Holidays in Shanghai

Shanghai — the largest port in the world and the most densely populated city. Despite being located on the seashore, it is not a resort area. The sea water is polluted and not suitable for swimming. You can visit a public beach with paid services, but this is not a place with a truly comfortable holiday atmosphere. Shanghai is a city for sightseeing and nightlife, walks in park areas, shopping and tasting dishes of various world cuisines.

Where it is located

Shanghai is located in the southern part of the PRC, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, on the coast of the East China Sea. The Huangpu waterway cuts the city into two parts. Thanks to its advantageous location, the city is one of the largest cultural, business and economic centers not only of China, but also of the Asian region. The city is unlike other urban oases of the PRC — it is distinctive and unique, where modernity is intertwined with centuries-old traditions.

When it is best to go

Shanghai is a great place for sightseeing and shopping. The timing of the trip is planned based on the purpose. To stroll around Shanghai and see the sights without suffering from 40-degree heat, it is better to go in April or May, as well as in the first two months of autumn — September and October. At this time, daytime temperatures are around +23 to +27°C, nighttime temperatures are 5°C lower. From June to August the days are hot, and you can only dream of a comfortable stay in the city. Getting to Shanghai from Ukraine is problematic — you will need a connection in Beijing. A connecting flight takes 18 hours on the way there and about 26 hours on the way back.

What to do

The main occupation for tourists who have come to get acquainted with the architecture and way of life of Shanghai is to explore the city’s attractions, walk through parks and along the smooth surface of the river. No youth holiday is complete without visits to nightspots, and shoppers will certainly go on tours of the shopping centers.

We recommend visiting:

• The Shanghai Museum. Exhibitions of ceramics, porcelain and jade stand side by side with antique furniture, coins and objects of traditional classical art.
  The Jade Buddha Temple. About seventy monks live permanently on its grounds. The temple is notable for its two-meter-high statue of Buddha. In addition to the jade statue there are gilded sculptures of deities, and the temple walls are decorated with about 7,000 Buddhist sutras.
• The Bund waterfront, on the left bank of the Huangpu River. There are many tourists and locals here, entertained by street performers. Boats can be rented for river cruises. From the water you can enjoy views of the futuristic right-bank high-rises and business centers (Pudong district), as well as the historic part of left-bank Shanghai (the “Paris of the East”).
• Yu Garden (“Garden of Joy”) — Yuyuan. The park area is 400 years old. It is not very large, 2 hectares, but colorful — pavilions, rockeries, waterfalls, man-made ponds. Here human craftsmanship blends organically with natural beauty.
• The zoo, which spreads over 153 hectares. This attraction is aimed primarily at children. Little ones will get acquainted with 200 species of animals and birds brought to Shanghai from all corners of the planet.
• Nanjing Donglu Street. It will interest shoppers, as it offers tourists goods of various categories — from accessories to antique furniture and more. It looks especially impressive in the evening, when each of the thousands of shops is lit with neon lights.
• Nightclubs. There are many of them in Shanghai. There are live music venues where jazz performers play. The establishments stay open until morning.

Where to eat

Shanghai is a favorite place for gourmets. The city has thousands of restaurants with European and Russian cuisines. Many establishments specialize in Indian dishes. And of course, in this metropolis there are restaurants where travelers are treated to Chinese and Asian cuisine. Followers of Islam will find places that exclude pork from the menu, and vegetarians are offered meals based on salads, soups and main courses without animal products.
The Plump Oyster
A seafood restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. The average bill is 174–345 yuan. Seafood is served in various interpretations. Tourists order oysters and fish, foie gras and canapés. Meat lovers are offered poultry, beef, steaks and more. The wine list features drinks that pair perfectly with seafood. Wine is served at the correct temperature.
Hooked
Invites guests to try fish and chips, squid salad, spicy salmon, juicy oysters and other seafood dishes. The friendly staff take care of your comfort. Foreign visitors especially like the craft beer. It has a convenient location and reasonable prices.

What to combine it with

Having arrived in Shanghai, foreigners do not think about what to combine their holiday here with. Every day in Shanghai brings new impressions and emotions, and the regular festivals and cultural events will not let even the most fun-loving tourists get bored.

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