City Guide Shanghai

Welcome to the enchanting city of Shanghai, a place where tradition and modernity harmoniously converge to create a captivating urban tapestry.

This special edition city guide is brought to you by one of VOCIER's esteemed associates, who fondly reminisces about the vibrant moments and unforgettable experiences that this remarkable city has to offer. Through her eyes, you'll discover the hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and cultural treasures that define Shanghai.

Join us on a journey through bustling streets, serene gardens, and breathtaking skylines as we delve into the heart of a city that holds a special place in her memories and now, hopefully, in yours too.

Eats :

Villa le Bec: one of the world’s 50 best restaurants, French multi-concept restaurant; try the truffle pasta. 

Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet: exceptional cuisine with a unique experience of taste, smell, vision, and sound.

Lost Heaven: 3 outlets all over Shanghai, delicious Chinese food, especially the cuisine of China`s Yunnan province - try their Thai Seed cocktail with your meal; the best cocktail you can have!

Kathleen`s 5: finest American cuisine with a stunning view.

Hakkasan: chic restaurant on the Bund that serves modern Cantonese fare with Western influences; a must try is the Peking duck with caviar and the hand-made dim sum.

Jade on 36: French cuisine with a stunning view of the Bund from the Pudong side.

INSIDER TIP: The options of restaurants are enormous, but do not hesitate to try the food in the small stalls everywhere on the street. The food is more authentic and very delicious.

Drinks:

The Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria: great atmosphere, decor, and cocktails with a fab jazz band.

Vue Bar: great drinks with a fantastic bund view.

Bar Rouge: the most famous bar in Shanghai.

Speak low: top 20 of the world’s best bars with a secret entrance and many surprises.

The Glamour Bar: the name of the bar speaks for itself. It's a cool venue with a great view and fantastic cocktails.

INSIDER TIP: Don't overlook the opportunity to experience a bar with a stunning view of the Bund in the evening. It's a night you'll cherish forever!

Sleeps:

Pudong Shangri -la: city hotel with elegant rooms and a great view.

Faimont Peace Hotel: elegant rooms, luxurious spa in a very historical Art-déco-building from 1929.

Park Hyatt Shanghai: luxury high-rise hotel.

Annas Xintiandi: unique concept, great location to go out in the evening.

Xintiandi: Not to be missed. Xintiandi is an affluent car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai with an active nightlife. The district is composed of an area of reconstituted traditional mid-19th-century shikumen. It is considered one of the first lifestyle centers in China.

Dragonfly: Just relax and try at least one Chinese massage at a Dragonfly Spa (they are spread all over the city), one of the contemporary urban retreats in the city, offering great massages at affordable prices

Arts & Culture:

Shanghai Museum: located in the French Concession, has a rich collection of Classical Chinese art, bronze and jade artifacts, sculptures, and paintings.

Jade Buddha Temple: a temple that houses two giant statues of Shakyamuni as well as other shrines and monuments. The temple is most known for its magnificent jade Bush sculpture.

Other temples to visit: Jing`an Temple, Longhua Temple.

The 50 Moganshan Road: an area that features a diverse selection of galleries and studio spaces, making it a great place to explore the city’s contemporary art scene.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition: suited at People’s Square, this exhibition center showcases the development of Shanghai from a small fishing village to a bustling megacity.

The Power Station of Art: museum located in the former power plant of the same name, hosting a great range of contemporary exhibitions

INSIDER TIP: the art scene in Shanghai is immense and growing everyday, just stroll along the Rock Bund and visit the new galleries that pop up nearly every day

Spend time outside: 

Yu Garden: traditional Chinese park with pavilions, ponds and bridges

The Bund: broad waterside promenade on the West Bank of the Huangpujiang River in downtown Shanghai

Fuxing Park: tranquil green space in the middle of the city with fountains and ponds, where you can see a lot of Chinese people dancing, playing, chatting etc.

Shopping:

Nanjing Lu: the most famous shopping street in Shanghai and one of the world’s busiest streets along with Fifth Avenue and Oxford Street

Yuyuan Bazaar: Chinese traditional market where you can find everything from food to souvenirs

Shanghai IFC Mall: modern, luxury shopping mall where you can find a lot of designer brands

K11 Art 11: this mall offers an out of ordinary shopping experience with a focus on art and unique shops, restaurants and art exhibitions

Do not know where to start?

-Begin your tour at the Bund and use the Bund sightseeing tunnel, which is a tourist attraction, that takes visitors on a quick tour of the Hunangpu River. The ride is colorful and fun and a good way to commute between the Bund and Pudong streets.

The Oriental Real Tower is famous with his pink balls, you can visit the observation levels and get an overview of the city

INSIDER Tipp: Do not miss the Roller Coaster in the Pearl Tower which is the tallest indoor roller coaster in the world!