The Nanpu Bridge crosses the Huangpu River

3 min read

To appreciate its rapid ascent into the upper regions of advanced capitalism, one should start und Shanghai Ocean Aquarium shanghai haiyang shuizuguan). The best way to reach thisiquid mar’vel is to take metro line2tol station just across from the Huangpu River. Take exit 1 and walk straight towards the Oriental Pearl TV T thought-provoking building that looks like a rocket with love or hate. The aquarium is a striking blue and green lines that form rium is a state of the art facility featuri every marine eco-system representing nearly every continent, with hairy spider crabs, sleek neon fish of every hue. Escalators and moving floors allow he large collections and elaborate displays of sea life.rwater glass tunnel and visitors glide under and tunas that get nervous when sharks come too close.ead back to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower(dongfang mingzhu dianshita oration. Most visitors will rush towards the in all its expanse, chaos and splendor. However,before heading up to see what Shanghai is becoming, take some time to wander through the basement history museum. This displays takes you from Shanghai’s early days to the beginning of European colonialism and up to the displays are interactive and the museum is worthy of layers of meaning when you step into the elevator and rocket up 10 feet (3 m) per second to the mid-level bubble to gaze at the bustling city below. An additional elevator will take you to the heady top pod -over 1, 122 feet (342 m) above the ground. From this top module, there’s a chairman style desk flanked by a flag of China where visitors can sit and have their picture taken and imagine being a captain of capitalism, going where no one has gone before. If the view from even this vantage point leaves you wanting more, take the series of breathtaking elevator descents and head over to the Jin Mao Tower( Inmao dasha) Rising1,79feet(420.5 off the ground it’s the tallest building in China and hard to miss.ntal Pearl Tower in Pudong dongfong mingzho dionshi) symbolizes wealth and prosperity with Buddhist symbolism gone post-modern. It has 88 floor (8 is a lucky number in Chinese) and 13 bands, which is symbolic in Buddhism. Its name carries several meanings from “economy and trade” to “gold and prosperity. “Whatever the backers had in mind, one thing is for sure, it’s doing everything they wanted. Fortune 500 firms and joint ventures all share the same office space in this giant monolith. The floors are well guarded and only two areas are open to the public: the observation floor on the 88th floor and the restaurant and bar in the Shanghai Grand Hyatt Hotel (shanghai jinmao junyue dajiudian). The entrance to the high-speed- elevators are in the high-tech basement and for those who aren’t drunk from the view, there’s the Cloud 9 bar on the 87th floor. Head into the Grand Hyatt Hotel and signs will point you the way.

There’s also a restaurant and cafe in the Grand Hyatt that offers great views if the haze isn’t too bad. Be sure to check out the main lounge and try not to fall over when looking up at the gigantic open atrium.

Head back to earth and back towards the Pearl Tower. Pass the behemoth Super Brand Shopping Mall and follow the sound of ship horns, and you’ll soon find yourself overlooking the old Bund. There are numerous restaurants and cafe on the walkways and vendors selling souvenirs, sodas and teas. Outdoor seating allows visitors to sit in the sun and drink in the river view. It’s best to come here just before dusk and get a good table. That way you can drink and eat to your heart’s content while watching the old buildings on the Bund light up at sunset. It’s a nice way to close a fine day in the Pudong or begin a wild Shanghai night Along metro line2 is Century Park(shiji gongyuan) and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum(shanghai keji guan). Both are good places to visit if you happen to be farther out in Pudong. Century Park has large tracts of grass and a sizeable lake. The science museum features many inter e and hisays and an theater tive displ that’ll please children who don’t appreciate architect ory.