Shanghai is one of the great cities of the world. Whilst not the capital of China (that honour goes to Beijing nearly two hours” flying time away to the north) it is the commercial centre of what is arguably the world”s fastest expanding economy. Virgin flies direct from London, as does China Eastern (although finding out anything about the new service is problematical ” presumably they fill the aircraft with ethnics ” British travellers who might like to try the service will have difficulty in making a booking). If you use Air China via Beijing the domestic flight might be by Jumbo. And whilst you can”t check through luggage from Shanghai to London via Beijing, the arrangement at the Air China hub works well. Keep your receipts, as you will be required to give them up when collecting your luggage. In any event there are two main airports in Shanghai, Hongqiao and Pudong. Hongqiao is the old, mainly domestic, airport served by a fine dual carriageway and about 12 miles from People”s Square.
Pudong International Airport dates from 1999 and is 20 miles from the commercial area with the same name. Anyone interested in technology should take the Maglef Train from the airport to Long Yang Station, an extraordinary eight minute 300 mph ride. It is then taxi or Metro into town. Yes it”s more or less the same system used (and scrapped) at Birmingham International Airport, but it is 18 miles long rather than a quarter mile and rockets you to Eurostar speeds in just two minutes before really starting to motor. However a cloud hovers over this Maglef too! Will it go the way of Concorde?
Shanghai is a massive city. There is plenty to do whether it is taking in history, the arts or just shopping. Three days minimum for a visit and a week if you have the time. Everything is cheap by European standards, even the five star hotels. Just like the other Chinese cities in ABTN”s previous reports taxis are the way to get around, but again there is a modern fast Metro system, which once fathomed out, makes getting around easy. One hundred years ago Shanghai was a great cosmopolitan Asian city, the meeting place of east and west. The ”Great Leap Forward” stymied its development but over the last two decades it has again dramatically moved forward and is now seriously back on the world stage.
Situated in People”s Square, right in the heart of the city, is the Shanghai Museum, established in 1952 and world famous for its collection of ancient Chinese art totalling 120,000 pieces. The massive, strikingly modern building has four floors of exhibition halls each gallery devoted to a different aspect of Chinese culture through the ages, the works spanning from the Neolithic Age through Ming and Qing dynasties until modern times. Some of the areas are sponsored by very rich Chinese who have made their money in the (horrid) world of US capitalism. China may still be in theory a communist state but the current leaders are a pragmatic lot. When ABTN visited the museum there was an enthralling exhibition of exquisite Cartier jewellery, made in Paris for royalty, presidents and film stars. China is also said to be the largest current market for Rolls-Royce. So much for Communism.
Another museum well worth visiting is the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, again in People”s Square, and also said to be one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the world. Up on the first floor, and dominating the building, is a 600 square metre planning model of Shanghai in 2020. It is quite amazing. In the basement is ”Traditional Street” a replica of a typical Shanghai street of the 1930s along which the houses are in the architectural style of the colonisers, that is British, French, Japanese and Spanish plus unique local features. There are changing exhibitions concerning the city and its history, currently a photographic display explaining the Jewish ghetto of the late 1930s and the war years. Refugees from Nazi Germany and Red Russia were freely allowed into Shanghai, the Japanese too respectful of these displaced souls. About 30,000 lived in one area of Shanghai creating their own community with newspapers, schools and even an orchestra. With the end of the war and the creation of the State of Israel the Ghetto disappeared, only one synagogue remaining, now preserved by the city.
The choice of genuine Chinese food is mind boggling with an amazing variety. Far too much of a diversity to detail here. You can eat incredibly cheaply, or you can try the international hotels at half the price of London. M on the Bund is the place to eat in Shanghai if you want creative European cooking (with a taste of Oz thrown in ” restaurateur Michelle Garnaut comes from down under). As if to prove how good it is the restaurant publishes its own guide to Shanghai, listing competing eating places. You can dine outside on a fine summer”s evening overlooking the river in what was the former Nissin Shipping Building or take in the adjoining Glamour Room which features musical entertainment, both classical and modern. The Shanghai property opened in 1999, travellers even muddling it up with M on the Fringe - Hong Kong established in 1989 and still attracting the celebrities and star gazers.
When it comes to hotels Shanghai is as well served by glass palaces as any city in the world. The famous Peace Hotel is also on the Bund, Shanghai”s equivalent of London”s Embankment. Sadly it is rather tired although there are persistent rumours of a takeover by one of the major up-market groups. If you need to stay in the downtown Puxi area the brand new JW Marriott is the place to be (and be seen in). Once in central Shanghai your can't miss it as our photo at the top shows. Part of a 60-storey multi-use development the hotel offers 342 rooms and 255 Marriott executive apartments for those whose stay is extended. Every room has high speed Internet access and on the 59th floor there is an executive lounge . The Mandara Spa is very popular and is attracting custom from all over Shanghai. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a choice of five eating outlets. The hotel”s position is outstanding, opposite the Shanghai Grand Theatre and just a few minutes walk from People”s Square. The Nanjing Road pedestrian shopping area is just minutes away by foot, as is Xin Tian Di, the city”s newest shopping, dining and entertainment hotspot. Even the historic French quarter is within walking distance and the metro runs very close by. Five minutes by taxi is Nearby, the Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar (see photo left) area of the Old Town offering some delicious lunchtime snacks and welcome greenery. The Pan family, rich Ming Dynasty officials, founded the gardens, which took 18 years (from 1559 to 1577) to be nurtured into existence, only to be decimated during the Opium War in 1842. Today they've been restored and attract hordes of tourists. The Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse, one of China's most famous teahouses, is another attraction in the bazaar area.
However if you really want to be impressed stay at the Grand Hyatt the 'highest hotel in the world' located (on the 53rd to 87th floors of the Jin Mao Tower), in the heart of Pudong, Shanghai's developing financial and business district, a more spacious version of London”s Canary Wharf directly across the Huang Pu River from The Bund (left). You literally look down on lesser five star properties. Everything about the hotel is outstanding, the atrium stretching for 33 floors, an orchestra (or jazz group) playing on what is seemingly the ground floor, but in fact the 53rd level. You can take a swim in the pool on the 56th floor and the executive lounge is on 86. The 555 guest rooms are large and there are plenty of lifts (elevators). There is a fine choice of excellent restaurants and the views are tremendous.
http://www.m-onthebund.com
http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage.mi?marshaCode=SHAJW
http://www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com
http://english.pudong.gov.cn