Shanghai Attractions

The botanical garden, founded in 1954, is situated in the south of the city in Longwu Lu. Here can be seen reproductions of landscape scenes.

The church, built between 1906 to 1911 in Neo-Romanesque style, is situated to the south of Shanghai in the city district of Xujiahui near the municipal sports palace. It is the largest Catholic place of worship in Shanghai and the nave can accommodate 2500 people. Both of the bell-towers are over 50m/164ft high.

The Confucius Temple, situated to the south of Jiading 19km/12mi northwest of Shanghai, was built in 1219 and restored during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1958 the municipal museum of Jiading was erected here where, among other exhibits, are kept 90 stone tablets with old inscriptions.

In the north of the city in Shanyin Lu is the Lu Xun terrace, where the writer lived from April 11th 1933 until his death on October 19th 1936. In his study on the upper floor he translated, among other works, Gogol's novel ''The Dead Souls''.

Near the Fuxing Gonyuan Park is the Former Residence of Sun-Yat-sen, situated at No. 7 Xianshan Lu, where the statesman lived from 1920. The house, which has been converted into a small museum, still has the original furniture.

The Fuxing Gongyuan Park in the south of the city was created in 1909 in the former French concessionary district. It is a favorite resting place, with trees providing shade.

The Nanjing Lu, the principal shopping street of Shanghai was constructed in the second half of the 19th C; it runs from the Zongshan Lu for several miles towards the west. Here can be found shops of every description, restaurants and cinemas, also the department stores Yibai and Jiubai.

To the southeast of the city center, bordered by the Renmin Lu and Zongshan Lu streets, extends the old town, which was formerly surrounded by a city wall. The hustle and bustle of life and dealing dominates the area.

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong-Park on the east bank of the river is 468m/1535ft high and offers excellent views.

Near Songjiang on the Tianmashan mountain stands the Pagoda for Guarding Pearls, also known as the Leaning Pagoda (Xie Ta). It dates from 1079 and was almost burned down in 1788. Afterwards bricks were torn from the building which is why it leans towards the west.

This open green area came into being after the abolition of the racecourse which had been built by the British in 1862. It consists of two parts: the northern part forms the People's Park bordering on to Nanjing Lu.

The southern part of the open space which was formerly the racecours, is the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang). In the years 1993 to 1998 it was transformed into a modern representative town center. There is a new large town hall, the newly constructed Shanghai Museum and an opera house.

In the Hongkou Gongyuan Park, to the north of the house where Lu Xun resided, is the poet's tomb which was put up on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his death.

The Zhenru Si Temple (1320) is situated in the northwestern edge of Shanghai, near the Zhenru railroad station. Of the original complex only the main hall of brick and wood is still preserved.