1. Shanghai Museum: First of all it’s free which is always nice. The museum also provides great insight into Chinese culture and history. It is conveniently located near People’s Square, Nanjing Road and Renmin Park.
2. Walk Nanjing Road (especially east of People’s Square): Nanjing Road is the tourist haven, and this pedestrian street caters to that face like no other place we saw in Shanghai. Lots of opportunities for shopping, and people watching. Once the construction for Expo 2010 is completed you can walk eastward all the way down the river and The Bund.
3. Take In A View of The Bund & SWFC Observatory: The Shanghai skyline is relatively well known, and the view is spectacular from the world’s highest observatory. The SWFC (Shanghai World Financial Center) also houses the world’s highest hotel.
4. Visit Food Streets like Wujiang Road: You want find scorpions on sticks, but there is a good variety if you are adventerous and don’t mind a little trial by fire. Food from most places seem safe to eat, but be wary. Hopefully streets like these will continue to be around in some form, but apparently gentrification is taking its toll.
5. Yu Gardens and Bazaar: One of the best places (Yu Gardens) we found for a little room to stretch our arms and bask in relatively quiet surroundings after walking the streets of Shanghai for a week. Will cost you 40 RMB per person, but interesting and expansive gardens. The surrounding bazaar offers tons of shopping, and is another big tourist haven, evidenced by the many tour buses collected down the street.
6. The Bund Observation Tunnel: We did not have a chance to do this, but seemed like an interesting experience. 20 RMB one way or 30 RMB roundtrip, the tunnel should offer excellent views of The Bund and waterfront. Wait until Expo 2010 or after as the endless construction barricades should be down by that time.
7. Explore French Concession Area: Never found this name used locally, but guidebooks referred to it constantly. Collection of western oriented bars, restaurants and hotels. The area is also home to most foreign embassies, and the difference in architecture of the area is quite obvious.
LOVE these lists, guys! Thank you so much…
Glad they have helped! We certainly would like to hear if you have anything to add Urte! Good traveling!