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Shanghai Tourist Attractions

Autonomous City
Shanghai is 1460km/906mi away from Beijing from where it can be reached in a two hour flight or a seventeen hour train journey.

History

Shanghai began as a small settlement during the Song period and grew steadily from there. The buildings feature abundant architectural styles from Neo-Classical to Art Deco.

Yuyuan Garden

The tranquil Yuyuan Garden was laid out in 1559 and contains an outer and inner section. Nearby stands the Huxin Ting Tea-House, looking out over the lake.
Highlights:
Outer Garden
Inner Garden

Jade Buddha Temple

The Jade Buddha Temple houses two important Shakyamuni statues brought from Burma.
Highlights:
Shakyamuni Sculptures
Hall of the Great Hero

Bund

The Zongshan Lu, a river promenade running along the west bank of the Huangpujiang, is also known under the Anglo-Indian name of ''Bund'' (Waitan). The left side of the road is lined with numerous buildings put up by the English and French at the time of the concessions for their settlements.
Moving from south to north, the dominant buildings are the former headquarters of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (with cupola), the harbor customs office (with bell tower), the Peace Hotel (at the corner of Nanjing Lu) and the Bank of China. The entire row of buildings is under a preservation order. The riverside was laid out as a promenade.
From Shiliupu Quay it is possible to take a sightseeing tour by passenger steamer around the port and the confluence of the Huangpujiang and Changjiang rivers.
Picture - The Bund in Shanghai.
Picture - Night view of the Bund, Shanghai.

Shanghai Museum

This museum, founded in 1952, is China's best museum of classical Chinese art. It is situated in a new building on the south side of the People's Park. The following sections are presented on four floors, in excellent displays:
Ground floor: China's most important collection of prehistoric bronzes and plastics;
1st floor: ceramics from prehistoric cultures to the 19th C;
2nd floor: ink drawings, calligraphy and seals;
3rd floor: art from the ethnic minorities; jade, coins as well as furnishings from the Ming and Qingperiods (1368-1912).

Longhua Park

The Longhua Park lies in the southwest of the city. It contains a temple and a pagoda which reportedly date from the year 247, but have been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The present 40m/131ft high, seven-story pagoda of brick and wood dates back to 977. Around every story runs a balcony with a canopy-roof over it. The last time the various temple buildings were restored was at the end of the 19th C. Buddhist ceremonies are regularly held here.

Meeting Place of the Communist Party of China

In July 1921 the foundation meeting of the Communist Party of China took place in the south of the city, in the French concession district. Thirteen of the 53 party members took part including chairman Mao. As there was a danger of being searched by the concessionary police, the delegates finished the meeting early. They then completed their deliberations on a ship in Jiaxing in the province of Zheijiang.
The Meeting Place is situated at the corner of Xingye Lu and Huangpulu. Displayed in a small museum are various exhibits documenting the history of the revolution.

Church of Xujianhui

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.

Confucius Temple of Jiading

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.
Picture - Confucius Temple in Shanghai.
Picture - Walk way to the Confucius Temple in Shanghai.
Picture - The Confucius Temple in Shanghai.

Nanjing Lu

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.

Pagoda for Pearls (Learning Pagoda)

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.

People's Square

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.

Former Residence of Lu Xun

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''.

Former Residence of Sun-Yat-sen

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.

Fuxing Gongyuan Park

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.

Old Town

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.
Picture - Lion carving in Old Town, Shanghai.
Picture - Historic building in Shanghai Old Town.
Picture - Yuyuan, Shanghai at night.

People's Park

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.

Tomb of Lu Xun

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.

Zhenru Si Temple

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.

Botanical Garden

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.
Picture - Historical pavillion in the Botanical Gardens, Shanghai.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong-Park on the east bank of the river is 468m/1535ft high and offers excellent views.
Picture - Night view of Pearl Tower in Pudong, Shanghai.
Picture - Close up of the Orient Pearl Tower, Shanghai.
Picture - View from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai.
Picture - The Pearl Tower seen on the skyline of Shanghai.
Highlights:
Garden of Natural Beauty
Xingshengjiano si Ta Pagoda
Dianshan Hu Lake
More Shanghai Pictures
Shanghai skyline night scene and the downtown square.
The Gang hui square in Shanghai.
Inside of the eastern pearl tower in Shanghai.
Canal in Shanghai.
Public Art Museum in Shanghai at night.
Shanghai Pudong skyscrapers.
Looking down the JIN Mao Building in Shanghai.
The Pu Dong Century Park in Shanghai.
Sundial at the Pu Dong Century Boulevard in Shanghai.
Yan An Road in Shanghai.
The Jing An Temple in Shanghai.
Skyline of Shanghai.
Traditional style architecture in Shanghai.
Shanghai at night.
Night over Nanjin Road in Shanghai.
Skyscraper in Shanghai.
Entrance to the Jing An Temple in Shanghai.
Lion at the Jing An Temple in Shanghai.
Skyline of Pudong, Shanghai.
Street and skyline of Shanghai.
Shanghai at night with the HuangPu River.
Tea house at night in Shanghai.
Tower and cart in Shanghai.
Busy road in Shanghai at night.
Chinese new year decorations in Shanghai.
Grand Theatre in Shanghai.
Century Square in Shanghai.
The high rise jungle of Shanghai.
More China Resources
Map of Shanghai Attractions
Map - Shanghai Map - Shanghai