If truly there is a family friendly city it is Shanghai, China, also known as ‘Paris of the East.’ It China’s largest city and a commercial hub as well as being one of China’s best tourist attractions. Referred to by some people as China’s New York, Shanghai sits on the South edge of the mouth of the Yangtze in the central portion of China’s coast line and is bounded on the East by the East China Sea.
With commercial, tourist and other activities reaching new heights daily, accommodation Shanghai has to offer is at a premium. Ascott Heng Shan Shanghai conveniently located in tree lined Heng Shan Road offers an elegant lifestyle in luxury accommodation that is hard to beat.
It is unlimited family enjoyment for all in Shanghai.
River cruises along the Yangtze, walks on the Bund Road, and a visit to the Yu Yuan Gardens will be fun for the whole family. A trip up the Pearl TV Tower will give a great bird’s eye view of Shanghai. Both the Shanghai History Museum and the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium are housed in the basement of the tower. The Shanghai History Museum showcases its vivid and chequered past – a thriving port city that was inundated by opium traders and gangsters at a time in history and gave Shanghai a bad name. The displays are embellished by waxworks and old artifacts. The interactive presentations will fascinate kids. The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium has the world’s longest underwater tunnel and has a section devoted to Chinese Marine Life.
The Shanghai Museum is a treasure trove of Chinese Masterpieces going far back as the Neolithic period. The Rockbund Art Museum focuses on contemporary Chinese Art. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in Pudong has many hands on exhibits.
Among the many parks in the city Lujiazu Central Green, People’s Park and Century Park are well worth a visit. All three parks are kid friendly and kids can have a great time running around. People’s Park has amusement park rides and Century Park has a kids’ recreational area. Yu Yuan Garden built during the Ming Dynasty is a classic Chinese Garden with koi pond, rockeries and pavilions. It also has many snack shops and places selling trinkets etc.
Acrobatic Shows are a plenty in Shanghai with the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe performing at the Shanghai Center Theater and at the Shanghai Circus World. The Bund Sightseeing Tour is another worthwhile experience.
It is shop- till –you drop in Shanghai. Huge malls like the Super Brand Mall which also houses Shanghai’s first ‘Toys R Us’ dot the city while street shopping can be done virtually 24 hours thanks to night shopping.
Virually, a 24 hour city Shanghai has a glittering night life. Shanghai by night can be even enjoyable when one is alone. The French Concession, the Bund, Xintiandi and Sinan Mansions are good places for those alone wishing to dine or wine. Night markets are many and are normally on local food streets and grocery streets. Changli Road is well known for strret Food while Tongbei Road’s main offering is seafood.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+