I have been reading so many beautiful features on Shanghai and have been watching travelogues about it. I have always wanted to go there, but my ever-busy schedule in my previous foreign business forays never gave me the chance to make that side trip. When I finally retired from my full-time job two years ago, I made it a point to visit this “Paris of the East” and enjoy its popular attractions.
Shanghai, a coastal city, is China’s biggest, with a population of close to 25 million, based on last year’s census, and is the country’s global financial hub. Its main attraction is The Bund, a famous waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River, which is often featured in magazines and in movies. This river divides the city into two, one side has old, colonial-era buildings and the other side is the Pudong district’s futuristic cityscape, dominated by the 632-meter Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
It is one of the world’s most spectacular cities, which offers an incredible array of activities to suit every type of traveler creating memorable and meaningful moments. From the sensational shopping at Nanjing Road and the sparkling skyline of Lujiazui, to the chic waterfront of The Bund and the leafy avenues of the Hengshan Road–Fuxing Road historic area, this is a destination that never fails to stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination.
Currently, China’s resurgent domestic tourism industry is helping drive tourism recovery from this global pandemic. During the recent Golden Week, the country’s biggest holiday, a staggering 230 million trips were taken by the locals all around the country, and Shanghai Disney Resort was one of the top attractions. Domestic air traffic in China is also soaring; according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), flights around the country were near full capacity during the recent holidays.
This supports the Radisson Hotel Group’s earlier decision to put up a total of seven hotels in Shanghai alone, a solid testimony to the city’s potential in hosting thousands of tourists at any given time, whether they already know and love Shanghai or are exploring the city for the first time.
The Radisson Collection Hotel, Hyland Shanghai, and Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World put shoppers in the retail heart of Nanjing Road; and Radisson Collection Hotel, Yangtze Shanghai feels the buzz of Hongqiao, an interesting western suburb of the city.
For families, Radisson Blu Shanghai Pudong Jinqiao provides a great “home base” for trips to Shanghai Disney Resort, while Radisson Exhibition Center Shanghai is tailor-made for those who want to combine their business trip with a leisure break.
Gary Ye, vice president of operations, China at Radisson Hotel Group, invites everyone to any of their hotels in Shanghai and assures all visitors that the city’s perfect blend of classic charm and contemporary style offers a wealth of activities for all ages.
As for me, that short side trip to Shanghai I did two years ago was not enough. I am looking forward to going back and having the time to spend memorable moments at the Yuyuan Garden, a Ming Dynasty garden with decorated bridges, colorful pagodas, and enclaves separated by dragon walls. There’s also Nanjing Road, the city’s equivalent to New York’s 5th Avenue, with its wide array of name-brand shops that beckon shopaholics like me.
Of course, I want to have more of the soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung, the smoked fish slices at Fu 1039, and the best Peking duck in China and the world at the Michelin-starred Da Dong Roast Duck. And, on my bucket list is the Sky Walk at the Jin Mao Tower, a 190-foot glass walkway on top of a building, with no handrail nor fences and only a harness to keep you safe 1,115 feet above the ground. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate thrill?
So, when international borders open up soon, making foreign trips much easier, “Shanghai” yourself to an exquisite holiday at the Paris of the East!
YOUR weekend CHUCKLE
Will glass coffins be a success? Remains to be seen.