Shanghai – a Chinese city of glamour and promise
The very name Shanghai has been synonymous throughout its 700 years with exoticism, mystery and glamour. Your tour of Shanghai will reveal that the city more than lives up to its historic promises.
Shanghai has been raised on finance. Once an illustrious financial centre of East Asia, today’s modern metropolis is a world-renowned economic, trading and shipping empire. Yet there’s so much more to this buzzy city.
It is the gastronomic capital of China, showcasing a vast array of local and international dishes. The mouthwatering foodie scene is varied, exciting and it can be pretty exclusive too: Shanghai has its own Michelin dining guide, something not many world cities can boast.
Shanghai’s streets are bustling commercial streets and shopping centres. Bon vivants will certainly feel they have landed in paradise, and credit cards may not know quite what has hit them.
Above all, though, Shanghai offers a holiday of contrasts. For western visitors the city oozes Oriental charm, while the Chinese view the city’s vibrancy as a result of Occidental borrowings. Shanghai is home to the world's second-tallest tower, and a skyline where towering buildings often puncture the highest ether. Yet, it also hosts a treasure chest of different architectural styles. These include pristine examples of art deco buildings, Jesuit cathedrals, Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples and traditional Chinese longtang and shíkumen housing.
Shanghai promises a rich holiday experience filled with glamour and enlivened by variety.