Looking for a Shanghai surprise? You’ll get one when you see the pollution. Once the whore of the Orient, now a sassy strumpet with estate jewellery, Shanghai’s stunning transformation from decayed, colonial backwater to art-packed, fast-paced, futuristic party town is simply breathtaking.
Overview
The Huangpu River carves the city in two: on the east bank is sci-fi Pudong financial district, bursting with steel monoliths; on the west bank is the famous Bund and further south-west lie Xintiandi and the former French Concession.
Need to Know
Weather: The best times to visit weather-wise are April to May and late September to mid November. June is rainy, July and August roast, and December to March are colder than Wintour’s icy gaze
Getting Around: Taxis can be in short supply so Uber – it even has an English speaking driver tab – is your new best friend. Choices range from Uber Black (Tesla anyone?) to People’s Uber, where you never know what kind of ride you are going to get
Service: The hospitality sector has come a long way quickly, but service can be patchy, even at esteemed establishments – don’t take it personally
Tipping: Not expected, though some places add a service charge
Keep Calm: Not only is spitting still a keen hobby here, but you will be pushed, shoved and elbowed out of the way – simply take a deep breath and smile politely
Talking Points, 2017 Edition
Old Shanghai: Try to take a tour of the atmospheric but fast-diminishing old areas before it’s too late
Art Smart: A former industrial zone turned contempo creative enclave, the West Bund area is now home to the Long Museum West Bund, West Bund Art Center, YUZ museum and more.
Fab Fine Dining: If Ultraviolet’s prices bring you out in cold sweats, never fear. Shanghai Restaurant Week (Mar-Apr) serves dishy delights from top tables at a fraction of the cost
Art Deco Abattoir:Stagger archi marvel 1933, with still-abandoned spaces and angular concrete corridors – is an Instagrammer’s dream, and now a dine n’ design hub too
