Summer Joy — Shanghai Roof-Deck Food&Delights

There are something only belonging to this season. Have a break from sweaty crwod and enjoy the summer time on Shanghai best roop-tops! Here we recommend top roof-deck food and delights in three types of location, which provides you great joy and yet won’t set you back a great deal. Share with us your favorite rooftop you’ve even been!

CBD

FLAIR Rooftop

  

58th Floor, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai(Pudong), Shanghai IFC, Century Ave

Renowned as the best high landscape terrace, Flair Rooftop perfectly combines the functions of bar and restaurant. Designed by Japanese top design company Super Potato, the rooftop makes a European simple style in the backdrop of the splendid view of the Huangpu River and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

To learm more information about the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai (Pudong), click http://english.ctrip.com/hotels/shanghai-hotel-review-346412/the-ritz-carlton-shanghai-pudong/

Morton’s of Chicago

4th Floor, Shanghai IFC, Century Ave

Located in Lujiazui Financial Center, Morton’s of Chicago in Shanghai is the biggest branch of the worldwide chain restaurant.

XTD Elevated

5th Floor, No.99 Madang Road, Luwan District

It’s distinguished style of South America secures its place on the list. You can enjoy the skyline when lying  on the quadrangular prism bed. The high-tech iPad electronic menu is a plus.

The Bund

New Heights

7th Floor, Three on the Bund

The breezy L-shaped terrace, which affords unrivaled views of the Bund and Pudong skyline, is the perfect spot for an alfresco meal or drink under the stars.

Roosevelt Sky Restaurant

8th Floor, Bund 27, The House of Roosevelt

It’s the most luxury restaurant in terms of price on the list. But the record of Best Restaurant 2011/2010, Best View 2011 tells us it must have its strong suit.

Leisure Area

SHARI

  

No.630, Yongjia Road, Xuhui District

The small white villa hidden at the end of the road has a wide grass terrace. The delicate dishes and elegant ambiance makes the Japanese restaurant full of romance.

The Fat Olive

    

6th Floor, No.98 Shouning Road, Huangpu District

The food and service there is totally worth the efforts taken to find the place. Besides genuine Greek cuisine, what attracts foreigners is its open-air area hidden behind the hustle and bustle.

KARTEL

1st Floor, No.1, North Xiangyang Road, Jianan District

The three-storeyed bar incorporates French gorgeousness and exquisiteness. Its 360 degree  roof-deck  provides a splendid city panorama.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium— A Summer Date With Marine Lives

Aquarium is always a delight for chidlren; for lovely couples, wouldn’t it be a romance to explore a new world? I’ts easy to find such fun in Shanghai. Located in the  splendid financial center of Shanghai, just beside the Oriental Peral TV Tower, Shanghai  Ocean Aquairium is listed as one of the top aquariums in Asia. Twice as big as Shanghai Changfeng Ocean Park,  it is allowed to provide a stunning array of marine lives classified by continents and regions. Apart from popular marine lives  from all over the world, the feature of the aquarium is rare species  only found in China, most of which are national protected such as Chinese sturgeon and Yangtze Alligator. Among tens of hundreds of aquariums in the world, it is the only one  where you can find them.

A plus to the aquarium is its great location if you think about a tour of Pudong, the west bank of the Huangpu River. It’s slightly drab design and less interactive experience is the downside compared with Shanghai Changfeng Ocean Park. Keep in mind that it is impossible to backtrack inside so don’t leave any regrets on the route given the price of admission.

Expect huge crowd on weekends and holidays.

Tips: Admission is around 150 RMB, lower price is available on Taobo.com

For more information and reviews: http://www.chinatravel.net/china-attractions/shanghai-ocean-aquarium/introduction-1192.html

Official website: http://www.sh-soa.com/zh/html/index.aspx

 

Time to Go Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World

Aquarium  is always a good place to visit in summer; it also makes a lovely family day—every family member would find it a joy. Shanghai Changfeng Ocean Park is more than that. As a part of Changfeng Park, the ocean world provides great fun of immersive exploration and diverse entertainment in the area. Though it might not be among the team of world biggest ocean parks, there are still a lot things to see.

Tips: admission is a little bit expensive (around 100 RMB), but groupon offers a much lower price.

Features:

1. The biggest White Whale Show Hall in China. The White Whale show is a must-see which provides performances of white whales and  sea lions.

2. Shark path

3. Penguin pavilion

4.  specialities including seafloor wedding, one-night stay with marine animals, birthday party

5.  Outdoor activities and Chinese garden in the park.

For more information and reviews: http://www.chinatravel.net/china-attractions/changfeng-ocean-world–aquarium-/introduction-1191.html

The official website of Ocean World：http://www.oceanworld.com.cn/

Comments on Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Tour

If you want to cover the most popular attractions within several hours, then Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Tour is the way to go. With a 24-hour ticket worth 27 RMB, you are ready to discover Shanghai aboard an open-top, double-decker sightseeing tour bus giving you the freedom to hop on and hop off at the stops of your choice.  An advantage is that the routes connect places for shopping and sightseeing, which means you can have your different needs meet while saving your energy and expense on transportation. Personal digital audio guides in eight languages is a plus.

There are two routes provided: the red line covers the east side of the Huangpu River and the green one the west.  Though the bus stops at many famous spots, the routes don’t stretch out a lot—basically in the heartland around the Huangpu River. So if you want to visit places scattering in other parts of Shanghai, perhaps Bus Tour  is not your optimal choice. Besides, since the stops are quite dense, you don’t really need to wait for the next bus if you are heading for the next stop within walking distance.

 (map provided by chinatravel.net)

Definitely take the spots on the upper level, where allows you to take in the many tree-lined street, eye-catching colonial-style buildings, and towering skyscrapers.If you take the tour in summer, star off in the morning or at dusk to avoid the burning sun. After all, one of the best ways to enjoy Night Shanghai is taking a evening Bus Tour. Also, it is a good idea to take the tour and get off at the dock to take a cruise. Keep in mind that some spots may be closed in the evening.

For the routes, schedules or other details of Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Tour, please visit: http://english.ctrip.com/tours/56942/

The Six Wacky Museums in Shanghai

Among a great array of museums in Shanghai, there must be some you haven’t seen. From the kingdom of chopsticks to the palace of music boxes, if you have covered all the major attraction in Shanghai and want to find out the wacky yet joyful side of the city, these are places recommended for you!

No.1 Shanghai Museum of Typewriters

The little museum exhibits 50 typewriters from all over the world. It must be fun to meet the antique ones from your own countries.

Highlight: the oldest typer in the place—“Rosewood Beuty” made in 1809.

Admission: Free

Location: No.248, Wu Xin Road

No.2 Shanghai Animation Museum

You can find any classic animation characters in the museum—from Mickey Mouse to Spider-Man. There is also introduction of Chinese shadow play, which must be fancy to foreign visitors. You can take pictures with the life-size figures and dub your favorite cartoon. Bring your children and get back to your youth—what a nice family day!

Admission: 30 RMB

Location: No.69, Zhang Jiang Road

No.3 Shanghai Music Box Exhibition Hall

The exhibits mainly from Europe are personal collection of a Japanese merchant. The interesting design of some music boxes is just beyond imagination. Besides, it is good to know the collector’s personal tastes from some really “wacky” exhibits.

Highlight: the world oldest music box made in 1796

Admission: 50 (half price for the first and third Saturday every month)

Location: No.45, Ding Xiang Road (Shanghai Oriental Art Center)

No.4 Shanghai Chopsticks Musuem

It must be the smallest museum in Shanghai—a room with half selling jewelry. The 81-year-old owner showed his collection from different parts of Asia where he had been in his life. Compared with the exhibits, more attractive are his stories behind those chopsticks. His book Chinese Chopsticks is in China, English and French..

Admission: Free (call at +86 21 5671 7528 to book a visit)

Location: No.191, Duo Lun Road

No.5 Shanghai Museum of Pen and Ink

It is a place to admire Chinese calligraphy and the spirit behind the art.

Highlight :  English voice guide for each items.

Admission: Free

Location: Second Floor, No.429, Middle Fu Jian Road

No.6 the Ohel Moishe Synagogue—Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Originally being a synagogue, the museum tells the history of Jewish refugees in World War II and their seeking for shelter Shanghai. It is a place to find another facet of Shanghai as an international metropolis.

Admission：50 RMB

Location: No.62, Chang Yang Road

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Rising above the Huangpu River and Pudong skyline like something out of an old science fiction flick, the Oriental Pearl Tower (Dōngfāng Míngzhū Tǎ, 东方明珠塔) holds a special place in Shanghai’s recent history. Before the early 1990s, the east bank of the Huangpu was a low-rise jumble of warehouses and muddy settlements. The erection of the tower, completed in 1995, served as a symbolic declaration of Shanghai’s future-forward orientation and grand ambition.

Its quintessential Shanghai retro-futurist architectural kitsch set the tone for much of the high-rise hijinks that have since come to define Shanghai’s active skyline (lots of flashing lights, rooftop ornamentation running from the sublime to the ridiculous). As Pudong’s more recent giants—the Jin Mao Tower and World Financial Center—show, Shanghai’s architecture is maturing, favoring cool international grays and sophisticated glass and metal claddings, but the pink glass orbs and rocket-ship base of the Oriental Pearl Tower will always remain dear to the hearts of true fans of Shanghai style.

Besides admiring the tower from afar, whether from the Bund across the Huangpu or from the observation deck of a nearby skyscraper, most tourists find that they simply must view the cityscape from inside one of the Oriental Pearls—there are 11 glass spheres, all told, threading the 468 m (1,535.5 ft) spire. Three of the orbs house observation decks served by six high-speed elevators. The highest, known as the Space Module, sits 350 m (1,148 ft) above ground, with a second, lower “Sightseeing Floor” at 263 m (863 ft) and “Space City” sphere hanging at 90 m (295 ft). With all this, you might expect a revolving restaurant—and you’d be in luck: you can dine in rotating high style 267 m (876 ft) above ground. Finally, if you’re really lucky and call way ahead, you can stay in the 20-room Space Hotel, lodged between the tower’s two largest spheres.

Be ready for long lines and big crowds on weekends and holidays.

The Bund

For many, the Bund (Wàitān, 外滩) is the face of Shanghai. Even as the city transforms itself, growing upwards and outwards at a tremendous rate, the Bund‘s Art Deco and Neoclassical facades appear much as they did during Shanghai’s previous heyday as China’s most international city, way back in the 1920s and ’30s. Of course, the surroundings have changed radically since then.

There’s no better place to take in the spectacular Lujiazui skyline on the east bank of the Huangpu River than from the Bund’s river promenade or through a picture window in one of a growing number of luxury bars, restaurants and clubs occupying the upper floors of classic Bund buildings. At the north end of the Bund, Nanjing Dong Lu cuts west, a neon-lit paradise for shoppers and gawkers, flanked by a mix of colonial-era edifices and contemporary high rises.

The south end of the Bund terminates near Shanghai’s low-rise Old City, encircled by growing ranks of luxury residential towers. In between is rich evidence of Shanghai’s role as China’s key financial and business link to the West in the early 20th century: stately bank and embassy buildings, proud international hotels and business headquarters line Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (Zhōngshān Yī Dōng Lù, 中山一东路).

If you’re serious about your architecture, you’ll want to pick up one of a number of guides that go into depth on the Bund’s fascinating history; otherwise, you can get by with a general guide or simply by reading plaques and perhaps popping into the Bund Historical Museum at the north end of the Bund beneath the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Huangpu Park (Huángpǔ Gōngyuán, 黄浦公园). Many of the historic buildings on the Bund feature plaques detailing their history. Buildings to note, running north to south, include:

• The Astor House Hotel, originally opened in 1846, was the first of Shanghai’s international hotels. It’s just across the Garden Bridge over Suzhou Creek.

• The former British Consulate at No. 33 Zhongshan Lu is one of the earliest Bund buildings, dating from 1847.

• The Bank of China Building (1937) combines Chicago and China styles of architecture.

• The Peace Hotel (1929) is perhaps the most famous Bund building, Deco all the way; it hosted luminaries from Charlie Chaplin to Noel Coward. Today, you can stay at the renovated Fairmont Peace Hotel for a taste of the ’30s.

• Bund 18 (1923) is packed with classy retailers like Cartier and Zegna; it also is home to Bar Rouge, a great spot for cocktails with a view.

• The Customs House (1925) with its Big Ben-inspired clock tower.

• The HSBC Building (1923) is worth stepping inside of for the mosaic zodiac ceiling.

• Three on the Bund challenges Bund 18 for the claim to the swankiest tenants and clientele (Jean Georges, Armani, Shanghai Gallery of Art and more).

• The Meteorological Signal Tower (1908) houses a collection of old Bund memorabilia and images.

Jin Mao Tower

Though no longer China’s tallest building (having recently been eclipsed by the neighboring World Financial Center), the Jin Mao Tower (Jīn Mào Dàshà, 金茂大厦) remains Shanghai’s most elegant and distinctive skyscraper. It also still proudly houses the world’s highest hotel, post office and bar.
Situated in the heart of the Lujiazui financial district, the Jin Mao’s design is based on the lucky number eight: 88 floors soar upward, divided into 16 segments, each 1/8 smaller than the preceding one. Architecturally a blend of the monumental Art Deco of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings and the balanced composition of the traditional Chinese pagoda, the Jin Mao renews the long-standing Shanghai tradition of blending Western and Chinese styles, resulting in a dynamic hybrid that beautifully compliments the Bund’s colonial-era façades across the Huangpu River.
The interior is as impressive as the exterior, featuring expansive vaulted spaces in the entrance lobby and the stunning Grand Hyatt Shanghai atrium, which spirals upwards from the 56th to the 87th floor. From the 88th floor, visitors can either look down into the atrium or out across the Shanghai cityscape all the way to the mouth of the Yangzi (atmospheric conditions permitting, of course). The 87th floor is home to the world’s highest bar, Cloud 9, and its mezzanine Sky Lounge.
Dining options include the swank Shanghainese Club Jin Mao (86th floor) and Canton (56th floor) along with a selection of smaller and somewhat less expensive restaurants in the On Fifty-Six dining area. The larger Jin Mao complex includes J-Life, an upscale shopping and entertainment space sitting alongside the tower, and the Jin Mao Concert Hall, which favors Western chamber music and small Chinese traditional music ensemble performances.

Yuyuan (Yu Garden)

The Yu Gardens (Yùyuán, 豫园) are a classical oasis—albeit a generally crowded one—in Shanghai’s relentlessly modernizing cityscape. The gardens, completed in 1577 by the aristocratic Ming Dynasty Pan family, retain their original grace and elegance even in the face of throngs of tourists and the commercial hubbub of Yu Bazaar just on the other side of the garden walls.
Situated in the midst of the Old City near the Temple of the City God, the gardens make an excellent and restful stop in a walking tour of the area. The famous Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse (Húxīn Tíng, 湖心亭) sits right next to the garden’s main entrance, reached by way of the zigzag bridge across a large carp pond. An excellent example of Ming-era garden design, Yuyuan’s paths, corridors, rock formations and carefully arranged greenery lead visitors through a space that is much smaller than it appears, past limpid carp ponds, up atop cleverly scaled “mountains,” into shady pavilions and through miniature groves of bamboo, ornamental pines, willows, cherry trees and gingko.
Seasonal changes in flora are a delight to track for return visitors, with various flowers blooming from early spring well into the fall. Today’s garden is actually a recreation of the original Ming-era garden; the British and Taiping rebels did great damage to the grounds during the First Opium War and Taiping Rebellion, respectively. Be sure to spend some time viewing the Exquisite Jadestone, the Hall of Heralding Spring, the Chamber of Ten Thousand Flowers and the Grand Rockery, among other specific garden spots (maps in English are available upon admission).

Cite Bourgogne

Cité Bourgogne (Bùgāolǐ, 步高里) is a unique example of the shikumen style lane house dwelling constructed across the city during its early-twentieth-century heyday. Located in the former French Concession, one can stroll through the narrow lanes of this block-sized complex completed in 1930 and get a bit of a sense of yesterday’s Shanghai. A blend of European and Chinese architectural features, the shikumen (which translates as “stone gate”) neatly balanced the demands of density with those of privacy, creating tightly knit communities with shared common space that still allowed residents considerable separation.
Designed to accommodate 78 families, and currently occupied by some 450 households, Cité Bourgogne provides a glimpse of a way of life that is fast disappearing as old housing stock falls before the wrecking ball to make way for high-rise developments and glitzy malls. Located on Shaanxi Nan Lu (Shǎnxī Nán Lù, 陕西南路) just south of Yongjia Lu (Yǒngjiā Lù, 永嘉路), Cité Bourgogne makes for a quick stop on a casual walking tour of the French Concession that might include nearby Fuxing Park, the cafés and small galleries on Shaoxing Lu and hip Taikang Lu, as well as classic colonial-era villas along Fuxing Lu (Fùxīng Lù, 复兴路), Ruijin Lu (Ruìjīn Lù, 瑞金路) and Shimen Yi Lu (Shímén Yī Lù, 石门一路)—including historic sites like Sun Yatsen’s Residence, Zhou Enlai’s Residence and the site of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party—and the Sinan Mansions development.
If you’re interested in more information on the shikumen, the Shikumen Open House Museum in nearby Xintiandi is a half hour’s walk away.