Yuyuan Garden – An exquisite garden which have been traced back to the Ming Dynasty. It was built by Pan Yunduan, a government officer of the Ming Dynasty. Pan built the garden for his parents so they will have a beautiful place to enjoy in their old age.

Its name literally names “Happy Garden”. This two-hectare garden boasts of more than 40 scenic attractions. Centuries-old ponds, dragon-lined walls, rock and tree gardens, as well as zigzagging bridges provide visitors an opportunity to relax and enjoy.

Yuyuan Garden is also renowned for the Exquisite Jade Rock. It is a 5-ton translucent rock that legend says had been carried from the Tai Lake (Taihu) in Wuxi. It is said to be 1000 years old and was a part of the private collection of Song Emperor Huizong.

Jade Buddha Temple of Shanghai – An active Buddhist temple with more than 70 resident monks living and working within its confines. Built between 1911 and 1918, the temple displays the architectural style of the Song Dynasty. It has upturned eaves with symmetrical halls and courtyards. Its walls are bright and its exterior possess the characteristic bright saffron walls.

The main attraction of the Temple is the 1.9-meter high white jade Buddha. In 1882, the Buddha was brought by a monk from Burma to the province of Zhejiang Province. The 1-ton seated Buddha is heavily encrusted with jewels and precious stones.

The Bund (Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu) – For hundreds of years, this famous waterfront district has been a symbol of Shanghai. Strolling along the Bund will take visitors past the Flood Control Bank and the open air podium where the statue of Marshal Chen Yi stands. Other highlights of the Bund include the Cenotaph, the Great Mural Carving and the Electronic Waterfall Bell. More than fifty buildings along the Bund showcase the different architectural styles including Classicism, Gothic, Romanesque, and Gothic. Across the Bund, are the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jin Mao Tower.

Shanghai Museum – More than 120,000 pieces of cultural relics of China’s colorful past are housed in the Shanghai Museum. This famous cultural collection includes Chinese artifacts, paintings, bronze, and calligraphy.

Nanjing Road – A 3.4-mile premier shopping district that starts at the Bund and ends at the junction of Yan’an West Street and Jingan Temple. Every day, hundreds of shoppers flock to the stores located along this famous shopping paradise.

Shanghai Xin Tian Di—Showcases the cultural and historical legacies of Shanghai amidst a modern lifestyle. It is actually a pedestrian street lined with buildings displaying Shikumen and modern styles of architecture. The inside of these buildings reveals a totally modern world of bars and cafes as well as theme restaurants and boutiques.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower—Standing across the Bund, this 468-meter building is Asia’s tallest TV tower. It is often considered as the modern symbol of the city of Shanghai. It has a sightseeing platform that can accommodate 1600 people where visitors have a breathtaking vista of the Bund. A revolving teahouse is the perfect place to stay awhile and savor the view.

Huangpu River Night Cruise – Huangpu River bisects the city of Shanghai dividing it into two distinct sections—Puxi in the west and Pudong in the east. The 97-kilometer long river is now the best choice to take river cruises. The river cruise usually starts at Shiliupu Pier. Visitors can choose to go for a 30-minute cruise or a 3-hour cruise to fully enjoy the experience.

The Huangpu River Cruises offer spectacular views of bridges spanning the Huangpu, as well as buildings that date back to the colonial-era.

Yunnan Lu Road Night Market – A bustling noodle market where one can also have a taste of exotic Chinese cuisine.

Forty-four of China’s ethnic groups are represented in Shanghai’s population. The Han people comprises more than 99% of the total population. The rest of the population is composed mostly of Mongolian, Zhuang, Man, and Hui nationalities.

Among China’s ten major cuisines, Shanghai cuisine is considered as the youngest. It is traditionally called the Hu Cai cuisine and made up of two distinct cooking styles—the Benbang Cuisine and Haipai Cuisine.

Benbang Cuisine is also identified as the local cuisine. It is known for its simple and economical cooking styles. Most dishes originate from home-cooked meals which have been improved and enhanced over time to produce today’s tasty and delectable Shanghai dishes.

On the other hand, Haipai Cuisine literally means “all-embracing cuisine”. Local chefs strive to absorb the local flavors of the other provinces of China as well as western cuisines. These dishes are improved to suit the local tastes thus creating distinct variations in flavors and appearance.

Tanyuan – Made from glutinous rice flour, these small balls were originally eaten only during the Lantern Festival. Tangyuan may be filled with sweet stuffing or may be unstuffed. The sweet filling is made up of black sesame seeds which have been ground and mixed with sugar. A savory stuffing of pork and spices is also well-loved.

Shengjian and Guotie – Shengjian is fried steamed bread while Guotie is fried dumplings. These are two of the most in demand exports of Shanghai.

Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs abound during late autumn. The most popular dishes include lily fruit in crab fat, crab meat bean curd, and rice cake in crab meat. However, the most popular crab dish is steamed crab. Steaming brings out the natural crab flavor while the meat is juicy, tender and delicious.

Xiaolongbao (small meat-stuffed bun) – Traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, these small buns are usually filled with broth and meat. They are often served with shredded ginger in a sweet and spicy sauce.

New Year Cake with Pork Chops – New Year Cakes are made from glutinous rice with meat filling. The cakes have a crisp coating since these are fried. The meat filling is sticky and soft but absolutely delectable.

Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish – Fresh Mandarin fish is deep-fried resulting in a crispy exterior with a soft, yet juicy meat. It is served shaped like a squirrel on a platter. Hot broth is then poured over it before being served.

Xia Zi Da Wu Shen – Made from dried sea cucumber which is soaked in water to restore it to its original size. It is considered as the most famous among Shanghai’s seafood cuisine. After soaking, the sea cucumber is stewed in hot oil and mixed with yellow wine, broth, soybean sauce, shallot, sugar, shrimp sauce and starch sauce.