Although most parts of Shanghai that you are likely to visit lie to the west of the Huangpu River and its classic colonial riverfront, the Bund , by far the most easily recognizable landmark in the city is the rocket-like Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the east side, in the Pudong Special Economic Zone. The best way to check out both banks of the Huangpu River and their sights is to take the splendid Huangpu River Tour .

 

Nanjing Lu , reputedly the busiest shopping street in China, runs through the heart of downtown Shanghai headed at its eastern end by the famous Peace Hotel and leading west to Renmin Park , which today houses Shanghai's excellent new Museum . Shanghai's other main sights lie about 1.5km south of Nanjing Lu in the Old City , the longest continuously inhabited part of the city, with a fully restored classical Chinese garden, the Yu Yuan , neighbouring bazaars and the traditional Huxinting Tea House at its heart. To the southwest of here lies the marvellous old French Concession , with its cosmopolitan cooking traditions, European-style housing and revolutionary relics. The energetic eating and nightlife centre of Shanghai, Huaihai Lu , serves as the area's main artery.

Farther out from the centre remains a scattering of sights. North of Suzhou Creek is the interesting Hongkou Park , with its monuments to the great twentieth-century writer, Lu Xun. Finally, in the far west are two of Shanghai's most important surviving religious sites, the Longhua Si and the Yufo Si.