lights, frailing inflatable arm men and a giant projection of an underwater scene. Meanwhile, a voice spouts one liners in English that take the trip from amusing to hilarious. "Molten magma" escorts your exit into daylight. A bit overpriced for a joke, but worth going for the conversation it provides on the way out.

Our Local Expert Says:

Most child friendly place in Shanghai

Description:

Irish to the core, O'Malley's has a friendly Irish band, Irish bartenders and managers, and friendly English-speaking staff. Housed in a refurbished mansion dating back to the 1920s, the pub's quaint, wooden interior encases romantic nooks and crannies. Expatriates flock here for football games on the big screen television, and live music from 8.30pm everyday, except Sunday. In warmer months, customers can be found on the bar's famous patio. Famous locally for its child-friendly atmosphere, O'Malley's caters to kids with a special menu and an outdoor play place, sandbox and swing set. Throughout the week, expat families hold howling birthday parties on the private upstairs patio or out on the lawn. O'Malley's knows how to serve a pint of Guinness or Kilkenny just right. It also offers a surprisingly innovative menu with dishes that are a considerable notch above average pub grub.

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Shanghai's marquee hotels. Worth the money

Description:

Stay in luxury at the JW Marriott at Tomorrow Square. This 60 storey wonder is spread over 20,000 square meters of space. In sync with all Marriott properties this hotel too offers maximum comfort to its business and leisure travelers. The 342 rooms offer magnificent views of the city and are equipped with a wide range of facilities. From high speed internet access to hydraulic massage showers, they have it all. Guests can dine at any of the hotel's restaurants on site and burn it off at the pool or fitness club. As they offer babysitting facilities, parents can have a relaxed day out touring the nearby sights.

Our Local Expert Says:

Renmin Park is a central green space in close proximity to Shanghai's museums and Nanjing lu.

Description:

What was once a racetrack is now the beautiful Renmin Park. Renovated in keeping with Chinese design traditions, visitors can jog or work-out in the mornings, and stroll through in the evenings. A small pond with lotuses, rental boats, and a children's play area are some of the other reasons to venture here.

Description:

This new and modern indoor aquarium offers visitors a glimpse of life on the ocean floor. Access to the exhibits is through an unusual entrance comprising a mock airplane and a flight of stairs resembling an Inca Temple. Schools of colorful fish are viewed against a backdrop of themes, such as a sunken pirate ship, mountain streams and rain forests. The aquarium also features a touching pool, and tanks housing unusual crustaceans, sea-horses, corals and anemones. Perhaps most impressive is the deep ocean and sea floor exhibit that brings visitors face-to-face with sharks, sea snakes and other creatures of the deep.

Description:

Created by one of America's more popular restaurant chains, Rainforest Cafe is a unique experience. It's a virtual rainforest of mock shade trees, foliage and waterfalls, background sound effects of animal noises and melodic raindrops, gigantic, machine-operated animals, and a huge aquarium replete with tropical fish. Kids love it!Getting a table is no problem with its 400-seat capacity, and the English-friendly staff provide quick service.