Shanghai

The futuristic and extravagant Pudong district, which sprung up in barely 20 years, is symbolic of the megacity. Choose your building according to your head for heights: the Oriental Pearl Tower (468m), World Financial Centre (492m) or Shanghai Tower (632m)... The one thing guaranteed at the top is a breathtaking view of the city!

The Bund is a quay built along the Huangpu River and lined with buildings with colonial architecture, the showcase of the "Paris of the East" of the 20th century. Popular with tourists and locals alike, it offers a spectacular view of the Pudong skyline, lit up with a thousand twinkling lights at nightfall. Early in the morning, you can even try out Tai-Chi, which is a popular form of exercise in China.

Originally built in response to the demographic boom of the 20th century, lilongs are typical Shanghai housing estates where a popular lifestyle flourishes today. Similar to the Beijing Hutongs, they are composed of 2-storey terraced brick houses crammed together in narrow streets that are seemingly frozen in time, where scenes of daily life overflow onto the street.

The legendary and mysterious city of the Blue Lotus in the Adventures of Tintin no longer exists, and all that remains are decors inherited from the concessions. To give visitors a glimpse of it, this small museum located at the foot of the Oriental Pearl Tower recreates various scenes from daily life using wax figures to relate the history of Shanghai through different periods.

As you walk through the city’s old district, you will inevitably discover the charming Yu Garden. This well-kept garden, covering 2 hectares, is characteristic of the Ming dynasty and is delimited by the "Dragon walls". At the entrance is the famous HuXingTing Teahouse built in the middle of a pond and accessible via the "Nine Turn" bridge (built in a zigzag to keep away evil spirits).

In spite of competition from other streets such as Huaihai, the unbeatable Nanjing Lu or "Nanking Road" remains the oldest and biggest shopping street in the city. 10km long and filled with constant activity, it is home to all kinds of shops. It even looks a bit like a Chinese Times Square at nightfall, with its multitude giant screens and passing crowds.

This very popular ancestral game has 6 million fans, of which 500,000 in Shanghai alone. Considered "lucky", crickets are admired for their short, epic fights and their distinct song. You can discover all about it at the bird and insect market in the old district. The short-lived "champions" are dried and framed with the history of their victories.

Karaoke, also known as KTV, is highly popular in Shanghai as well as in China and the rest of Asia. It only takes place in small private rooms that are rented by the hour, and the list of songs is very varied, including both Chinese and international. The atmosphere is good-natured: the aim is to have fun with family and friends.

Tea is to China what wine is to France: essential. Culture in every sense of the word and an age-old art, tea is consumed every day in Shanghai as elsewhere in the country. Whether you prefer black or green tea, enjoy a cup at the HuXinTing Teahouse in the Yu Garden or in Tianshan Tea City, a market dedicated to tea and its accessories.

These small buns stuffed with succulent meat or vegetables are the most famous dish in Shanghai cuisine, and are generally served at breakfast with tea. Whether they are soft after being steamed or crispy after frying, these culinary delights filled with a hot sauce will treat you with every mouthful. You can buy them from street vendors and in restaurants throughout the city.

China, like all other Asian countries, is known for its travelling vendors on street corners, its outdoor grocery stands and markets of a thousand and one smells. These street “canteens” are the origin of street food. A far cry from our traditional restaurants, here you often eat standing up, sitting on the pavement or, if you’re lucky, at a makeshift table.

Hong Shao Rou is a classic local dish composed of pork marinated in sugar, spices and soy sauce. It was the favourite dish of Mao, the first President of the People's Republic of China and an eternally admired figure in the country. “Hong shao" is a Chinese cooking method for cooking meat slowly with a sauce so that each piece is coated in an amber colour.

"Custard Pie", as it is known, is a tart made with eggs which is also referred to as "Chinese crème brûlée", once again revealing the influence of Western culture in China and especially in Shanghai, left by the settlers. It was probably originally Portuguese or English. The Chinese do not generally end their meals with a dessert, but European visitors won’t be able to resist!