Tourism

Intro to Shanghai

Shanghai was once the biggest city in Far-East, and now still takes the role as the New York in China. It was a city swarmed in and from with people of different skin color around world, and now it is rather dynamic, provides more opportunities and attracts many expats to become international inhabitants. During the Olympics 2008, the city will hold the football games.

 

Fast Facts of the city

History

The sprawling metropolis started out as a tiny fishing village 800 years ago in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), when China was ruled by Mongolian leader Kublai Khan. At this same time, explorer Marco Polo was undertaking an epic journey around Asia (lasting 24 years!), in which he traveled across the whole of China and even hung out with Kublai Khan! And it was to be another three centuries until Christopher Columbus landed on the coast of America.

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Climate

The best season for the city was in fall, with delightful temperature and blue sky of sunshine. Winter is usually too bleak and rains quite a lot in January.

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Emergency Calls

Ambulance: 120	All available in English, 24 hours
Telephone number enquiry: 114
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Postal service: 11185

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Explore Shanghai from Shanghai Stadium

There are three lines pass the Shanghai Stadium and can lead you to the best places to leisure, shopping, and to know more about the city.

Metro line 1 Xujiahui Station

Xujiahui is located in the southwestern part of Shanghai. In just ten years, Xujiahui (徐家汇 Xu3 jia1 hui4) has become one of the four biggest shopping destinations in the city of Shanghai. Easily accessible by Metro Line 1 (Xujiahui Station), many people enjoy shopping at Xujiahui because of the number of modern and fashionable shopping malls all within walking distance from each other. Download a PDF map

Xujiahui literally means "Xu's junction". The "Xu family" actually refers to the family of Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), China's most notable Catholic convert, agricultural scientist, astronomer, and mathematician in the Ming Dynasty.

From 1949 onwards, most of the large houses and estates in Xujiahui were compulsarily acquired or seized by the government and converted into factories. During the late 1990s, many of the state-owned factories were sold off and torn down.

Xujiahui is now mainly a commercial district of downtown Shanghai. On the location of a former rubber factory now stands the Xujiahui Park, which was completed in 2002. The Shanghai Conservatory of Music - located to the park - often stages free performances during the Spring and Autumn months in the park, as these are the times when weather in Shanghai is the best.

The main Xujiahui shopping district is centered around the intersection of the streets Hongqiao Rd, Huashan Rd, Zhaojiabang Rd and North Caoxi Rd. Everything from cosmetics to cars to cucumbers is available within five minutes, but the type of product that Xujiahui is most famous for is electronics. It is one of the biggest places for people to get electronic equipment, from cameras to PSPs to XBoxes and modchips for those XBoxes and other game consoles as well.

A five minute walk to the north of this intersection is the famous Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Xujiahui was part of the former "French Concession" of Shanghai.

Department stores

Grand Gateway Plaza - 港汇广场

Huijin Department Store - 汇金百货

Pacific Department Store (Xujiahui outlet) - 太平洋百货徐家汇店

Oriental Department Store - 东方商厦

Metro City - 美罗城

Digital Malls

Pacific Digital Plaza - 太平洋数码广场

Sightseeing

Xujiahui Cathedral (St Ignatius Cathedral)

 

Metro line 1, Hengshan Rd. Station

As a leisure street when it established in French Concession in 1922, the road now still preserve its function and has many European-style buildings have been built in the 1920s and 1930s.

Most old architectures and landscapes are still finely protected and now many of them have become bars, clubs and restaurants of decent tastes and customs from different countries.

http://www.hengshanroad.sh.cn/index.asp

 

Metro line 1, People’s square

The People's Square ranks the most important and prosperous area. It provides the most easy way to know about the city. It is the heart of the city – office buildings of the government, museums of the city and of art – to show the city’s history, culture, and lifestyle. The night scenery presents a more colorful and beautiful picture.

 

Tips for first time/short term visitors

1. At crossroads even when the traffic lights for pedestrians turn green cars can still turn corners, so be careful and look before you cross!

2. It’s not the local custom to pay tips at restaurants, taxis or hotels, although you can if you want to.

3. It’s a good idea to keep a bag of tissues in your bag as restaurants and toilets often don’t provide them.

4. Taxis are relatively cheap in Shanghai and the best way to get around a city you don’t know. A taxi from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai should cost no more than 200 yuan.

5. Prices are not what they seem! Always bargain at street stalls and smaller shops.