By Phin Upham
China is an awesome country to visit, but Shanghai is by far the best city to spend time in. There is so much history in this ancient city, but there’s also many modern attractions and activities to fill up your itinerary with.
If you’re into architecture, you will love the Bund International Architecture Exhibition, located in the Huangpu District. It’s a gorgeous part of the city. The Bund houses over 52 buildings of various architectural styles, like the Eclecticist style. However, it also has buildings that adhere to the Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival, Renaissance Revival and the Baroque Revival styles.
One of my favorite things to do in Shanghai is visit the Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan). This museum has been open since 1996 and it is a stunner. It features eleven eclectic galleries. There is a mixture of exhibits and styles of art on display. It is chock-full of bronzes, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jade, and even furniture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Shanghai offers some beautiful gardens and parks. A personal favorite is the Yu Garden which is an elaborate Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai. You could easily spend the entire day in this picturesque garden. The centerpiece is a spectacular rock made of Jade. The boulder weighs at least 5 tons. There are some rumors that surround the history of the rock. It’s actually believed that it was meant to be placed in the imperial palace in Beijing, but that it was salvaged after sinking into the ocean near Shanghai.
The architecture exhibition, the Shanghai Museum, and the Yu Garden all offer a bit of modern and traditional. They each have an interesting history but also show the ever-changing and evolving Chinese culture. Another thing that also offers the ancient and modern China together is the cuisine.
While the country is expanding its horizons when it comes to food, there are many staples that have been eaten in China for centuries and are for certain, not going anywhere! Dumplings are one of my favorite Chinese foods that have been around for ages. These delectable treats are served everywhere from the local street vendors to upscale restaurants. They are delicious and well worth the trip overseas.
Phin Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website or Twitter page.