Shanghai

Also known as the Garden of Happiness, Yu Garden covers an area of more than 20,000 square metres. Highlights include the highly decorated main hall and the Hall of Spring, known for once being the headquarters of the Company of Little Swords when it ruled Shanghai. The inner garden holds pavilions, decorative stones and even a miniature mountain range.

The French Concession is a neighbourhood west of the Bund that’s known for its European architecture, wide tree-lined streets and abundant shopping opportunities. Tianzifang, located within the French Concession, is particularly known for its warren of alleys filled with cafés, bars and boutiques.

Famous for its seven-story pagoda, at one time the highest structure in Shanghai, Longhua Temple is one of Shanghai’s largest and oldest religious sites. Still the site of Buddhist ceremonies today, the temple complex also features a two-metre tall bell tower dating from 1382 and over 500 gold-painted Luohan Buddhas.

The Bund is a large walkway along the west bank of the Huangpujiang River. Known for its European feel, the Bund is made up of 52 buildings constructed in an array of architectural styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Art Deco. It’s a great starting point to set sail on a sightseeing boat trip around the Huangpujiang and Yangtze rivers.

The Shanghai Museum opens in new window houses China’s most important classical Chinese art. A modern building with unique architecture (its round top with square base symbolising the ancient Chinese philosophy of the square earth under a round sky), its four floors include ink drawings, calligraphy and seals, as well as large collections of jade, coins and furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912).