Travel in Shanghai                                                        NYCHINATOWNcom

Shanghai was a fishing village near the Yangtze River until it was settled by foreigners after the Opium War in 1842. The city was then divided into concessions inside which countries had their own territory, outside the control of Chinese law. To some, it was a treasure chest and to others, a poor house. By the 1930s, many came to seek wealth while others sought refuge. It earned both titles, "Paris of China" and "Whore of the East". The foreigners left after World War II, however much of their architecture remains.

A leader in finance, industry and trade, Shanghai boasts the largest population - approximately 15 million - in all of China. The city is literally situated "on the sea", as its name in Chinese implies.

In 1993 Shanghai opened its doors to the world and pronounced the Pudong New Area as a free trade zone. Today, this hub welcomes business travelers and tourists, alike.

A walk on the Bund, or waterfront, is a Shanghai tradition. The Bund, literally means "muddy waterfront," which best describes one of the most popular areas of Shanghai. Between 1920 and 1965, Shanghai sank several meters and to remedy the situation, water was pumped back into the ground.

The Bund runs along the Huangpu River and is a great meeting place. There are plenty of street performers and peddlers and a variety of foods. In the morning you can see people practicing martial arts. At night, the street is a romantic area filled with couples.

The architecture of the Bund is unique and spectacular. The Pudong side has all new buildings while the other side of the boulevard is lined with buildings from the 1920's when they were banks, trading houses and exclusive clubs.

One landmark to take note of is the Customs House, built in English Tudor style with a clock that chimes like England's Big Ben.

Boats will take you across the river for a couple of yuan at several locations so you can stroll and view from both sides.

The city of Shanghai was once the most modern city in the world and could have competed against Las Vegas or even Amsterdam for the title of 'Sin City'.

Although 50 years of communism have put a bit of a damper on the scene, over the last two years Shanghai has seen a resurgence in the party scene that's vibrant and hip, making it one of the hottest nightspots in China.