Shanghai Guide
Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi) is the most populous city in China and also one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. It covers more than 6,340 square kilometers and has a population of more than 23 million. Since 2004, Shanghai has been the world's largest port.
Location and weather
Shanghai is located in the eastern part of China, in the area where the Huangpu River flows into the East China Sea. A subtropical climate with four periods prevails here. Winters are cold, temperatures are around zero, in summer it is around 30 degrees with high humidity (almost 80%). Typhoons can strike in summer and early autumn. The best time to visit Shanghai is spring and autumn.
Accommodation
As far as accommodation in Shanghai is concerned, we can find here a large number of cheap hostels, boarding houses and also luxury apartments and hotels. As Shanghai is a major Asian trade hub, almost all hotel chains have opened their hotels here. We can find here, for example, Swissôtel, Majesty Plaza, Crowne Plaza, Marriott, Renaissance, Hilton, Mercure, Radisson Blu, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, InterContinental, Tulip hotels or Four Seasons.
History
The first mention of Shanghai can be found from the reign of the Song Dynasty (ca. 960 AD). Over the centuries, it has been an important port and trading center, but only on a local scale. The 19th century was very important for international trade and its growth, at this time, an agreement was concluded between Great Britain and China and Shanghai was named one of the five ports that were open for international trade. This step meant huge growth for Shanghai, in the 1920s and 1930s Shanghai was the most prosperous city in East Asia. In 1949, the Communist Party took power in China, and since then, trade has shifted to socialist countries and its international influence has waned. Thanks to economic reforms in 1990, Shanghai reopened with massive investments, a new international airport was built, international companies have their headquarters in the city, and it is an important financial center. In 2010, the Shanghai International Expo took place here.
Transport
There are two airports in Shanghai - Pudong and Hongqiao. Both airports are on Line 2 of the Shanghai Metro. More important is Pudong, which lies about 40 km from the city and is designed mainly for international transport. The airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, free shuttle bus runs between them. It is possible to use the metro or buses to get around the city. If you plan to spend more days in Shanghai, it is recommended to buy the Shanghai Jiaotong Card. Most instructions, etc. in buses and subway are in English in addition to Chinese. Taxi drivers generally do not speak English, so it is recommended to write down the name of the place you want to get to and the address in Chinese on a piece of paper. Shanghai is a huge city and it is possible that even taxi drivers will not know how to get to their destination. In case you come across several taxis together, it is recommended to look at the driver identification card, which should be displayed next to the taximeter in front of the passenger seat. Identification cards are issued gradually, drivers with an identification number starting at 10 .... will be the most experienced, while drivers with an identification number of 28 .... will not have much experience and you can easily get lost. A good tip is also to check the driver's rating / duration of his photo - he will have a number of stars from zero to five under the name. In this case, the more the better - drivers with more than 1 should be able to find all the main attractions of Shanghai, from three stars also lesser-known places.
Landmarks
The dominant feature of the city is the Bund, which originated in the heyday of Shanghai, around 1920-30. It is located on the banks of the river and consists of 52 historic buildings, which originally housed banks, hotels or businesses. Not to be missed is the Pearl of the Orient tower with a view of the city. It is close to the 88-story Jin Mao Skyscraper and the Shanghai World Trade Center, Asia's third tallest building, with the world's highest viewpoint. On People's Square we find the Shanghai Museum, which houses one of the best collections of Chinese art.