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Guide to Shanghai, China (Peoples Republic)
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ShanghaiShanghai: a mix of skyscrapers, ghettos, culture-center districts, and adventure. It is a place where you can revel in the very best China has to give, while still standing a stones throw away from nit and grit of gambling halls and smoke filled bars. Shanghai is constantly consumed by the noises of construction teams erecting new office complexes, but while the city can easily be seen as a spectacle of modernism, the marble and glass facades cannot take away from what exists in the backstreets and behind vending carts in alleyways. Shanghai is one of Chinas greatest cultural hubs, and while you must take the good with the bad, the exciting, unforgettable experiences are ones you will keep with you forever. Dont be surprised if youre on your way out of Shanghai and you feel a subtle pull, asking you to come back for one last go-around. Visit Shanghai, a city of enchantment, wonder, and bedazzlement.
When to go:
If you get excited about cultural phenomenon and dont mind gridlock night and day, then the period before, during, and after the Chinese New Year is the time for you to visit Shanghai. Everything in the city slows down to a crawl, and the only way that youre going to get a seat on that bus is to slug it out with a Shanghai native (ok, we exaggerate a bit, but were not far off!). If you visit the city during any other part of the winter, spring or autumn, youll be pleased with the discounts youll receive as well as the complete ease with which you can get around. Summer is, of course, high-season, when the city receives an influx of visitors from everywhere for all sorts of purposes: visiting relatives, globe-trotting twenty-year-olds, etc. Simply put, visit during spring or autumn if you want it easy, or visit Shanghai in the summer for something of a challenge.
Getting there and around:
Shanghai is Chinas second most-frequented city, and assumptions are that direct access here can be achieved from anywhere on the planet. While it would be difficult to confirm or denounce those assumptions, it is safe to say that Shanghai International Airport is not far behind in services from its big-brother terminal in Hong Kong. Shanghai International Airport was recently opened as part of the citys effort to expand and restore its aging transportation systems, therefore everything you need or want can be found inside the terminal. The ride into the city may take quite a while, but a taxi can cover the terrain in a relatively short timeframe.
Shanghai is not so easy to get around as one may think. To easy traffic congestion, the citys transportation planners created a whole new network of roadways, which in many ways lends efficiency to travel, but you must be something of a daredevil to traverse some of Shanghais streets. The easiest way of getting around is by taxi. These are most expensive than buses, but youll be saved from cramping and crowding. The next-best option (some argue, the best) is the citys metro system. During rush-hour, the subway system is notorious for crowdedness and delays, but in the off-peak hours, the metro works like a dream.
Attractions:
Shanghai is known for its shopping districts, but before you head out for a buying bonanza, we recommend making your way over to Shanghai Museum to get your feet wet in a bit of history and artistry. What is most interesting about the Shanghai Museum is that for so long, many of the paintings which belonged to the establishment, where not permitted to be shown to the general public. But only recently, about 1/3^rd of the museums 120,000 artworks were put on display, creating a lot of commotion inside the critic circle and beyond.
The Bund is an interesting part of Shanghai, in that many foreign influences have played a part in making the Bund what it is today. To the unaware spectator, the Bund may seem like just another mile of department stores, high-rise hotels, and swanky nightclubs, but with a closer look, youll see there is much more at play here. The Bunds economic importance is great, and without this sector, Shanghai would not be the city awash in advancement it is
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