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Shanghai,
called "Hu" for short, is a bustling metropolis located
at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Connected with Jiangsu
and Zhejiang provinces in the west, the city is
exposed to the East China Sea in the east. With
a total area of 6,341 square kilometers (about 2,448 square miles)
and a population of more than 13 million, Shanghai takes its place
among the world's biggest, most booming urban areas.
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What
to see
Because of its
open to foreigners and its coastal location, Shanghai is endowed
with rich tourist attractions related to its long and complicated
history. Many buildings, constructed in various foreign styles,
are well preserved in the Bund area, and western tourists will feel
a sense of familiarity when strolling around the long street, which
resembles those in European cities. This blending of eastern and
western styles has given the Bund a reputation as a "World's
Fair of Architecture." Many buildings from the 1920s and 1930s
have also survived in the Old City section of Shanghai. A visit
to the Old City is easily combined with a stop at Yuyuan Garden,
a well-restored Suzhou-style garden created during the Ming Dynasty.
The garden is immensely popular with local residents and visiting
Chinese. In addition, Jade Buddha Temple, located in northwest Shanghai,
is the most popular Buddhist temple in this city, drawing both worshippers
and tourists. It is famous for two jade Buddha statues, one of which
is reclining and the other seated.
Shanghai is
well known both at home and from abroad not only as prosperous metropolis
with rich cultural resources, but also for a number of new tourist
attractions that have been developed in recent years. Standing on
a boat on the Huangpu River, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the
river and city skyline. The river sparkles with giant ships sailing
busily by; the banks are filled with skyscrapers of different styles.
On the modern Pudong side of the river, the futuristic Oriental
Pearl TV Tower, with a giddy height of 468 meters, stands
as the world's third tallest TV tower, after the 553-meter CN Tower
in Toronto and the 535-meter Moscow TV Tower. It has already come
to symbolize Shanghai and is honored as one of the ten best views
in the city. The Jin Mao Mansion is another famous
building in the Pudong New Area. Because of its brightly illuminated
skyscrapers, Shanghai enjoys international fame as the "Pearl
of the Orient".
Shanghai
is also a great destination for shoppers, and the best-known shopping
street in China - Nanjing Road - is located here. This exciting
avenue is lined with well-known shops and department stores selling
clothing, food and specialty goods. Shanghai is a paradise for gourmets,
too. Here, visitors can enjoy a taste of all the different kinds
of food in the world. Shanghainese cuisine, however, is a special
hybrid. There are several famous old restaurants in Shanghai that
are not to be missed.
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History
While the city
epitomizes modern, urban China, its history is one of its most intriguing.
Shanghai was a paradise for adventurers. Tycoons, millionaires,
knights-errant and great beauties came to this attractive city to
realize their dreams, and countless moving stories, both sad and
joyful, were played out here.
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When
to go
Shanghai
enjoys a delightful climate with four distinct seasons. Annual temperatures
average 16C and annual rainfall averages 1200 millimeters. However,
spring and autumn, with their moderate temperate, are the best times
to visit Shanghai.
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