China
Travel and Visit China Today!

Written by: Debbie Salcedo
04/07/05

Title: "Shanghai: East Meets West"
About: Travel and Tourism China

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Jade Buddha Temple

Built in 1882, the famous Buddhist Jade Buddha Temple was made to keep two jade Buddha statues which had been brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen.

The temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Fortunately the jade Buddha statues were saved and a new temple was built on the present site in 1928.


Lu Xun Museum

A very spacious and modern museum, the Lu Xun Museum was opened in 1999. It pays tribute to Lu Xun (1881-1936) one of China's major literary figures of the 20th century.

One of Xun's greatest legacy was his role in heading the move towards the creation of simplified Chinese script.


Lu Xun Park

Located north of Suzhou Creek in the Hongkou district, Lu Xun Park was also renamed in honor of Lu Xun, widely regarded as the founder of modern Chinese writing.
Lu Xun's tomb is located at the western end of the park. Hailed by the Communist Party as an advocate of Social Realism, the respect he earned from the CCP is marked by an inscription written by Mao and a tree flanking his tomb that was planted by Zhou Enlai.
 

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Located in Pudong, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, stands a staggering 468 meters (1535ft) making it the tallest tower in Asia. Visitor’s can go to several observation levels and in clear weather can get an excellent view of The Bund and Shanghai, and in the distance, Sheshan, Chongming Island and the Yangzi River.

 

Pudong

Considered to be the most rapid developing part of Shanghai, it is located on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River.

Only 10 years ago, Pudong was mainly marshland and paddy fields. In 1990 however, Pudong was named a Special Economic Zone and this sparked billion dollar investments to the area transforming it into a major business and financial center.

Today, Pudong represents modernity and economic growth - the tallest tower in Asia, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be found here as well as the Nextage Department Store, Asia's largest shopping mall.


Shanghai Children's Palace

Providing after school education for gifted children, the Shanghai Children's Palace was founded in 1953 by Sun Yatsen’s wife Song Qingling. It is located on West Yanan Road in central Shanghai.

In the Children’s Palace, kids can participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities including music, dance, art, model making, science and technology and computer science. The palace hosts many art performances and science and technology contests, which attracts thousands of youngsters.


Shanghai Museum

Relocated to its current site at the People’s Square in 1995, the urn-shaped building of the Shanghai Museum is one of the most impressive new structures of the city.

The museum houses a very comprehensive collection of some of China’s finest relics and artifacts - paintings, bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, imperial furniture and coins

The bronze collection, which dates from the 17th to 14th century BC is said to be among the best in the world.


Yuyuan Garden

A traditional Chinese park, the Yuyuan Garden is complete with beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations.

This small park is located in the heart of Shanghai's old Chinese quarter and links to Yuyuan Market.


 

Yuyuan Market

Found beside Yuyuan Garden, the Yuyuan Market is a bazaar of stores that sells traditional Chinese arts and crafts and souvenirs. The stores sell a mish-mash of items including chopsticks, Chinese medicine, walking sticks, fans, silk umbrellas, bamboo and rattan furniture, goldfish, pottery, plus much more. Part of the market has also been transformed into an indoor mall.


Huzhou Pagoda

Found on Tianmashan in Songjiang County, the Huzhou Pagoda, built in 1079 AD, is the leaning tower of China, with an inclination now exceeding the tower at Pisa by at least 1.5 degrees. The 19m (62ft) tower started tilting about 200 years ago.