Shanghai boasts a rich and often troubled history and has kept many relics of it intact, with municipal conservation policies preserving certain districts of colonial architectural heritage. Add to this a city government that has implemented grandiose urban planning on an unprecedented scale and the result is China's most futuristic, cosmopolitan and eye-catching city.

The Huangpu River separates west (Puxi) and east (Pudong) Shanghai, with the historic Bund promenade on one side and the futuristic Pudong New Area on the other.

The Old Town contains some cultural delights, such as the Yu Gardens and Bazaar, while People's Square (formerly a racecourse, and in the 1980s a location for protest) is once again the focus of the city's cultural and entertainment scene.

But perhaps the most exquisite pleasure is strolling aimlessly along the tree-shaded streets of the former French Concession, snapping the European-style villas and stopping for a drink in one of its atmospheric cafes.

Shanghai Tourist Information and Service Centre
303 Moling Lu (West-South Exit of New Railway Station)
Tel: (21) 5123 4490.
Website: http://lyw.sh.gov.cn/en

Other offices are at: 1699 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Jing’an Temple (tel: (21) 6248 3259); 561 Nanjing Dong Lu (tel: (21) 5353 1117) and 127 Chengdu Bei Lu (tel: (21) 5386 1882). The Jing’an Temple office can book day trips to Hangzhou, Suzhou and nearby canal villages, as well as sightseeing day trips around Shanghai. Hotels also offer excellent tourism information.

There are no sightseeing passes currently available in Shanghai.