Shanghai

Shanghai

Post-Mao-era Shanghai is light-years away from its restrained past (and even farther away from the equally unrestrained reputation it held for a long time before that). Today's Shanghai is firmly focused on the future, a bustling metropolis with a revitalized port and a sizzling art/shopping/restaurant scene that rivals even the most cosmopolitan of its Western cousins. Anyone with an eye for the global stage just has to see this city.

Attractions

Once you've traced Shanghai's colorful past along The Bund (the famed colonial-era street that forms the city's waterfront) and the French Concession (a goldmine of art deco architecture), make time for the Yu Gardens in the Old City. Eighteen years in the making (and nearly obliterated during the Opium War in 1842), this exquisite example of Ming garden design is well worth the visit.

Shopping

Skip the paper lanterns, painted fans and other tchotchkes you can get back home and seek out a real Chinese souvenir from among the racks and racks of vintage cheongsams (traditional Chinese dresses) at the Old City God's Temple Market. Or go slightly more contemporary and check out Shanghai's burgeoning modern art scene. With prices well below the international market, you could score a great deal - and discover an unknown while you're at it. Look for good buys on pearls, silks and cameras too.

Food

The Yu Gardens Bazaar (of which the Yu Gardens are only a small part) is renowned for its snack food, said to be among the best in China. Be adventurous and try the "hairy crab," a freshwater delicacy. Or opt for the more traditional "drunken" dishes of crab or chicken marinated in local Shaoxing wine, or any number of braised meat dishes, including pork knuckle, a local favorite.

Currency

The currency used in China is the Renminbi Yuan (RMB)

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