The Rough Guide to Shanghai

Book excerpt: The Rough Guide to Shanghai is the ultimate insider's guide to China's brash new mega city. Having hosted the extravagant 2010 world expo Shanghai is muscling forward to take its place alongside such financial powerhouses as Tokyo and London. But it's no longer just about China's rising business clout; in everything from fashion and art to cutting-edge architecture, Shanghai is making waves. All the major and off beat sights of this notoriously fast-changing city are covered in this fully-revised third edition, from the glorious, newly renovated Bund, set to become China's Champs Elysee, to huge new cultural markers such as the Power Station of Art, to chic shopping district Tianzifang. Cutting through the hype, this guide reveals the best places to shop, from malls to backstreet tailors; to sleep, whether you want a youth hostel, trendy boutique hotel or luxury pad; and to eat, from the glitziest destination restaurants to the best street dumplings. For when the pace of the city gets too frantic, there's all you need to know for great daytrips to tranquil canal towns such as Wuzhen or Suzhou. Easy to read, full-colour maps are provided throughout the guide, plus there's a handy subway map, and the pinyin and Chinese characters are given for all attractions and venues. Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to Shanghai. Now available in ePub format.