9 Great Attractions in China That Are Not on Your Itinerary, But Should Be (4-5)

Shanghai:
1) Jinmao Tower (Jinmao Dasha)

Everyone knows about the Oriental Pearl Tower, which is an engineering and architectural marvel. The problem with the Oriental Tower is that it’s not that high, it’s rather expensive to buy tickets to the top, and there is usually a long line just to get tickets.

Rather than waiting on line for overpriced tickets, why not go one block southeast to the Jinmao Tower? The Jinmao Tower was the tallest building in China until 2008, when Shanghai’s World Trade Center was completed. Moreover, the Jinmao Tower is an architectural feat in itself, with its amazing “scales” on the outside of the building, plus the massive Hyatt Hotel taking up most of the upper stories. From the observation deck of this building, visitors can look straight down the middle of the tower all the way to the lobby of the Hyatt 52 stories below. And with such a height, visitors also get a spectacular view of Shanghai, including the Bund and of course the Oriental Pearl Tower (if you go to the Oriental Pearl Tower instead of Jinmao, then you won’t get to have a view of it!).

To get to the top of the tower, one can take an elevator from the basement of the tower all the way to the observation deck at the top. Another great idea, especially on a clear night when Shanghai is all lit up, is to go to the Cloud 9 Bar in the Hyatt. The Cloud Nine Bar is just a couple of stories below the actual observation deck, and you can enjoy some drinks and hors d’oeuvres while suspended above the city (note: Cloud 9 has a minimum order per person, a 15% service charge, and 5-star hotel prices).


2) Fuxing Park (Fuxing Gongyuan)

I consider Fuxing Park to be the Central Park of Shanghai— an oasis among the towering skyscrapers of the big city. Actually, Fuxing Park is more of an oasis among the old European villas of the French Concession, which makes the journey to this park half the fun. Because it was part of the former French Concession, the park is designed in Parisian style: wide pathways and flower beds. The rose gardens in the late spring are especially attractive.

Fuxing Park is a great place to see people flying kites, doing tai chi, taking a romantic stroll, fishing in the ponds, and even practicing ballroom dancing. After leaving the park, be sure to meander through the northern parts of the former French Concession for sites such as Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence and Zhou Enlai’s former residence among the old villas, before finally ending in the Huaihai Road area for cafes and relaxation. Mid-afternoon is the best time for this Fuxing Park tour, but if you are more interested in the park than its surroundings, I suggest getting there in the early morning.

Posted at 11:20AM Aug 15, 2008 by admin in China Travel  |  Comments[0]