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Another 5 activities to explore Shanghai in the best way possible
Shanghai, which has more people than any other city in the world, is one of China’s most important economic and cultural hubs.It isso full of activities that we decided to publish another post about things to do in Shanghai! Don’t forget to check out the previous post on5 things to do in Shanghai.
1. The Bund
Less than 200 years ago, the Bund was just a muddy narrow lane but now it is a popular waterfront area in central Shanghai. It hasnumerous art-like buildings of different architectural styles as it used to be amajor financial hub of East Asia. The Bund is one of the most visited areas in Shanghai and there you can get great pictures over the city skyline, especially in night time.
2. Jade Buddha Temple
In 1882, Jade Buddha Temple was built to protect two Buddha statues brought to Shanghai from Burma by a monk. The Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are the most famous features of the temple as they are not only rare cultural relics but also beautiful pieces of porcelain art. Both of them are carvedfrom a whole piece of white jade. The Sitting Buddha is one of the world’s largest jade Buddha statues as it is almost two meters tall.
Taking pictures is allowed in most parts of the temple area, but while visiting, keep in mind that it is an actual working temple, not just a tourist attraction. You can see local people worshiping and monks walking around the temple area.Jade Buddha Temple is a popular spot in Shanghai so you should visit it in the morning to avoid the crowds. Please note, that you have to pay a small entrance fee to get in.
3. Shop until you drop
You can find anything from insect markets to luxury boutiques in Shanghai since it is one of the best shopping cities in Asia. Nanjing Road is the first choice for many fashion-seeking shoppers as it is several kilometers long with many large shopping malls, specialty shops and small stores. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes where to stop for a bite when you get tired of all the shopping. If you are looking for something more unique you should visit fabric markets where you can find a good tailorto sew you clothes, shoes and bags. Don’t forget to bring cash since they rarely accept credit cards!
If clothes and accessories are not your thing, you can always find something more bizarre in Shanghai. When going to the traditional Chinese Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market you might want to wear earplugs as the noise gets really loud there. For a Westerner, it might seem weird why someone wants to buy insects, but in China, many insects are eaten and, for example, raising crickets is a traditional hobby and they are considered to bring good luck.
4. Shanghai Museum
Many people say Shanghai Museum is the best museum in Shanghai because it has several permanentand temporary exhibition halls where you can get to know Chinese culture and history. Entrance is free but prepare to wait for awhile as it is one of the most popular tourist attractions!The museum has a collection of over 120,000 pieces, including, for example, ancient coins, ceramics, calligraphy, jades, paintings and sculptures.
You might also be interested in:Confucianism – Shaping Asian Cultures for over 2,000 Years
5. Nightlife
Shanghai parties hard so you can find bars and clubs of all kind from underground clubs and speakeasies to world class clubs with tables full of champagne. Cloud 9 falls in the latter category with itssignature drinks anda 360 degree view over Shanghai.It is located on the 87th floor of the Jin Mao Tower which makes it one of the highest bars in the world. If you are looking for student-friendly prices with an amazing view, you should head to Captain Bar which is located on the top of Captain hostel. Not the easiest to find but totally worth it.
Shanghai is not only a thrilling place to visit, but also a highly popular study abroad destination.
Find out more about studying abroad in Shanghai
Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities inAsia Pacific for students from all around the world. Want to get travel tipsand new blog posts straight to your inbox? Subscribe to ourmonthly newsletter!If you have any questions about studyingabroad, feel free tocontact us! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
