Shanghai nicknamed the “Pearl of the Orient” is the most cosmopolitan city in China. Today, it’s the largest city in China, surpassing even the capital city, Beijing.
Official Shanghai Travel Website
Nanjing Lu
Must-See Shanghai Attractions in 1 Day
Start your morning tour of Shanghai in Yuyuan Area. Have the famous Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao (See below) for breakfast and then wander the Yuyuan garden after that. Built by a government official for his elderly father in 1577, it’s modelled after the famous gardens of Suzhou. After spending the morning at Yuyuan, Walk down Nanjing Road and experience the glitzy shopping street of Shanghai. Don’t miss the night-view of the street where all the neon signs light up. Continue walking till you reach the end of Nanjing Road where you will see the most famous Shanghai tourist attraction – The Bund. The Bund (rhymes with “fund”) is a waterfront lined with many historical buildings on one side of the Huangpu River and on the opposite side (Pudong), you’ll see the modern skyscrapers of the city. The most prominent feature being the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is a weird psychedelic experience of flashing lights and lasers in an unmanned tram which is regarded as just a tourist trap.
Food
Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) is located in the Yuyuan Garden area. The 3-storey building has different dining options with the higher you go, the more you pay for essentially the same soup dumplings. Takeouts are sold on the 1st floor and you can watch how the little soup dumplings are made through the glass windows. There is a casual dine-in restaurant on the 2nd floor and the priciest option of a more formal restaurant on the 3rd floor. For a more authentic experience, head up to the 2nd floor for the cheaper dine-in option. If you are travelling in a group, send someone to queue for the food coupons while the rest can scout for an available table. When the previous batch of patrons leave, grab a seat and wait patiently for the waiters to bring out the trays of egg soup and the baskets of soup dumplings in exchange for the coupons you bought.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
The delectable soup dumplings are wrapped with a small cube of frozen broth. When the dumplings are steamed, the frozen broth melts and fills the inside. To eat the dumpling, place it on the spoon without breaking the skin, nibble a small hole at the top and carefully suck out the scalding soup. Add some shredded ginger and vinegar to the dumpling before eating the rest of it.
