Shanghai

Shanghai: Historic Bund & Futuristic Pudong

Shanghai embodies the dynamic spirit of 21st-century China, where historic European colonial architecture meets cutting-edge skyscrapers. The city’s iconic Pudong skyline dazzles after dark, with towering glass and steel structures illuminated in vibrant blues, reds, purples, and greens. The Oriental Pearl Tower sparkles like a giant disco ball, while across the Huangpu River, the Bund promenade showcases 22 heritage buildings, including neoclassical customs houses and Art Deco banks.

Branching off from the Bund are lively streets filled with upscale restaurants, bars, and international hotels – hotspots for China’s affluent millennials to display their style.

Downriver, you’ll find Yuyuan Garden, a serene Ming-era walled retreat amid the bustling bazaar of souvenir shops and street food stalls. The garden’s rockeries, koi ponds, ancient wisteria, moon gates, and pagodas provide a peaceful contrast to the nearby modern cityscape.

Beyond the glitz, Shanghai’s quieter, old-world charm survives in the labyrinth of alleys known as lilongs and the traditional shikumen houses of the French Concession. Exploring these areas by guided bicycle tour reveals a neighborhood where daily life unfolds slowly – residents play mahjong, knit, chat, or simply relax by their doorsteps, while vegetable stalls and wet markets thrive around tiny intersections.

Many lilongs were once owned by White Russian émigrés and feature stone carvings inspired by Art Deco designs. In fact, Shanghai boasts the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture, which you can explore on specialized private tours.

The French Concession also offers cultural gems such as a Maoist propaganda poster museum, tranquil Buddhist temples, and parks where locals practice tai chi, diabolo spinning, water calligraphy, and folk dancing.

Heading back toward the riverfront, vibrant commerce takes over. Neon-lit Nanjing Road bursts with shops and global brands, while Tianzifang and Xintiandi neighborhoods charm visitors with boutiques and galleries housed in renovated historic lanes.

For a more avant-garde experience, M50 – a repurposed industrial zone – showcases contemporary art studios and design spaces run by young creatives.

Best time to visit:

Avoid early May and October during China’s public holidays. The ideal periods are late March to May and late September to October, when the weather is mild and rainfall is minimal.