Historical and cultural relics
Yuyuan Garden
Jade Buddha Temple
Shanghai Museum
Modern views and Cityscape
Pudong New Area
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Shanghai World Financial Center
Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden is one of the most famous historical sites in Shanghai. Located in the center of Shanghai’s Old City, the classical garden is believed to have been built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), about 400 years ago. The garden was finished by an official of Ming Dynasty named Pan Yunduan. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying and Yuyuan is literally translated to Happy Garden. During the Opium War of the 19th century, Yuyuan Garden was severely damaged. Today’s Yuyuan is the result of a five year restoration project which began in 1956. The garden was opened to the public in 1961. Yuyuan Garden is compromised of six main scenic areas, including Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. The garden occupies a total area of about 20,000 square meters (about five acres). Built in classical style with numerous rock and tree garden areas, it is not known for its size, but for the characterized pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters. Besides the amazing scene, it also boasts numerous cultural relics include: century-old furniture, calligraphy and paintings of famous artists, clay sculptures and brick carvings, some inscriptions and couplets.
Official website: http://www.yuyuantm.com.cn/yuyuan/En/Index/
Jade Buddha Temple
The temple was believed to be built in 1882 when a monk named Huigen brought back two jade Shakyamuni statues from Burma and looked for a site to accommodate them. He collected funds for building the temple at Jiangwan in the northeast of Shanghai. It became venerable and famous during the time. The temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911 during the revolution, and it was rebuilt after seven years from 1918-28. It was named the Jade Buddha Temple and the temple is generally divided into three halls and two courtyards.
Shanghai Museum Top
Shanghai Museum is located in People’s Square in the center of Shanghai, and it is a large museum of ancient Chinese art. The exterior design of the round dome and the square base of the museum building symbolize the traditional idea of a round heaven and a square land. The museum is composed of eleven galleries and three exhibition halls, and these major halls cover most of the categories of Chinese ancient art, such as Bronze Culture, Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture and Jade.etc. There are over 400 pieces of exquisite bronze wares in show which generally cover the history of ancient Chinese bronze art. The ancient ceramics collection is a special Shanghai Museum treasure among which around 500 pieces are exhibited ranging from painted and gray pottery from Neolithic age to the brilliant works from Jingdezhen during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. If you are interested in Chinese architecture, you should miss the room showing Chinese furniture of Ming and Qing dynasties. There is also a Chinese Minority room where visitors can enjoy about 600 pieces of work of art, such as folk dress, dyed and woven embroidery and so on. Other rooms here are Ancient Chinese Calligraphy Room, Ancient Chinese Ceramics Room, Ancient Chinese Jades Room, Ancient Chinese Numismatics Room and Ancient Chinese Paintings Room.
Pudong New Area
Before the establishment of the Pudong New Area in April 1990, the area was a vast farmland where the locals grew vegetables and planted fruit. Located on the eastern side of the Huangpu River, the Pudong New Area has become the fastest developed international economic area in China with numerous skyscrapers and hi-tech international enterprises. Due to its favorable investment environment and flexible policies, Shanghai has witnessed a massive influx of foreign investment and has attracted more and more international groups as well as mainland companies to base their headquarters in Pudong. The Pudong New Area is divided into four parts: the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, the Jinqiao Export Processing Zone, the Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone, and the Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park Zone. The main attractions in the area include the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Building, Century Park, Science and Technology Museum.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Having been the most outstanding landmark of Shanghai since its completion in 1995, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is 468 meters high, the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world, next to 553-meter-high CN Tower in Toronto and the 540-meter-high TV Tower in Moscow. Towering high above Pudong New Area, the tower includes 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels creating an artistic conception of “large and small pearls drop onto a jade plate’. It is known as a symbolic landmark and a favorite sight for tourists in Shanghai. There is a revolving teahouse and a sightseeing platform which can accommodate 1600 people in the largest ball of the tower. Visitors can get a panoramic view of the Bund and Pudong Area there.
Financial Center
The construction of Shanghai World Financial Center was invested more than USD 1 billion by Mori Building Co. and other 40 companies. The center is 492 meters high with 104 floors, the second high building in Shanghai. The structure features 3 floor of underground parking, shops and a conference center on floor 1 to 5, offices area on floors 7 through 77, from floors 79 to 93 is a hotel ran by Hyatt Group and finally observation and exhibition areas on floors 94 to 100. There are three viewing platforms in 94th to 100th, the 94th is an exhibition ground and viewing platform with an area of 700 sq. meters, 97th is an overpass, and a highest viewing pavilion with 55 meters long in 100th. The observation bridge atop the building will be the highest outdoor observation deck in the world.
