As the most populous city in the world’s most populous country, it’s no surprise that Shanghai is teeming with exciting attractions, great shopping areas and fabulous restaurants. And thanks to its most recent period of economic prosperity, this historic city is once again being favoured by the kind of wealthy tourists it attracted before Communist rule but sorely lacked during the harshest years of the Maoist regime. With 22 million people tucked into a space of around 7000 square kilometres, it can be hard to navigate your way around Shanghai’s busy streets. So if you’ve got money to spend and not much time to spare, here’s a quick guide to the city’s upmarket areas.
For travellers of any budget, one of Shanghai’s primary attractions is Nanjing Road. This ancient street encompasses People’s Square, the main central area of Shanghai and a bustling park filled with locals and visitors. While many sections of Nanjing Road may not be classed as “upmarket”, the sheer number of shops, cafes and boutiques in this area means that there’s plenty of high end stores to be found too. Nanjing West Road, for example, is populated with several luxury and designer brands and is a favourite shopping destination for wealthy Chinese citizens and tourists, while the Huanghe Road area is home to some pricey, well-established seafood restaurants.
You’ll also find some of Shanghai’s most prestigious cultural attractions along Nanjing Road. The Shanghai Grand Opera Palace is centrally located to the west of People’s Square, and has been cited in the past as one of the world’s best opera houses. What’s more, the old Shanghai Horse Racing Club has now been converted into the Shanghai Art Museum and is certainly worth a visit whether you’re an art connoisseur or not. At the top of this building, you’ll also find the prestigious K5 restaurant, which offers celebrated globally-influenced cuisine and an exclusive rooftop setting.
If you’re looking for luxury hotels in Shanghai, you’ll find some of them along Nanjing Road. However, more high-end hotels can be found in the French Concession area of the city and in Pudong, where a futuristic skyline greets visitors as their flight descends into Pudong International Airport. The historic French Concession area has been called the “Paris of the East” and still retains some old world French charm in its tree-lined streets and hip pavement cafes. You’ll also find exclusive boutiques in this area, which may have trendier wares that those on Nanjing Road.
Bob Taggart writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content. Image by Rob-Shanghai
