It was in 1843 that China first allowed the West into the country; Shanghai was the first city to open. In doing so, the nation opened the floodgates for a new era of trade between East and West that would have a great impact on world history. The starkest impact was felt in the city itself, however, which accelerated past Beijing in both size and chic by the early 1930s; subsequent communist rule saw a decline in its importance but the 21st century sees the city one again blossoming.
The evidence of modern capitalism and technology are obvious from the spectacular skyline that’s become almost as iconic as that of Manhattan. Yet this is still unmistakeably China; traffic jams are as likely to be bikes as cars, dumplings still sizzle in the humid air on ramshackle street-side barbecues and there are plenty of hidden monasteries and shrines that survive amid the tower blocks that continue to sprout around them.
Where to stay
The JIA Shanghai is a popular choice in which the rooms come provided with everything from a mini-kitchen to free wifi. The Radisson Shanghai New World is another award-winning hotel with a perfect set-up for business travellers.
Where to eat
For the serious food-lover, Fook Lam Moon serves up some of the finest Cantonese haute cuisine in the city. A walk down Wujiang Road will reveal all manner of alternatives; inhaling the rich smells drifting from the numerous restaurants is half the experience.
What to see
The Yuyuan Gardens and the Garden of Natural Beauty are two of the finest of their kind. For a piece of history, the Bund river promenade will take you through the old French/English concessions.
