豫园公园 /豫园商城和湖心亭茶店
Yu Yuan Park, Bazaar and Hu Xin Ting Teahouse
Yu Yuan park is very close to the bund, walking distance actually, and it is a rather well known park in Shanghai (likely because of its proximity to the bund). There are pros and cons to this attraction. It is one of those places that you can visit if there’s time, but there is no need to make time to visit it.
It is a very highly trafficked location and not exactly the best place to for a relaxing walk. The park is very ascetically pleasing but you must overlook all of the other people that will be congregating within the same area. Also, the time of year that you go to Shanghai definitely makes a difference when visiting the park. This is because in the end of spring and summer months it is scorchingly hot, so be prepared to sweat.
I don’t recommend going out of your way to spend a great deal of time in Yu Yuan Park, however, you should definitely pass through it on your way to the Yu Yuan Bazaar and/or the Hu Xin Ting Teahouse. The three areas are located one next to the other, which makes for a great way to spend the day on foot and take in some of the sights, smells and tastes of Shanghai.
The Yu Yuan Bazaar 豫园市场
Prepare yourselves to navigate through the hustle and bustle of the Yu Yuan Bazaar, where you will see all kinds of snacks and goods for sale. This is the place that someone who likes to haggle would love to visit. Food is a pretty standard price, however, it is open season on any goods that you see to negotiate the price. The bazaar is normally packed with people so be sure to watch your pockets. While serious crimes such as robberies and aggravated assault are not the biggest threat to travelers in China pick-pocketers definitely are. Even if you don’t buy anything the bazaar is still worth a trip. This would be the place that I recommend (after the Bund) to take a stroll through.
The Hu Xin Ting Teahouse 湖心亭茶房
The Hu Xin Ting Teahouse is in the heart of the Yu Yuan Bazaar. If you thought there were a lot of people in crammed into the bazaar just wait until you arrive at the tea house. The teahouse has almost a little moat around it with koi fish inhabiting the water. The teahouse is the gem hidden inside the bazaar, to has a quaint and unique appearance to it that makes it very memorable. You don’t need to go there to buy tea to enjoy the teahouse, making the venture through the bazaar and finding the teahouse is reason enough to make the trip. It may not be the easiest to find and depending on the crowds you may not want to stay there for too long but it is worth the afternoon trip. Just be sure to bring some water if you go in summer time.
静安寺 Jing An Temple
This is a temple that is definitely worth a visit. This temple is big and has several different areas that visitors can explore and view. Not to mention that it appears as if everything in the temple is gold. It is almost definitely painted gold, but it does add an aesthetic beauty to the temple. Even though, there are many people that visit this temple, however there are still sections of this temple where you can find some silence and tranquility.
This temple isn’t exactly what people may think of when Shanghai comes to mind, but it is one of lesser known gems of Shanghai. If you’re into temples and buddhism you will enjoy visiting Jing An Temple. This is a place that you can choose to go to if you have the time. It is not a must see place but it will definitely make passing time more memorable in Shanghai. I’d recommend allocating about 2 hours to visit Jing An Temple.
Ticket Price: 50RMB
上海佘山世茂洲际酒店 The Shanghai Intercontinental Wonderland Hotel
Staying in this hotel would be an experience like no other, between the scenic surrounding areas and the upscale luxuries within the hotel, would leave all guests in awestruck. This is one of those hotels that is very distinct and is on par with some of the nicest hotels in the world. It goes without saying that this hotel is expensive even for the wealthy. For exact pricing on rooms and durations of stays inquire on their website https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/shanghai/shghe/hoteldetail.
The Shanghai Intercontinental Wonderland Hotel is located outside of the city center of Shanghai and is a bit far away from many of the other attractions in the city. Thus, this would be more of a destination than an accommodation while visiting areas of interest in Shanghai.
I personally have never stayed in this hotel, so I don’t have too much additional information to add about this hotel. For more information on this hotel please visit their website at https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/shanghai/shghe/hoteldetail.
What to eat while in Shanghai? 该吃什么？
生煎包/Sheng Jian Bao Buns：Sheng Jian Bao Buns are definitely something that should be tries while in Shanghai. They are Bao Buns that have been seared, however they are different than normal Bao Buns. These Bao Buns have soup inside them along with the meat filling.
Tip for eating Sheng Jian Bao Buns: Do not eat these Bao Buns right away. The soup inside is very hot and will undoubtably burn your mouth/tongue. Poke a hole in the Bao Buns with your chop stick and wait a few minutes for the inside of the Bao Bun to cool down before eating.
夜里生活 The Nightlife
It should go without saying that with Shanghai being the New York of China that the nightlife would also be one of the best in all of China. There are several, bars, clubs and other areas that you could go if you’re into the nightlife scene. Shanghai is one of the more expensive cities in China, so expect to pay a cover fee at many of the clubs that you go. The average cover will be about 100 RMB which is approximately $15 USD. The drinks will also be much more expensive as well (in comparison to other cities in China). I am not much of a club and bar person, so unfortunately I don’t have any places to recommend.
International Kev 