Like most things in Shanghai, shopping culture has expanded dramatically. Shanghai is now home to some of China’s finest department stores, including Western and Japanese style outlets such as Yaohan, Isetan, Metro and Carrefour are present in Shanghai. Additionally, jade, silk, handicrafts, sculptures and antique vases are all easily found—particularly in tourist hot spots such as Nanjing Road and Yu Garden.

The Bund

The Bund and its surrounding area is Shanghai’s most popular tourist area. Particularly beautiful at night, the Bund is an excellent pace to stroll and experience Shanghai’s historic past, and also get a glimpse into the city’s future—the Bund has always been closely linked with the development of Shanghai. The Waibaidu Bridge, the long embankment along the Huangpu River, and the imposing array of tall buildings together form what is now a recognizable symbol of today’s modern China.

Yu Garden

The Yu Yuan Gardens and Bazaar sits at the northeastern end of the old Chinese city,and is one of Shanghai’s premier sights. Best visited on a weekday, the garden is a fully restored classical Chinese garden, complete with water ponds stocked with fish, 200 year old wisteria plants and a Ginkgo tree aid to be over 400 years old. The garden is surrounded by the Yu Yuan Bazaar, which both provides a sense of China’s past and a great place to have lunch.

Opposite the Bund sits the Oriental Pearl Tower, a 468 metre (1,535 feet) tower that is the world’s third tallest tower and certainly one of today’s most recognizable structures. The tower features five spheres, three observatory levels, a revolving restaurant, exhibition facilities and a shopping mall. Three enormous underground support the structure that attracts more than 3 million visitors a year.