Shanghai Information - hotels, restaurants, golf, weather, maps & more

Of all of the magnificent cities in China, perhaps none of them have the forward thinking attitude and truly modern feel of Shanghai. While there is a good amount of natural ruins and ancient history here, Shanghai is a city that seems bent on hurtling toward the future and not basking in China’s rich cultural past. There has been a running joke about Shanghai over the last fifteen years that no city in the world experiences more construction than Shanghai, and that might actually be true. Getting around this massive city with a population skyrocketing above 15 million can be a bit of a trial, which is why we stress to everyone to have up to date maps from this year that show the street layouts. Not that wandering this magnificent city isn’t fun, there are shopping, dining and leisure activities by the thousands here, but it can be a little confusing for Western tourists, especially if you aren’t fluent in the local language.

The first thing that you will likely notice about this city is the incredible architecture. The construction crews here have been busy building some of the most remarkable skyscrapers, office towers and public buildings on earth. But what are impressive buildings without warm, welcoming people to greet you? The population of Shanghai is full of some of the nicest folks you will ever meet, no matter how much you travel. Restaurant service here is fantastic, even at the smallest noodle houses, and since Shanghai is now a world class destination, it won’t matter what kind of food you are looking for in the middle of the night, you’ll be able to find it and have it served to you with a smile.

Since Shanghai is such a huge international business hub, the selection of fine hotels here is truly overwhelming. From the Western names you know like the Crowne Plaza and the Astor House, to many high class chains that are only located in the Far East, finding a four star, luxury accommodation here is easy. Some rooms here even surpass their Western counterparts when it comes to frills, views and a commitment to customer service. There are also quite a few top quality resort properties in Shanghai, too, but many of the top business hotels offer the same kinds of treatments, so they really aren’t worth seeking out unless you have a special reason to stay there.

Shanghai is also an incredible place to do some shopping. It doesn’t matter if you are in the market for a new suit and a flashy sports car or if you simply need to pick up some trinkets for souvenirs for friends back home, the number of open markets and Western-style shopping malls here are huge. Just like London, Paris or Tokyo, Shanghai is a shopper’s paradise just waiting to be explored.

So, what are you waiting for? Start packing and grab that next flight to beautiful and dramatic Shanghai!