Ten reasons to visit Shanghai

Once, around two centuries ago, Shanghai was merely a silty corner of the Yangzhou delta, with a few fishing villages and farms, surrounded by the glittering capitals of imperial China such as Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing.

Now it glitters brightest of them all with a population of 24 million,jav censored  skyscrapers that pierce the clouds, billionaires in plentiful supply, designer shopping, luxury hotels, gourmet dining, a seriously happening night life and a fun vibe that makes it a joy to visit.

The 72 hour visa-free transit policy includes Shanghai, so you can stop over there for a long weekend en-route to another part of Asia, allowing for a hassle-free glimpse of this fascinating country.

To stay:

The choice is wide, from stately grand-dames built in the 1920’s and 1930’s in Shanghai’s heyday which line the Bund and from whose windows you can watch the locals doing Tai Chi at sunrise to the latest opening, The Middle House, a new addition to the sleek House japanese porn Collective from Swire Hotels.

Brimming with art, most of which is bespoke, The Middle House immerses you in culture centric luxury. 

To eat:

Din Tai Fung is actually a Taiwanese chain, but no visit to Shanghai is complete unless you have savoured the famous soup dumpling or xiaolong bao that is the city’s most loved food. 

It can be found everywhere but the Din Tai Fung outlets are considered by the cognoscenti to produce the best. You can watch the little dumplings being filled and pleated through the large glass window onto the kitchen. Choose between the classic pork filling or their new black truffle and chicken or – if you are sensible – both and save the Michelin dining, of which there is plenty, for another day.

To explore the parks:

Here is where the locals play out their days and wandering through Shanghai’s parks offers a fascinating glimpse of everyday life. 

Start in the leafy French Concession area, a beautiful walk past free porno 19th and early 20th century houses to reach Fuxing Park, unique to Shanghai for maintaining the French classic style. There are rose gardens and lotus ponds but also pyjama-clad elderly women practising opera and men taking their caged birds for a walk.