Shanghai

Look out from your 50 something floor hotel room and you will be greeted by views of Huangpu River, not a tranquil natural scene no a scene awash with masses of vessels of all sizes and purposes, this is Shanghai.

The roads and freeways are clogged for the next hours a day and all around multi storey building are rising out of the depths, and it might be added this is only 7am.

Shanghai. life in the fast lane, Commerce and finance on the world stage. The city, a seductive modern metropolis of more than 13 million, was once labelled the whore of the Orient, but then the iron grip of Marxism took hold.

Todays Shanghai is a contrast of past beauty and the fast live for now future,combining much of the east coast historical charms, particularly the French Concession area's grand avenues and impressive architecture, while we dwell among the 100 storey Hotel blocks of Pudong.

Shanghai tended to be second to Beijing, mainly because the communists failed to completely reform the population from its pro western ways so it was ostrosised as an example of western corruption.

No longer, in post-Mao China the central government is throwing in money, chaotic, maybe but organised it is, which is an amazing feat considering there are 21,000 construction sites and tens of thousands of vehicles traversing the choked roads.

Everything we in the West take for granted is available, the hotels, shopping (the biggest malls in Asia), restaurants, transport and bars are quality. The transport is not good, but a small price, talking about price expect to pay the same as at home, though get in the trendy street bars and then prices do jump quite rapidly.

The city boasts more than 1000 restaurants covering 16 styles of Chinese food, as well as French, Russian, Italian, English, German, Japanese, and Indian, and the food to die for. Then there are the street stalls and small restaurants which are the true China the true home cooking distinctive and enjoyable as well as very cheap.

For a stunning view visit the 555-room Grand Hyatt Shanghai, its bars, lounges, restaurants, suites and general facilities are second to none, then take atrip to the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower, and its 87th floor Cloud 9 is the world's highest bar. The view, particularly at night, is mesmerising.

Then up another floor as the building's 88th floor is an observation tower that is like a magnet to visitors to the city, wanting to see across the Huangpu River a tourist must-sees.

Other must sees are the Bund pronounced bunned, this is the most impressive strip in the city and a tantalising reminder of former times, stroll along the river's edge, and imagine times past,as this was a tow path for barges of rice, the Bund was the seat of foreign power early last century and provided an attractive entree for those arriving by sea.

A visit to a traditional garden, The Yu Yu Garden in the heart of the Old City was set out in 1559 and took 28 years to lay a youngsons toil of appreciation for his parents. The garden has 35 pavilions linked by corridors and bridges over ponds, more gardens can be found at Tongli.

A ride to the People's Square and the Shanghai Museum, is well worth a visit. It has the best galleries and displays in the Chinese world, and its collection of ancient bronzes is considered the world's best.

Shopping and bartering; experience Xiangyang Market and Dongtai Lu Antique Market which, is renamed Fuyou Antique Market on weekends.

Xiangyang is a solid mass of people buying clothes, watches, toys and hundreds of other items many of which are excellent fakes of popular Western brands.

Shanghai life in the fast lane.

Shanghai The Facts

Getting there: Britsh Airways Heathrow Direct to Shanghai.

What To see: The Bund, Jinmao Tower, the French Concession, Shanghai Museum, People's Square, Old Town and Yu Yu Garden, Jing Temple, Shanghai Art Museum, the antique market in Dongtai Lu and Xiangyang Market, Huangpu River cruise.

Packages: Kuoni Shanghai