Shanghai, the largest city in China by population, is a center of finance, commerce, art, fashion, culture, research, entertainment and even spirituality. Shanghai, literally meaning "upper sea'," has origins dating to 1297. The city has many tourist destinations, some obvious and some worth searching for.
Shanghai flights bring visitors to the city via Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, the city's two major airports.
One of the first things visitors will notice are the Bund and Puxi skyscrapers, seen lighting up the city at night. Shanghai leaves no shortage of places to visit and enjoy. On a cultural level Shanghai has several important museums. The Shanghai Museum of Art and History houses one of the world's best collections of historical Chinese artifacts. The Shanghai Art Museum holds a number of permanent and traveling temporary exhibitions. There are many smaller museums in
Shanghai that take time to find, but are worth the effort.
A number of websites offer cheap flights to shanghai , but no matter how you get to the city, there is still a lot to see. While Shanghai is a very modern city in some aspects and parts of it are a true urban jungle like Tokyo and New York City, the city does offer a reprieve from the urban sprawl with a number of parks. Zhongshan Gongyuan is right in the heart of downtown Shanghai and, like nearly all of the other parks in the city, offers a children's section.
Jessfield Park, with lovely peony and rose gardens, and Xujiahui Gongyuan, on the grounds of the former Great Chinese Rubber Works, are two other parks worth visiting. The upscale La Villa Rouge restaurant is an excellent dining location in the park. A sky bridge and man-made lake make the area a good place for tourists enjoying nearby shopping to take a break.
Shanghai flights tend to be cheaper if booked in advance, but deals can be found year-round. Shanghai has a unique fashion culture blending traditional Chinese styles with western design influences that can be enjoyed any time of year. The city, which hosted the 2007 Summer Special Olympics, has become known for various sporting events in recent years, including basebal, hockey and Formula One Grand Prix racing.
Shanghai is not known for it's temples, but does still offer a spiritual side some tourist will find rewarding. The Longhua Temple dates to the 10th century and a few other prominent Buddhist shrines, including the Jade Buddha Temple, offering an interesting glimpse into the areas heritage.
Wang Bao He, a traditional Chinese restaurant, and 100 Century Avenue, with six open kitchens serving up a nice mix of sea food and international cuisine, are some of the city's most-recommended restaurants.
Flights to Shanghai leave out of most major cities on a daily basis. Over 42,000 taxis and the Shanghai Maglev Train, a modern, high-speed rail system, make it easy for visitors to get around the city. Be advised that cheaper flights usually include stops in other cities.
