The weather of shanghai is generally moist and mild with four distinct seasons – a hot rainy summer, a pleasant warm spring, an overcast cold winter and comfortable cool autumn. The location of region at the estuary of Yangtze River to the East China Sea making it so wet that it rains for one third of the year.

The hottest time here is in July and August with the temperature above 35 C or 95F. The coldest time is from late January to February. The spring season is from March to May and it is the most descent time to visit to this city.

With the subtropical maritime monsoon climate, this city is generally moist and mild. Although it is situated on the southern part of China, Shanghai experiences four different seasons throughout the year. The cool autumn and warm spring are very much comfortable for travel while the hot rainy summer as well as overcast cold winter is not suitable time for visiting there.

Spring in the Shanghai starts in March and continues till May. This is the best season of the year for travelling. The flowers that bloom in the spring time make the city attractive and lively. The temperature at this time is around 20C. Light rains however occur sometimes, but it will not disturb your trip. Thin sweaters, long-sleeved shirts or coats are very much suitable for this time.

Summer is long here and starts from June and ends in September. The temperature is very high with abundant rainfall. The highest temperature can be noticed in July or August. For about 10 days, the temperature is above 35C. You should avoid visiting at this time of the year.

There is Meiyu Season or Plum Rain Season form mid June to early July. This lasts for about a month which commences from early summer when the plums begin to ripe along the lower and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. During this time, the rainfall is about 25 percent of the total rainfall of the year.

Autumn is good season for travelling and it comes in October and November. Winter here comes in December to February. The coldest period is during the end of January to early February, during the Chinese Spring festival.

Visa

From the year 2013, the passport holders of the following 45 regions and countries can be granted a visa free stay up to 72 hours while in transit via the Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao International Airport.

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

The visitors from other countries have to obtain a visa before entering to this city. You can easily apply for the visa in the Consulate of P. R. China of your country or you can contact your travel agency for arranging your tourist visa. Special fast applications are generally completed within the timeframe of 24 hours.

Health and Hygiene

Before the entry and departure, you need to fill the Health Declaration Card. You are also required to accept the body temperature scanning upon the entry.

Currency and Banks

Currency used in the mainland China is RMB or Ren Min Bi namely CNY and same in Shanghai. The Shanghai Branch of Bank of China is located in Zhongyin Building in the Yincheng Middle Road, Pudong New District. Many other sub-branches are also there where you can avail the facility of foreign exchange. These banks are generally open from Monday to Saturday and the office hours is from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs.

Some of the useful numbers are

Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Consumer Complaint: 12315
Tourists Complaint: 64393615
Telephone Trouble: 122
Local Telephone Number and Long-distance City Code Inquiry: 114
International City Code Inquiry: 116
Weather Forecast: 121, 221
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Customer Service Center of Post Office: 185
Train Ticket Reservation: 63171880, 8008207890
Coach Ticket Reservation: 56630230
Hongqiao International Airport Consultation: 62688918
Pudong International Airport Consultation: 38484500

Nightlife in Shanghai is colorful and gentle as there is much more than the life itself and it is elegant.  The Scenery at the night can be best enjoyed at the Bund. The modern buildings and ornate classical will take you on a exciting and new look as they are lit up by an abundance of the colorful lights. It is really a magical sight to look across the Huangpu River to Jinmao Tower to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. If you spend a night time at Huangpu River Cruise you can have the opportunity to appreciate the night life on the Bund. About 30 boats carry tourists which include ancient dragon boats of Ming and Qing style, deluxe boats, Pirate Boats and Boats of Shikumen style of old Shanghai. Whatever boat you take, the view seen here at night will surely be live in your memory for many years to come.

shanghai-nightlife

Leaving the scenery aside while walking Westside along the Nanjing East Road you will reach the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in no time. The Gaily illuminated shops are very much exciting backdrop to the cheerful crowds that comes here after the dark for enjoying the carefree atmosphere. You can pick up a bargain or enjoy the tasty morsel for eating.

The subway Line 1 Links to the main three shopping area of this city namely Nanjing Road, Xujiahui and Huanhai road. These places are shopping paradise. Most of the shops get closed at 10 pm but it is the time when most of the tea houses and bars came into their own and the night at that time is still young. The tea houses are open 24 hours a day. You can invite your friends for playing cards or having just chat apart from enjoying the excellent tea. Karaoke, Nightclubs, coffee houses, discos houses are all popular place during the night time.

Shanghai-nightlife

Shanghai is known as the Shopping paradise and Oriental Paris. So, if you are ever visiting to this city, you should not miss the shopping which is more than its charming attractions. Shanghai provides the best of the shopping experience and it has become an indispensable part of the tourism industry of this city.

Shopping areas in this city are divided into mainly four streets and four cities. Nanjing Road which included the east and west Nanjing Road is among the four streets which as the reputation of number one commercial street in China. It was developed in the beginning of the 20^th century and has a wide variety of shops and some of them are centuries old while other are modern malls. Nanjing Road has become more and more prosperous in these years. Huaihai Road is no less famous than Nanjing Road and it is celebrated for its elegance.  It features the top-end designer brands from all over the world. North Sichuan Road offers some inexpensive merchandise and it is the first choice among the ordinary people. The food and tourism are very well provided on the Middle Tibet Road which is one of the four streets.

Shanghai Shopping

The Parkson Shopping Centre on the Huaihai Road is worth a visit. You can find many special offers and goods at reasonable price in the form of many promotions and discounts. You can also get some brand name clothing here at reasonable price.

Maison Mode is also located in the Huaihai road and it claims to be the aristocate on this street. You can find some leading designer brands like Ferragamo, Bally, Gucci, Hugo Bos, Kenzo, etc. The reputation of the Huaihai Road is enhanced by the presence of Maison mode.

Shanghai Shopping

Yuyuan Tourist Mart, New Shanghai Shopping City, XUjiahui Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City are the four cities. Yuyuan Tourist mart is specialist in Chinese goods which ranges from local crafts, small articles to antiques, jade wears and jewelry. Xhujiahui consist of large stores where you can get the costly as well as middle-ranged goods in abundance. New Shanghai Shopping city offers the best amenities and facilities. Trade and Pudong Lujiazui Finance Zone is surrounded by the various retail outlets.

According to the locals of shanghai, blessed are those born in Shanghai as they have the most chance for tasting the delicious foods. Shanghai Cuisine is not among the eight major Cuisines of China but it is definitely a choice blend of most appealing aspects of the other national styles of food. Local chefs here are ready for adopting the best aspects of the foreign cuisines and making them their own. Therefore, it sis said that you can enjoy the best food from home as well as abroad for all budgets when you are in Shanghai.

shanghai-dining

The Chinese food has a profound culture and history. Due to the multiple ethnic groups and large area of this country, different religions have their own featured foods and cuisines. Dishes of various cuisines are cooked differently and have different appearance and taste. You can also try various distinctive Chinese snacks when you will visit this country. When you will be bored by the local dishes and want variety then these will surely be good news for you.

shanghai xiao long bao

It does not matter that where you belong to and which kind of dish you like. You need not worry about dining as long as you are in Shanghai. This city has all the delicacies from all over the world as an all embracing pot of the world cultures. There are many foreigners who study, work or live in this city. This city is also preferred by most of the foreign visitors as a must destination during their stay in China. More and more locals also want to try the dishes of the foreign countries and experience the exotic cultures and customs. Therefore, a number of restaurants has emerged in this city and became popular. Many foreign cuisine restaurants in this city offer wide range of choices and you will not have to bother about the longing for the dishes of your homeland.

Shanghai is situated on the estuary of the Yangtze River and it is the busiest transport hub in the eastern China. It has highly developed infrastructure as an important business and financial centre of China and the world. It has a convenient network of public transportation.

This city has many links to the outside. You can easily get there from the adjacent cities like Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou as well as distance cities like Xian, Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Many cities in other countries also have the convenient transportation link with Shanghai. You can easily get there by train, air, Ship or long distance bus.

By Air

Shanghai is the Only Chinese city having tow international airports i.e. Hongqiao International Airport and pudong International Airport. They are highly equipped with all modern facilities. About one thousand flights travel through these airport on daily basis. Many domestic as well as international flights are available from these airports to many international cities like Beijing, New York, London, Los Angles, Singapore, Tokyo and Paris.
By train

The railway network is the comfortable and inexpensive way for getting you into this city. Huning Railway and Huhang railway pass through the city of Shanghai and connects the main three railway stations with the cities spread over the country. You can take the advantage of Special holiday trains and tourist trains for seeing the scenic areas of the provinces like Mt. Huangshan in Anhui and Mt. Wuyishan in Fujian.

Long Distance Bus

Long distance buses are also available in this city. Four expressways and highways passes through the city which composes the efficient long distance bus transport system of this city. More than one thousand routes are covered by about forty long distance bus stations.

Ship

Transportation via waterways is also accessible due to its strategic location. This city stands as the largest port of china and good number of goods and passengers move in and out promoting the development of the tourism and economy of Shanghai and its adjacent cities.

Shanghai is the largest of China and it is an economical, financial and commercial centre. It is very vital city from the future point of view of this country. No other city in this country is much fascinating, vibrate or having such a unique colonial past.

Shanghai is a port city on the Huangpu River where the Yangtze River ends into the sea of East China. This city was initially a fishing and textile town and gained its identity when it was opened to the foreigner power by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The French, British, German, Russian and American moved in and settled their Western-style banks, mansion and trading houses which left a permanent architectural legacy.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

The city has flourished as a thriving commercial and cosmopolitan and financial center in 1920s and 1930s. In spite of being cradle of the Chinese Communism, this city has been neglected during the Cultural Revolution that took place in 1960s and 1970s. In the year 1990, it was chosen for spearheading the reform of modern China and opening up resulting in the intense development. This city has also been the inspiration for the films, novels and cocktails. It is the most evocative city for visiting for an outsider. Beijing might be the more mysterious but Shanghai offers the semi-mythical and half-understood images.

It is always fun to visit to Shanghai. The commercial river- Huangpu, which is a tributary of Yangtze River is lined up having galleries of different architecture called the Bund which beckons curious visitors and locals alike. It was erected during many periods and varies in styles such as Gothic, Baroque or Romanesque, fifty tow buildings stand together in Harmony. When the night falls, the Tow most famous buildings- the Peace Hotel and Bank of China Building are bathed in the lavender light and are telling witness to the past century of Bund. Garden estates, clubs, mansions and cathedrals are scattered throughout the city which were build by the Westerners.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum is the veritable treasure house of the ancient Chinese area and housing more than 120,000 precious relics. Pottery, Bronzes, calligraphy

Shanghai Museum

and paintings are some of the distinctive features of the collection of Museum. This Museum looks like a large bronze mirror of the Han Dynasty when seen from the above. It also looks like a bronze Ding from the distance which is an ancient cooking vessel containing many mementos of the about 5000 year old history of the civilization of China.

Jewish Refugees Museum

Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum is located in the district of Hongkou at the Changyang Road. It was built in the memory of the Jewish refugees who sought sanctuary from massacre during the Second World War. It is placed in the former Ohel Mosche Synagogue. It is the place where the Jewish refugees gathered for the religious activities. This museum has many scrolls as well as other cultural relics.

The prototype of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue was built in 1927 It was previously the headquarters fo the Jewish Youth Organization in the form year 1937 to 1941. Shanghai has over 25 thousand Jewish refugees and it is the only metropolis in the world who has welcomed Jews as refugee. The number of Jewish refugees that is taken by this city equals the number in total taken by New Zealand, Australia, India, Canada and South Africa. Ohel Moshe Synagogue has now become a synonym for refuge or rescue.

Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum

You can visit more museum like The Site of the First national Congress of the CPC, Song Qingling, , The Former Residences of Sun Yat-sen, The Memorial Hall of Fushou Garden, Chenyun and Pingpu Revolutionary Memorial Hall and some specialized museums like Automotive museum, Tobacco Museum, Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Science and Technology Museum.

Longhua Park

It is located on the Longhua Road which is at the south of the City and famous for the ancient Longhua Temple and Longhua Pagoda, the Evening Bell Striking Ceremony as well as the peach blossoms. The visitors can see the modern architecture and historical sites of the city. The neighboring water towns like Qibao Ancient Town and Zhujiajiao Ancient town are the famous attractions. You can enjoy another world where the ancient houses are huddled by the rivers running through this town and paved road. You will feel the typical local flavors and will surely slow your pace as you will savor their tradition.

Longhua

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

This town is located in the suburb of the Shanghai City and is an ancient water town which is famous as it has the history of more than 1700 years. It covers an area of 47 kilometers and it emerges as the bright pearl in the landscapes for the lakes and mountains.

Also known as the Pearl Stream, this town is very well preserved among the other ancient towns of Shanghai. It has unique old bridges across the bubbling streams, small rivers by side the willow tree and houses having courtyards. You can easily escape from the hustles of the modern city to this brand new world of the leisure, antiquity and tranquility.

Jiang’an Temple

Located at the west Nanjing Road and the flourishing downtown area of Shanghai, Jig’an Temple is one of the most popular temples in shanghai. It was put on the list of the key national protection in the year 1983. This temple has history of over 780 years and was built during the period of Three Kingdoms Period at first and called as Hudu Chongyuan Temple. It was moved to its present location from bank of Wusong River in during the Southern Song Dynasty.

Jiang’an Temple

Other historical and cultural sites are Qibao Ancient Town, Confucius Temple, Shanghai Old Street, Fengjing Ancient Town, Ancient Yi Garden and Shikumen Residence.

The Bund and Huangpu River

Huangpu River is the mother river of Shanghai which also divides the city into eastern and western parts and assembles the splendid attractions of this city. Bund is situated on the east bank of the Huangpu River and is a symbol of Shanghai. There are many finance and commercial houses and grand buildings are build in 1930s in European architecture style along the Bund. You can enjoy the night bright light adding happiness to the atmosphere there.

Bund

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is considered as the No. 1 commercial street of China. It has been a landmark for this city for a very long time.  You can find more than 600 shops along the 5.5 km long Road and about 1.7 million people visit here each day. You can purchase everything that you want which span from special to cheap to luxury goods and world famous brands.

Yuyuan Garden

This garden is the largest ancient garden of Shanghai and having the architectural style of Ming and Qing Dynasty. The Garden has six areas and each one having its own style. The center of the garden is The Grand Rockery which is a very renowned sight. The City God Temple is situated near the garden where you can find a number of local snack shops scattered around.

Yuyan Garden

Jae Buddha Temple

Jade Buddha Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist Temples in Shanghai.  The White jade Buddhas were brought from Burma to here in the 19^th Century. One is it is seated while the others are in the position of Sakyamuni recumbent which symbolizes the attainment of nirvana or enlightenment of Buddha. This temple also has the impressive images of the Heavenly Kings.

Xin Tian DI

Xin Tian Di is the best choice if you want to experience the cultural and historic atmosphere of the city. It is composed of Shikumen and modern architectural style and one of the hot and fashionable streets in the centre of the city. It stands for the leisurely and popular lifestyle of the new generation of the city. You can find a number of bars, cafes and romantic restaurants all over this place.