"Pearl of the Orient": Shanghai's Top Sights
- sinjahaag
- 23. Mai
- 24 Min. Lesezeit
Aktualisiert: 25. Mai
Shanghai is one of the most captivating cities I've ever been to. With a continuously growing number of inhabitants and international Expats, especially in the newer financial area of Pudong, the city belong to the most populous spot all over China, obtaining an urbanisation rate of roughly 90% with a growing tendency.
With its highly modern infrastructure & skyline, rich cultural heritage, international trading centres, culinary blends of Western- and local cuisines and a cosmopolitan mixture of different nationalities from all the world, Shanghai's plentiful sightseeing attractions and activities are countless to choose from.
For guidance and orientation, I have firstly generated an overview of inner city districts with respectively belonging top sights, seving as a first orientation guide for you to look at, whilst my personal top highlights are described in the afterwards following sections. Enjoy the read and collect your personal impulses to compile & personalize your own traveling bucket list when visiting this marvellous city!
Table of Content
Welcome to Shanghai!
Shopping, local cuisine & skyline views
Shikumen Heritage
Garden & Temples
Creative Parks & Arts
Welcome to Shanghai!
Shanghai's Districts: overview of the inner city centre
Shanghai can generally be split into 16 districts, out of which seven belong to the inner city circle, or rather downtown area. The Huangpu river splits the city into the Puxi area (western city centre) and the Pudong area (eastern city centre). These are also the main areas where most tourist attractions are located. Due to an excellent subway infrastructure, getting around Shanghai is very convenient, cheap and easy to manage!
For initial guidance, I have clustered & summarised some of the most important sightseeing spots per district below, easing the combination of different activities to avoid hopping in-between- and around different districts.
Yangpu | Gongqing Forest Park, Chinese Wushu Museum Jewish Ghetto, |
Hongkou | Old Millfun, Jewish Refugee Museum, Xiahai Temple, Christkindlmarkt (German Christmas Market during winter season), Dream cloud nine Shopping Mall, Zhapulu Bridge |
Jing'an | Jing'an Temple, Jing'an Sculpture Park, Jing'an Park, Shanghai National History Museum, Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe Performance, Moller Residence, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Former Residence of Zhedong Mao, Site of the National Congress of Communist Party |
Huangpu | The Bund (Waitan), Yu Garden (Yuyuan), Nanjing Road/Pedestrian Street, Shanghai Museum, Tianzifang, Xintiandi, Former French Comcession, Old Town (Nanshi), Yuyuan Old Street, City of God Temple, People's Square, World Expo Museum, Taikang Road, Confucian Temple, Huahai Road Commercial Street, Birthplace of Chinese Communist Party, Sinan Mansions, Grand Theatre |
Putuo | Jade Buddha Temple, M50 Creative Park, Moganshan Road, Zhenru Temple, Yufo Temple Animal Market, Zhenru Ancient Town, M Art Centre |
Changning | Hongqiao Pearl Market, Propaganda Poster Art Centre, Shanghai Zoo, Zhongshan Park, Wukang Road, Sky Soho, Holland Village, Sweden Town |
Xuhui | Longhua Temple, Former French Concession, Pudong Promenade, Iapm Shopping Mall, Botanical Garden, Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, Guilin Park, Hangshan Leisure Street, Longhua Memorial Park of Revolutionary Martyrs, Yuz Museum, Xuijahui Business Circle, Painter's Street, Guangqi Park |
With this basic overview in mind, let's jump right into Shanghai's greatest sightseeing highlights!
Shopping, local cuisine & skyline views
Nanjing Pedestrian Street: shopping paradise with traditional cuisine!
Nanjing Pedestrian Street belongs to one of the most touristic and vibrant spots in Shanghai. Stretching a bit above 1km long in length, this street truly makes a shopper's heart beat faster! With over 600 businesses and countless exquisite shopping opportunities from local crafts, specialty shops up to famous clothing brands, one can purchase whatever your heart desires, making your wallet feel a lot lighter once reaching the end of the street.
But luxurious goods and shopping obviously is not everything Nanjing Road has to offer. It is furthermore an excellent spot to sample authentic Shanghai dishes, such as xiaolong bao (soup dumplings), wontons, seafood variations, desserts and speciality snacks, such as moon cakes with meat or fish fillings. You'll find plenty of restaurants, food halls and smaller stalls to choose from for cheap prices.
I had the pleasure to try a pidgeon-noodle-soup on my very first day, as recommended by my Chinese friend, and even though I can only assume what most readers now might be thinking, I need to admit that it was tenderly-juicy, delicious and worth trying!
So here is a thing: do me favour and don't judge seemingly "unusual" or even "disgusting" foods that you are not used to prior than trying them. I guarantee you that in most cases, you will be pleasantly surprised :)
Last but not least, you might be interested in taking the old-style Dangdang Tram; a small old-fashioned tram in red colour, running through the crowds of Nanjing Pedestrian Street for around 10min.
Nanjing Pedestrian Street is a definite must when visiting Shanghai. As stunning as it appears during day time, the more catchy it gets during dawn, once the strongly shimmering neon signs come to life. It's an enchanting spot to soak up a great sensory overload of crowdly hustle and bustle, sweet & savoury smells, music and illuminations. Plus, as Nanjing Pedestrian Street is only one part of the larger extended Nanjing Road, you can further make your way towards Huangpu River, directly walking towards the Bund for another nightly spectacle of marvelling at Shanghai's breathtaking skyline.
Practical Information |
Address: Nanjing East Road, Huangpu, Shanghai, China How to get there: By metro: take line 2 or 10 towards East Nanjing Road Station, walk for a few meters. Alternatively, take line 1, 2 or 8 towards People's Square Station and walk from here By bus: take bus #46, #49, #123, #145, #312, #451, or Shanghai Special Line to get off Renmin Guangchang (People's Square Station) Opening Hours: usually from 10am - 11pm (times may differ depending on shops & stalls) Admission: free |
The Bund: Shanghai's incredible skyline, river cruise & tunnel experience
Who of us has not seen the beautiful photographic scenery of this magical place? The Bund is one of my all time favourite spots to see and frequently visit, especially during night time to marvel at the never-ending beauty of Shanghai's opposite Puxi's lying Pudong skyline, paved with modern architecture and high rising skyscrapers, including iconic landmarks, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower.
The Bund, also known as Waitan, is one of Shanghai's most popular & historic landmarks, mainly known for its impressive architectural heritage, featuring a mix of European and Chinese styles whilst reflecting the city's history as an international trading center. From the historic and colonial harbour site of Puxi, one can enjoy a breathtaking view upon the continuously evolving horizone of Shanghai's Pudong district. With colourful illuminations at night, both sites blend into a perfect merge of colonial and futuristic heritage, captivating visitors.
Huangpu River Cruises: relaxing with a view
The Bund is also the perfect starting point from which you can book Huangpu river cruises. Operating throughout the day, I personally recommend booking an evening cruise to enjoy the splender of colours and lights. Depending on your booking, most cruises run for approximately one hour where you can comfortably lean back while slurping on a drink.
When purchasing a ticket, pay attention to the point of departure to arrive at the correct site of the river (either in Puxi or Pudong). A river cruise, with or without an included dinner option, is a marvellous opportunity to immerse into the magical colours of Shanghai's skyline whilst avoiding big crowds at the harbour front jostling around to conquer the best-possible picture spot.
The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel: connecting Puxi and Pudong via special effects
If you would like to transfer from Puxi side towards to enlightened skyline of Pudong for a change of perspective, you can either go by metro, bus, taxi or choose another spectacular alternative, including virtual special effects: the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. Driverless carriages take passengers beneath the Huanpu River all across towards the Lujiazui Finance
and Trading Zone, directly situated next to the Oriental Pearl Tower. Although the ride is quite short (between 3 to 5 minutes), your experience will be accompanied by a magical visual effect show, underlined by music. You can choose flexibly whether to purchase a single-ride ticket only or whether you'd like to return via the same route from Pudong side.
Practical Information |
Address: Zhongshan Rd (E-1), Waitan, Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China How to get there: By metro: take line 2 or 10 towards East Nanjing Road Station, walk 600 meters By bus: take bus #147, #305, #307, #330, #33, #37, #55, #65, #921 and get off at East Zhongshan 1st Road Opening Hours: open 24/7, light opening usually from 5pm to either 9pm (winter) or 11pm (summer) Admission: free of charge |
Shanghai's Observatories: Shanghai Tower vs. Oriental Pearl Tower
Whilst being in Shanghai, I of course wanted to take the opportunity to enjoy the beautifully illuminated shimmering skyline by night from above, paired with a fancy drink in my hand. So, I started doing some research and also asked severeal locals about where to go best.
Funnily, there was no common tenor on which observation platform is considered best. So, I finally made up my mind in testing two of the most famous observatory towers: on the one hand the Shanghai Tower, known as the world's highest indoor observation deck and China's tallest building, on the other hand the Oriental Pearl Tower, China's second largest TV and radio tower with an extraordinary eye-catching architectural design and plenty of indoor activities & experiences to take advantage of!
Surely, further tower options for panoramic views are available, such as visiting the Jin Mao Tower. However, I do believe that if you have seen the skyline once, you've seen it all. What matters most is the overall experience that comes along with it, such as height, clear views, adequate pricing. Below, I have summarized my impressions on both tower experiences with a clear preference on the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Shanghai Tower
With over 149 operating elevators, of which 108 are lifts, three out of these lifts take you to the 118th floor in a time-flying record of only 55 seconds. The exterior of the building spirals upwards like a snake, supporting two overlapping glass facades. Next to financial- and personalised services & amenities, one can enjoy a fancy dining- and/or cocktail experience, like I did when visiting.
Is Shanghai Tower worth visiting?
From my personal experience, I'd say no. I need to be fair by admitting that the day I decided to take a shot, the weather certainly was not the best; a bit dizzy, rainy and cloudy. But the panoramic view I've had through faded, almost milky windows did not leave me very impressed. The cocktails and new companionship I was able to enjoy that day made up for the disappointing view though. Hence, if I had to choose between Shanghai- and the Oriental Pearl Tower, I would certainly recommend going with the second option, especially since it offers much more entertainment and viewing experiences!
Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower is a magnificent landmark of Shanghai's skyline that catches one's eye from either side of the Huangpu river! It features two bigger and one smaller sphere at the very top, known as the space module. With a total height of 468 meters, visitors can go up- and down the different spheres with elevators holding up to 50 people. Each sphere is a unique visit by itself, holding different activities and attractions to explore, discover or try-out
yourself by hands-on-learning opportunities. The tower's pedestal hosts an insightful Municipal History Museum, which is impressive to walk through whilst feeling like you are travelling back in time to ancient China.
In contrast to the assumption that the Oriental Pearl tower only holds 3 spheres, as visible to the eye from the exterior, the tower actually contains 11 spheres of varying sizes on the inside, including a hotel with twenty-five luxurious rooms and a lounge, plus a rotating restaurant at the very top, completing a full 360-degree loop of Shanghai's Skyline within every two hours. This outstanding architectural design was inspired by a poem tracing back to the time of Tang Dynasty, in which "big and small pearls fall onto jade plates".
I absolutely loved the different spheres and activities connected, making a perfect blend between entertainment & educational insights. For some of the activities offered, a small fee is required to enter whilst others are free of charge. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.
Ensure to pre-book your tickets in advance, as you will be given a dedicated timeslot to visit! Also, coming here spontaneously, especially during night time will only lead to being stuck in massive crowds. If you come a bit earlier, check out the surrounding shopping malls right across the street from the tower. You will also find a massive Disney Store with your favourite childhood chara ters that is great to walk through.
In sum, I can say that visiting the Oriental Pearl Tower was more than worth to spend my money for, having a blast with extraordinary panoramic views. A definite recommendation on a sky-clear day!
To equip you you with a holistic comparison of both towers, see the table below. Prices are stated in the Practical Information boxes just below the table.
Comparing Categories | Shanghai Tower | Oriental Pearl Tower |
Height | 632 meters | 468 meters |
Observation Decks |
|
|
Practical Information: Shanghai Tower |
Address: 501 Yincheng Middle Road, Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai How to get there: By metro: take line 2 or 14 towards Lujiazui Station (Exit 6), walk for approx. 500 meters By bus: take bus #583, #799, #939, or Lujiazui Financial City Line 2 and get off at Huayuan Shiqiaolu Dongtailu Station. Alternatively, take bus #791, #870, #961, #985, or Lujiazui Dongtailu Station Opening Hours: 8:30am - 10pm Admission: CNY180 (standard ticket), CNY268 (Top of Shanghai + SKY632 Art Space) |
Practical Information: Oriental Pearl Tower |
Addresss: 1 Shiji Blvd, Lujiazui, Pu Dong Xin Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200120 How to get there: By metro: take line 2 towards Lujiazui Station (Exit 1) By bus: take bus #82, #314, #939, Lujiazui Financial City Line 1 or 3, get off at Lujiazui Huanlu Fengshelu Station Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm Admission: Different ticket options are available based on different providers, such as klook, GetYourGuide, trip.com oder Viator. Examples to book: Package 1 (63m Sky Galleria + 259m Transparent Sky Walking + 78m "Future Shanghai" Multimedia Show + 90m Sightseeing Corridor + Shanghai Municipal History Museum): CNY199; Package 2 (263m Sky Galleria + 259m Transparent Sky Walking + 78m "Future Shanghai" Multimedia Show + 90m Sightseeing Corridor + Shanghai Municipal History Museum + 45 minutes' Huangpu River Cruise): 255 - 318; Shanghai Municipal History Museum: CNY35 |
Shikumen Heritage
Former French Concession: cultural roots of Shikumen
As the name already indicates, this quarter of the city used to be a foreign prosperous concession from 1849 until 1943. Coming here, you will directly notice a contrasting style in architecture of Western-imprinted colonial-style buildings from the early 20th century, mostly lined up along tree-lined alleys.
Important to mention is that the French Concession is not a single sightseeing spot to look up on the map, but rather a living district, stretching along several areas. Well-known streets to stroll through are Huaihai Road (shopping without limits), Xujiahui (contains mainyhistorically-built budilings by the Church during the French period) , Xintiandi, Hangshan Road (great spots for dining & vibrant nightlife), Wukang Road (one of the best-preserved residential streets), Tianzifang (old Shikumen residential quarter, culture & art hub), Sinan Mansions (redeveloped quarter with beautiful mansions & villas). These areas are perfect for taking a longer walk or bike tour, combined with exquisite shopping opportunities whilst stopping at one of plenty cozy cafes, bars or bistros offering European-style coffees & baking goods to enjoy.
If you wish to book a guide or join a guided walking tour, learning more about the historic background and residential quarters, you can easily do so by looking up booking options on e.g. klook, GetYourGuide or similar platforms.
Practical Information |
Address: as the Former French Conession is not a single spot but living district, as stated above, you can choose different starting points to go to (see below) How to get there: take line 10 or 13, and get off at Xintiandi Station. Alternatively, take the line 13, get off at Middle Huaihai Road Station. Or, take line 1, line 9, or line 11, and get off at Xujiahui Station |
Tianzifang: blending colonial heritage with artistic spirits
Tianzifang is a hip, culturally enriched labyrinth of narrow allows alleys, covering a collection of more than 200 smaller stores & stalls, including cafés, bookshops, nightclubs, restaurants, art galleries, craft stores, artistic studios and French bars. Formerly established in the 1930's, this district used to be part of the so-called "Shikumen" residential complex, known as Zhicheng Fang.
What is meant by Shikumen Architecture?
Shikumen literally translates into "stone gate", referring to an architectural housing style combining both Western and Chinese elements, deisgn & layouts into one, as a result of international settlement tracing back to the early 19th century.
Distinctive for this type of architecture are grey stone-framed doorways, oftentimes decorated with intricate carvings. Another feature refers to narrow alleys ("longtan"), in which houses are rowed up tightly next to one another, forming an overlap between private life and public, dense communities.
With the city's pursuit of progress and modernity in the middle of the 1990's, Shikumen fell out of favor and interest and hence led to the prediction that most of the Shikumen buildings- if not all- would disappear by the beginning of the 21st century. However, even though many Shikumen buidlings have been destroyed and demolished, plenty of buildings and former residential areas have either been redeveloped or well-preserved. As for most of these, the antique walls, tiles and exterior are being kept in their autentic original whilst the interiors normally reflect the modern & contemporary lifestyle of the 21st century.
Several spots and areas around Shanghai, such as the Former French Concession, Tianzifang or Xintiandi are excellent examples for experiencing and strolling through comparable areas.In the late 20th century, once the redevelopment of Shikumen residential housing areas took place, Tianzifang attracted a lot of artists due to affordable rents and central location. Chen Yifei, one of the artists settling down in the Tianzifang area, was the one converting two abandoned factories into art studios and by doing so, built the foundation for an afterwards evolving complex revitalisation for arts & culture. From 2001 onwards, Tianzifang was finally recognised as artistic creative zone, being named after one of China's earliest recorded artists, Mr. Tian Zifang.
A stroll along the colourfully decorated streets, lined with crafts, antiques, art galleries, boutiques and souvenir shops from both local and international artists is a great experience during day- and night time. Many international bars, where one can meet locals, Expats and tourists from all over the world, serve freshly drought beers, cocktails and snacks whilst listening to enjoyable background music. Tea houses and smaller cafes and restaurants also serve a good merge between traditional and international dishes to try. Don't skip the various tea sampling opportunities being offered, as these taste fantastic! Only pay attention to price and quantity when purchasing, especially when no price sign is clearly indicated. A bit of bargain might be required in one place or another.
Practical Information |
Address: 181 Taicang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai How to get there: By metro: take line 9 to Dapuqioa Station (Exit 1) By bus: take bus #43, #96, #218, #955 or #985 to Dapuqiao, walk around 250m northwards Opening Hours: usually from 10am - 11pm (shops, bars and boutiques might have differing opening times) Admission: free |
Xintiandi (Madong Road)
Just like the Former French Concession and Tianzifang, Xintiandi, which means "New Heaven and New Earth", is another restored area belonging to the Shikumen heritage, though famous for blending both historic architecture and modern lifestyle into one. Divided into a southern and northern block, Xiantiandi is characterised by car-free luxury shopping, multi-functional dining, entertainment centres with cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques of international standard, as well as a blooming nightlife on both weekends and weekdays.
While the southern block of Xintiandi mainly features modern architecture, the northern part covers the (by now redeveloped) Shikumen architectural housing style, out of which most buildings serve as bookstores, cafes or restaurants. Passing through the old and narrow lanes certainly holds a picturesque spot for everyone whilst creating a romantic atmosphere in the evening.
Further historical significance of the area can be traced upon the museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, CPC (July 23rd, 1921), which is open to public. The exhibition includes a life-size replica of the meeting room in which Mao Zedong and his 13 delegates held their first national congress of the Communist Party of Chiinaon July 23rd, 1921 and further on used to meet secretely underground. Photographs, artefacts, historical documents, as well as a multimedia display explaining how the CPC came into life can be found upstairs, on the second level of the two-story Shikumen building, including a waxwork hall.
Practical Information |
Address: 181 Taicang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai How to get there: By metro: take line 10 or line 13 to Xintiandi Station (Exit 6, Madang Road) and walk a few meters. Alternatively, take line 1, get off at South Huangpi Rd. Station (Exit 3), walk southwards along South Huangpi Rd. By bus: take bus #146 or #805 to Madang Rd., Xingye Rd. Opening Hours: open 24/7 (museum hours 9am - 5pm, closed on Mondays) Admission: free (also referring to the museum of the first National Congress of the CPC) |
Garden & Temples
Yu Garden (Yuyuan) & Bazaar
Yuyuan is one of my most recommended must-see places I can give at-hand; a bustling area filled with life, beautiful garden scenery, including the famous City of God Temple right in the middle of touristic crowds.
Let's start with the garden area: the word "yu" means "peace & comfort"; a term chosen by the former Ming Dynasty official Pan Yunduan, who built this garden in 1559 for his parents to ensure an enjoyable retirement home. The garden is located right in the heart of Shanghai's Old Town (Huangpu District), featuring classical elements of a typically traditional
Chinese garden, such as pavilions, bridges & rockery elements.
Entering the garden, you will directly encounter the beautiful and long-stretching garden rockery ("Great Rockery"), which features a perforated, partially deformed-looking, yet exquisite jade rock that belongs to one out of three most famous rockeries in south China.
Featured pavilions & halls, such as the Sansui Hall (largest hall in the premises, originally used to welcome guests), Dianchun Hall and Wanhua Hall further impose with traditional architecture and decorative elements. Strolling through the garden, you will cross several zigzag bridges, such as the Nine-Turn Bridge, whilst passing a koi-filled lotus pond and detecting marvellous decorative elements, such as intricate wood carvings and winding walls topped with dragon sculptures.
Right outside the garden, you have no other choice but bumping into the famous Yuyuan Bazaar, also known as Yu Garden Market. This area is filled with countless souvenir shops, street food stands & stalls, tea houses, Chinese medicine shops and the herewith connected City of God Temple. The Bazaar gives an excellent opportunity to test- and try a wide range of local delicacies, above all xie huang tang bao- heavenly large-filled soup dumplings which usually come with a straw to suck out the steamingly hot broth, usually containing crab meat and crab roe.
Practical Information |
Address: 279 Yu Yuan Lao Jie, 四牌楼 Huangpu, Shanghai, China How to get there: By metro: take line 10 and get off at Yuyuan Station (Exit 1) By bus: take bus #64, #736, #805, #920, #911 or #930 and get off at Xinbeimen Station; walk along Anren Street to get to the garden Opening Hours: 9am - 4:30pm; closed on Mondays Admission: CNY40 April - June; CNY30 July & August, Dec. - March |
Chenghuang Temple aka City of God Temple: city patrons for protection of its people
Known and referred to as City of God Temple or Jinshan God Temple, Chenghuang is a significant Taoist temple situated in the heart of Shanghai, right next to the famour tourist site of Yu Garden. Its establishment traces back to the Yongle Reign of Ming Dynasty, devoted to worship the city god to guard and protect both the city and citizens of Shanghai. Due to its continuous extension and restoration measures over the years, it nowadays features plenty of halls to discover, including two garden areas, out of which one is the famous Yu Garden.
Three town gods are enshrined: (1) Huo Guang (famous general of Western Han Dynasty; 202 BC- 9 AD), (2) Qin Yubo (celebrity of Yuan Dynasty; 1271 - 1368) and (3) Chen Huacheng (sacrificed in the First Opium War; 1839 - 1842).
Due to the temples vibrant surroundings it's convenient to combine your visit when visiting Yu Garden, Yu Garden Shopping Mall, the Old Street and Chengxiang Pavillion, as all of these attractions are situated in close proximity.
Practical Information |
Address: 249 Fangbang Middle Rd, ChengHuangMiao, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi How to get there: By metro: take line 10 and get off at Yu Garden Station (Exit 3). Walk along South Henan Rd. (approx. 5min.), then east along Middle Fangbang Rd. (approx. 5min.) By bus: take bus #932 and get off at City God Temple Station. Alternatively, take bus #11, #64, #736. #805, #911 or #930 and get off at Xinbeimen Station. Walk south towards Yu Garden (approx. 5min) Opening Hours: 24/7 all day every day Admission: free |
Longhua Temple: Shanghai's oldest Buddhist temple premise & pagoda
Located in the Xihui district within Longhua Park, Shanghai's largest and oldest Buddhist temple premise is hidden, the so-called Longuha Temple. The temple is mainly known for its ancient heritage (originally built in 242 AD), monastic life and its seven-story octagonal pagoda made of bric and wooden staircases, encircled by balconies.
Entering the temple grounds, you will find lots of people carrying lit incense sticks to pray & worship, bowing down in different directions whilst having their eyes closed; it's literally a veritable sea of surrounding smoke, accompanied by calming background music of monks singing.
Temple Worship & Incense Sticks: the mystery of prayingIn a lot of temple premises, you might see people carrying incense sticks praying. In most cases, three sticks at a time. These sticks usually hold a significant spiritual meaning when lighting them at the sacred fire, e.g. to symbolise respect, gratitude and repentance towards ancestors, spirits, deities of Buddhas one is praying to. The uprising smoke furthermore is said to carry your wishes, requests and prayers to heaven, whilst at the same time it cleanses and purifies your spirit, mind and environmental surroundings for a meditative and peaceful moment of inner peace.
Incense Sticks Ritual:
- Buy your incense sticks at the entrance of the temple
- Light them at the sacred fire
- Hold your sticks with both hands, pause, pray
- Bow three times
- Stick your incense sticks into the incense burner upright, so that your smoke can rise vertically into the air
A popular restaurant serving vegetarian (chicken) noodle soup and bean custard buns can be found on the left-hand side for a warming, hearty, yet light meal. Worth a try and worth a visit!
Practical Information |
Address: No.2853 Longhua Road, Xuhui District, south of Shanghai. How to get there: By metro: take metro line 11 or 12 towards Longhua Station, exit at Exit 2 and walk 5 - 10min.; alternatively take metro line 3 towards Longcao Road Station. Walk 15 - 20min. By bus: take bus #41, #44, #73, #87, #104, #166, #734, #809, #864, #933 and get off Long Cao Lu Opening Hours: 7:10am - 4:30pm Admission: CNY10 |
Jade Buddha Temple: ancient relics from former Myanmar
The Jade Buddha Temple is one of the few active monasteries to be found in Shanghai. The temple premises to be found today are a reconstruction of the formerly built complex in the 18th century, which was hit by destruction in the course of a revolutionary uprising during the Qing Dynasty.
The absolute highlight to be found in here are two Buddha statues crafted from pure jade. These rare cultural relics had been brought from Burma to China as gifts in 1882 by a monk called Huigen and kept safe ever since. The first statue, the so-called "Sitting Buddha", portrays a 1,90 meter high Buddha carved out of pale green jade, sitting with closed-eyes in the state of meditation and enlightenment. It is located in the Jade Buddha Tower, which additionally features hundreds of smaller golden Budha statues one can visit for a small admission fee. Photographs are unfortunately prohibited to be taken.
The other Buddha statue is displayed beyond glass, carved of of single piece of transcendent jade, lying on the side with his head supported by his right hand in the so-called "Reclining Buddha" Hall. This posture is referred to as "lucky repose". Another "Recumbent Buddha", brought to the temple in 1889 from Singapore, can be found, just like plenty of ancient Buddhist scriptures, paintings and handicrafts made by monks, available for a small purchase price.
If you are interested about the different postures & gestures of Buddha, have a look into my blog article on the different faces and meanings of the Buddha.
Jade Buddha Temple an enjoyable atmosphere, in which you even have the chance to talk to- or even join ceremonies with on-site practicing monks (take the example below if my mum smiling like a happy cookie next to a monk).
Practical Information |
Address: No. 170, Anyuan Road, Putuo District How to get there: By metro: take metro line 13 to Jiangning Road Station and exit at Exit 4. Walk around 5min. By bus: take bus #19, #206, #316, #328 or #738 and get off at Jiangninglu Anyuanlu Station Opening Hours: 8am - 4:30pm Admission: CNY20 (+ additional CNY10 for seeing the Jade Buddha) |
Jing'an Temple: historic significance in the middle of urban bustle
Jing'an Temple counts to one of Shanghai's oldest and most significant temples, tracing back in history more than 780 years. Originally built in the period of "Three Kingdoms" (220 - 280), its first name was "Hudu Chongyuan Temple", prior to a calligrapher calling it "Jing'an" in 1945, for which it was kept up until today.
Its location is pretty wild: situated right within the Jing'an district, the temple is surrounded by various skyscrapers and bustling shopping malls. If you would like to experience the temple calm and at peace whilst making an offer or donating, it is hence advisable to visit in the early daytime hours.
The main features of the temple refer to three main halls: the Mahivara Hall (containing the largest sitting Jade Buddha in China), the Hall of Heavenly Kings & the Three Sage Hall. In addition, the Silver Buddha Hall and and an ancient bronze bell originating from the Ming dynasty can be discovered.
!Please note!
Taking photos is allowed in the temple courtyard only, not in respective prayer halls; monks will kindly ask you to put your cameras away
Practical Information |
Address: 1686 Nanjing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai How to get there: By Metro: take metro line 2 (green line) or line 7 (orange line), get off at Jing'an Temple Station. Exit at Exit 1 or 4; By Bus: take bus #15, #20, #40, #113, #315, #321, #330, #824 or #927 and get off at Jing'an Temple Station. Opening Hours: 7:30am - 6pm Admission: CNY50 |
Creative Parks & Arts
Jing'an Sculpture Park: contemporary art exchange & exhibition
Founded in 2007, Jing'an Sculpture Park, oftentimes also referred to as "Shanghai Civilized Park" serves the aim to leisurely explore exhibited art projects of both local and international artists in surrounding beautiful urban park greenery. Stretching around 65.000 square meters, the park belongs to one of the biggest outdoor arts premises in the region, covering a total of six major areas: flow display area, entrance plaza + 4 landscape areas. Many outstanding, unique, also off sculpture works are exhibited, being the result of a formerly held International Sculpture Biennial in both 2010 and 2012. Within the park premises, you will also find the Shanghai National History Museum, making it convenient to combine both attractions at once in case of interest. It's a beautiful, relaxing and also calming stroll in which you can let your imagination run free when trying to interpret different art works and their respective meaning.
Practical Information |
Address: 128 Shimen 2nd Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai How to get there: take metro line 2 towards Jing'an Temple Station Opening Hours: open daily without fixed times Admission: free of charge |
M50 Creative Park: contemporary art at its absolute best!
If you love contemporary arts as much as I do, then M50 Creative Park is a definite must to integrate into your itinerary!
The abbreviation M50 refers to the park's actual location, being the south bank of peninsula river in Shanghai's Putuo district, namely No 50 Moganshan Road. These premises are the result of a long-lasting renovation process of buildings, formerly operating as the so called "Chunming Woolen Mill", a textile factory complex that shut down due to declining economic benefits in the 1990's. Ever since, over 50 factories, including the park environment, have been repaired and brought back to shape, leaving enough space for creative makers, such as culture- and arts institutions, as well as individual artists, to settle as main bodies within the complex. Today, M50 hosts over 140 artistic galleries and studios, attracting countless artists from all over the world, likewise curious tourists and locals strolling through winding corridors of the M50 complex. It can be easy to get a bit off track or getting lost when immersing into the plentiful artistic exhibitions and/or activities. Yet, but the charming part about the complex certainly lies within the fact that behind every corner, new exhibitions, stalls, shops or exibited art works are to be found, making your visit a truly enjoyable and never-getting-boring experience!
With plenty of graffiti-decorated exteriors, the complex additionally covers multiple coffee shops, snack stalls and smaller restaurants for a quick break in-between. It's a well-spent afternoon trip to immerse into the diversified world of contemporary arts, ranging from paintings, sculptures, multimedia visualizations up to clothing- and even jewelry stores. More than 300 venues, including hand-on-learning workshops, take place at M50 every year for interactive experiences and intercultural encounters.
I had a blast stepping into contact with different artists at the galleries, learning more about exhibited topics, craftwork, personal motivations and visions. No doubt, you will enjoy your time in this diversified location of magnificent arts, allowing you to take breathtaking photographs of incomparable, colourful and inspiring motives!
Practical Information |
Address: 50 Moganshan Rd, Putuo, Shanghai, China, 200071 How to get there: by metro: take line 13 towards Jianging Road (Exit 1), walk for 8 minutes. Alternatively, take line 1 towards Railway Station (South Square, Exit 3), walk for 8 minutes. Or, take line 3 or 4 towards Shanghai Railway Station (North Square, Exit 2) and walk west for 10 minutes By bus: take bus #41, #58, #185, #332, #510, #741, #845, #966 towards Hengfeng Road Tianmu West Road. Walk 13 minutes westwards from here Opening Hours: most shops and galleries are open from 10am - 6pm Admission: entrance is free, but a few exhibitions might charge a small entrance fee |
People's Square: the central heart of Shanghai city
People's Square is a pivotal point for some of Shanghai's most important museums, theatres, parks and shopping opportunities in the centre of Shanghai. Located at the junction of Nanjing Road, Huaihai- and Xizang Road, attraction sites, such as the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre, People's Park, Shanghai Grand Theatre
(opera house of the city, including ballet and musicals) and also Nanjing Pedestrian Street are located in immediate vicinity. Within the square, you will also find the new Municipal Government Mansion.
Good to know:
In former times, prior to 1949, People's Square used to be a popular and spacious horse-racing track, which shut down after horseracing had been prohibited by the government. It was later on transformed into People's Square, including the evolvement of People's Park.
Every weekend, on Saturdays & Sundays, the so called "marriage market" takes place in People's Park (Renmin Park). A significant and meanhwile also culturally rooted event, which started in 2004 and continues to move forward. Both parents and/or grandparents set up informal booth, e.g. via umbrellas, display boards, to share information about their unmarried children. These information might include height, age, gender, profession, salary, etc. in hope to find a suitable life partner. Even though the market might seem unconventional to some people, it highlights the deeply rooted importance of family and marriage within Chinese culture. And who knows- if you are capable of speaking Mandarin and are looking for a partner, you might be able to start negotiating about potential matches on-sight yourself!
Practical Information |
Address: People's Square, Huangpu District, Shanghai How to get there: By metro: take line 1, 2 or 8 and get off at People's Square Station By bus: take bus #46, #49, #123, #145, #312, #451, or Shangchuan Special Line and get off at Renmin Guangchang (People's Square) Station Opening Hours: all day everyday (unless you would like to visit one of the surrounding museums or attractions) Admission: free |
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