SHANGHAI Magic of the glamorous “Mo Du” Location of Shanghai Shanghai, a bustling port and glamorous metropolis in southeastern China, has flourished to become the country’s economic, trade and maritime hub. Since the 1920s, this city has been known as “Magic City” (Mo Du). A writer used it to describe the intricate and confusing world of Shanghai at the time—a strong colonial tenement and a county town with a traditional cultural community that clashed with each other. Today’s modern Shanghai still retains the diversity of this century-old urban landscape, people who come here may fall in love with this elusive but unique “Magic City” at any time. What’s hot Wukang Mansion Wukang Mansion built in 1924 was formerly called Normandy Apartment and was the earliest veranda-style building in Shanghai. Located at the intersection of Huaihai Middle Road and Wukang Road, it has a French Renaissance-style exterior and looks like a huge ship waiting to sail. This apartment has hosted a number of cultural and performing arts luminaries, and it has also served as a filming set for many films. The vicinity of Wukang Mansion is full of French style, sitting by an open-air table of a roadside café while basking in the sun, one may feel as if entering another time and space only by a sip of coffee. 1850 Huaihai Middle Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai City, China (Northeast corner of Huaihai Middle Road and Tianping Road) Take bus no. 26, 911, 920 or 926 and get off at Wukanglu Stop, Huaihai Middle Road. All day Free Yuyuan Garden The Yuyuan Garden, a classical garden in the Old City of Shanghai, was originally built in 1559 as a private garden for Pan Yunduan, a Ming-era governor of Sichuan from Shanghai. The garden now covers an area of 2 hectares and is distinguished by its beauty and exquisiteness, reflecting the artistic style of Jiangnan garden architecture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. “Yulinglong”, one of Jiangnan’s three most renowned stones, “Cangshulou”, the birthplace of the “Shanghai-style Chinese painting and calligraphy” and Dianchun Hall, the headquarter of the “Small Swords Society” are still well-preserved in the Yuyuan Garden. 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City, China Take Shanghai Metro Line 10 and get off at Yuyuan Station. 9am-4:30pm 40RMB (Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov), 30RMB (Jul-Aug, Dec-Mar) Fuxing Park Fuxing Park has a reputation for being an elegant and peaceful place. It was once the centre of cultural, social and festive events in the French Concession. In the past, many historical events took place here, such as the establishment of the Wang Jingwei regime and the first anniversary celebration of the liberation of Shanghai by the People’s Liberation Army. Today, Fuxing Park is the only garden in Shanghai that retains the classical style of French architecture, and it is also a masterpiece of modern Shanghai’s cultural integration of Chinese and Western gardens. Various carnivals and concerts are often held in the park. 516 Fuxing Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City, China Take Shanghai Metro Line 1 and get off at Huangpinanlu Station. 6am-6pm Free Shanghai Old Street Shanghai Old Street was a commercial street during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the early Republic of China, bringing together a large number of teahouses, money changers, theatres, fabric shops, and etc. After reconstruction, today’s Old Street is dominated by traditional specialty businesses with century-old shops such as Shanghai Teahouse, Chunfeng Deyilou and Xishi Bean Curd Mill. The red pillars and cornices of the Old Street’s architecture give it a strong sense of Shanghai’s Old City. Walking down the Old Street, one would feel like seeing the bustling city of Shanghai a century ago. 249 Fangbing Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City, China Take bus no. 64 and get off at Xiaodongmen Stop. All day Free Tianzifang Tianzifang Cultural and Creative Park is evolved from Shanghai’s most distinctive residential alleyway, the “Shikumen” (means stone gate). During Taiping Rebellion, wealthy merchants and landowners from Jiangsu and Zhejiang moved to the tenement with their families to seek refuge, and foreign property developers built houses with stone door frames and thick wood doors to sell to them. These Shikumen houses are now a distinctive feature of Tianzifang. Tianzifang has everything from teahouses, cafes, galleries, home furnishings, handicrafts, and creative studios in addition to Shikumen architecture. Lane 210, Taikang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City, China Take Shanghai Metro Line 9 and get off at Dapuqiao Station, then walk about 5 minutes from Exit 1. All day 10am-10pm (For Shops) Free Confucian Temple The Confucian Temple located in Shanghai’s Old City is the only temple dedicated to Confucius in Shanghai. It has a history of more than 700 years and the buildings, including the temple, courtyard and gardens, are well laid out and magnificent. At the end of each year, the Confucian Temple would hold a bell-ringing blessing and wishing event in the form of a temple fair, where students can express their hopes and resolve to study in front of the statue of Confucius. Visitors can also take part in various activities such as turtle and fish releases, New Year’s candlelight vigils or watch performances at that time. 215 Wenmiao Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City, China (Near Xueqian Street) Take bus Route 24, Route 715, Route 775 or Route 969 and get off at Laoximen Stop (Fuxing East Road). 9am-4:30pm 10RMB What to eat Shanghai Cuisine Shanghai Cuisine, also known as Benbang Cuisine, has a history of more than 400 years. Its common cooking methods include braised, simmered and added sugar-based with a savoury and sweet taste. The dishes taste oily but not greasy. However, some dishes are light in flavour such as Shanghai Steamed Fish and “Furong Jipian” (minced chicken in soup), which can be found in some halal restaurants in Shanghai. Shanghai White Cut Chicken Shanghai people love chicken, hence White Cut Chicken has always been a popular cold dish in Shanghai cuisine. Unlike the thin-skinned, fine Cantonese- style White Cut Chicken, Shanghai White Cut Chicken is made from Pudong chicken, which is typically fatty and juicy. Shanghai White Cut Chicken is cooked over low heat, using only chicken, water and some seasonings as ingredients to bring out the best flavour. Shengjianbao “Shengjianbao” (pan-fired steamed bun), which is filled with chicken, is originated in Shanghai in the 1920s. It is a traditional breakfast of the locals, they usually eat it with chicken and duck blood soup, curry beef soup or oiled tofu vermicelli soup. Have a bite, the thin, soft and fluffy skin and crispy bottom, flavoured with sesame and spring onion, will capture your heart. Scallion Oil Noodles Noodles of southern China are generally not as famous as northern China’s, however, Scallion Oil Noodles (“Congyou Banmian”) is one of the most popular home-cooked flavours for Shanghai people, which is also a traditional local snack. Despite their low cost, perfecting Scallion Oil Noodles is tough. In addition to the original scallion oil, a well-balanced mix of seasonings and chewy noodles are essential. Where to go By train/ subway By taxi By bus On foot Day 1 TIP The Bund 01 TIP Lunch: Shanghai’s halal delicacies 02 Yuyuan Garden Dinner: Scallion Oil Noodles Shanghai Old Street TIP There are three ideal locations to see the full 01 view of the Bund, which are Pudong Binjiang Avenue, on a Huangpu River Cruise, and one of the skyscrapers in Pudong such as Oriental Pearl TV Tower, etc. TIP The areas around Huxi Mosque (in Putuo 02 District) and Pudong Mosque would become showcases of culinary delights from Shanghai’s Muslim community every Friday afternoon. Day 2 Breakfast: Shengjianbao Confucian Temple Lunch: Shanghai White Cut Chicken TIP Fuxing Park 03 TIP Tianzifang 04 TIP Heavily shaded by big-leafed wutong trees, it’s 03 a place of choice to take a seat and escape the summer sun. If you’d like, join the elderly in playing chess, dancing, or taichi. TIP It’s a place for wandering, having good food and 04 looking for cool stuffs. You can get a map at the tourism centre but getting lost here is fun too as you can explore more shops. Day 3 TIP Breakfast: Shanghai Fried Noodles 05 Wukang Mansion Soong Ching-ling Memorial TIP Residence 06 Lunch: Halal Shanghai Cuisine Airport TIP Shanghai Fried Noodles is a Chinese stir- 05 fried noodle dish typically made with thick and chewier Shanghai-style noodles. It is a staple in Shanghai and you can find it in some halal restaurants as well. TIP The Soong family had a significant impact on 06 modern China. By visiting their former residence, you may learn more about the modern history of China. Halal choice Chinese Cuisine Da XiYang Restaurant Famous dishes: Lamp chop, beef head, black pepper beef ribs, Shanghai Fried Noodles 3rd Floor of Mingzhu Hotel, 212 Zhao jiabang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai City, China +86 21 6431 0880 11am-9:30pm Chinese Cuisine Shanghai Weimin Muslim Restaurant Famous dishes: Beef Shengjianbao, braised beef noodle soup, sauced beef, Scallion Oil Noodles 162 Nanda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai City, China +86 21 5668 2332 5am-1pm, 3:30pm-6:30pm Chinese Cuisine Hongchangxing Restaurant Famous dishes: Soft tender fish, spicy mutton noodles 1 Yunnan South Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City,China +86 21 6328 1551 11am-10pm Chinese Cuisine Shanghai Yixin Zhai Famous dishes: Beef Shengjianbao, White Cut Chicken 1503 Pingliang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai City, China +86 21 6543 2351 7am-2pm, 4:30pm-9pm Accommodation Hanting Seasons Hotel Shanghai Xujiahui Quiet guest rooms designed according to the different needs of customers 1065-1 Zhaojiabang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai City, China +86 21 6082 3000 huazhu.com/quanji Accommodation Karamay Petroleum Hotel There is a halal restaurant and a specialty shop on the first floor 21 Jiaotong West Road, Putuo District, Shanghai City, China +86 21 5608 8677 hrs.com/en/hotel/karamay-petroleum-hotel/a-603296.