This is the earliest and most immense religious complex in Shanghai. The Longhua Evening Bell used to be one of the eight tourist attractions in Shanghai. On occasions such as New Year's Eve or a temple fair, you can climb the bell tower and beat the ancient bronze bell; the echoes will bring you peace and happiness year after year. The style of the seven-story octagonal pagoda harmonizes with the temple building; it has upturned eaves and hanging bells on the corners of the eaves.

Yu Fo Temple (Jade Buddha Temple)

This is the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai. There are two white-jade Buddhas brought to China from Burma--one standing, the other reclining.

The Orthodox Eastern Church

Located on Xinle Road this Church strongly expresses the Russian church style. The roof consists of five large domes in peacock blue, with the largest dome in the middle. On each dome there is a small copper-covered dome, on top of which is a golden cross. The outer walls consist of a mixture of yellow sand and cement.

The She Shan Catholic Church

Located on top of the hill named She Shan looks like a medieval European castle, the building culminates in a bell tower that seems to touch the sky. On top of the bell tower is a steel-molded statue of the Virgin Mary. There is an annual pilgrimage to this site in May.

Shanghai Botanical Gardens:

In the southwest suburbs of Shanghai the once neglected gardens are undergoing a slow renewal. During and after the Cultural Revolution the gardens were unattended and left to overgrow. At the present time the most interesting part is actually the Penjing Gardens located within the larger garden. Although a separate small admission fee is charged, pay it, it is certainly worthwhile. Penjing is known in the West as bonsai, and is the art of cultivating miniature trees and shrubs, and wonderful examples of the art abound. This art is practiced in Japan as well. The Penjing Garden is in the traditional Chinese style complete with courtyards, pavilions, and miniature lakes. The examples of Penjing (Bonsai) are primarily displayed in the exhibition room. A trip to the Shanghai Botanical Gardens could be combined with a trip to the Longhua Temple Pagoda as the later is nearby.

The First Communist Congress house

The Chinese Communist Party was initially founded in 1921 at a meeting of twelve delegates at the French Concession home of one of the delegates. Mao Zedong was one of the delegates as well. The address was formerly 106 Rue Wantz, in the French of the day, but today it is 374 Huangpi Nanlu. The home has been restored and returned to the period and is furnished with furniture of the period as well. Pictures of all of the delegates as well as their biographies are displayed and chart their course through Chinese history.

Peace Hotel:

The Peace Hotel is located on the corner of Nanjing Road and the Bund, and is world famous for its' Horse and Hound Bar, as well as its' Jazz Band, which still performs in the evenings. This hotel became one of the crossroads of world travelers pre World War II. It was originally built around 1930 by Victor Sassoon as The Cathay. The Sassoon family, of Sephardic Jews ancestry from Baghdad, was but one of the many Jewish families who flourished in pre-war Shanghai as merchants and businessmen, and symbolizes the long era of foreign domination of Shanghai. Originally built in the Art Deco style of the era with high ceilings, and much iron work. The first four floors were originally used for offices of Sassoon businesses, with the higher floors for the hotel which offered the best service and amenities of the era. The roof which was designed in pyramid form is easily recognized. At one time Victor Sassoon lived on the top floors. There is an outdoor terrace at the base of the pyramid and offers a 360 degree view of the entire city and the Huangpu River.

Pudong:

The Pudong area of Shanghai is directly east and across the Huangpu River from the rest of Shanghai. Prior to the early 1990's the Pudong area of Shanghai was essentially undeveloped, with farmland, rundown factories, and was reached only by ferry from the other side of the river as there were no bridges or tunnels. Pudong is now a Special Economic Zone and an unbelievable number of skyscrapers are appearing at an amazing rate. The scene is changing before ones eyes, and is the fastest growing urban area in the world, Shanghai's new airport is also emerging in Pudong. The Pudong area of Shanghai is already as large as the rest of Shanghai itself. One of the tallest buildings in the world has recently been completed, and contains a Hyatt Hotel which occupies many of the higher floors. The old buildings and the farmlands are disappearing, housing is being erected, streets and shopping centers are being constructed, five star hotels are becoming a dime a dozen, office buildings are reaching towards the sky. Many say that a skyline to rival Hong Kong will soon emerge. It is closed now. Pudong is now linked to Shanghai by a newly built tunnel and a fantastic bridge and highway system. Shanghai and the Pudong area are virtually unrecognizable from less than 6 years ago. It is in the forefront of the emerging New China.

The Huangpu River
The Huangpu River begins in Lake Tai west of Shanghai and meets the Yangtze river 70 miles downstream. Shanghai is on the Huangpu and is 17 miles upstream from the Yangtze. The Yangtze is China's longest river. It begins in the Tibetan Plateau and flows across China until it empties into the East China Sea southeast of Shanghai. Shanghai's proximity on the Huangpu has contributed to its success in commercial trade to all of China. The river averages 440 yards wide and 27 ft deep as it snakes its way through Shanghai to meet the Yangtze. Large cruise ships can unload their passengers at the International Passenger Terminal a little north of Suzhou Creek, and freighters from all over the world can unload their wares at wharves all along the Bund, and pick up Chinese goods bound for international destinations. The deep water channel from the Yangtze to the Huangpu makes this all possible. Cargoes unloaded from the freighters can be put on barges and taken through Suzhou Creek and then along the networks of canals for delivery all over China. Boat tours are available for afternoon sightseeing on the river year around from several areas along the Bund side of the Huangpu. Evening tours are available in the summer. The charge is reasonable and refreshments are available on board. A running commentary is available from on board guides to acquaint one with all the sights along the very busy and intriguing river. This is a most interesting way to learn more about Shanghai and this active port. Only in the past few years with the development of the Pudong area across the Huangpu has transport across the river been available by bridge or tunnel. Prior to that time the only transpiration was by ferry.

The Ancient China Sex Culture Museum
The Ancient China Sex Culture Museum, at 1133 Wuding Road, Shanghai, is the only private museum of the kind in China. It has been a point of controversy ever since its establishment in September 1999. Some people are opposed to its exhibits, considering them distasteful and unhealthy, while others believe that they form part of ancient Chinese civilization, and reflect objectively humankind's attitude towards sex. For a time the museum seemed likely to close down, but as people are now more aware of the cultural value of ancient sexual practices, the museum has fortunately met with development opportunities, and a branch has opened in Zhejiang¡'s  Hangzhou. Some distance from the museum can clearly be seen the characters, "Ancient Sex Culture Exhibition"  on the museum wall. Beside this sign is a logo in the from of a man and woman, half human and half snake, with interlocking tails. This logo is actually a stone carving from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). The man is said to be Fu Xi, and the woman, Nu Wa. In Chinese mythology, these were the legendary ancestors of the Chinese mythology, these were he legendary ancestors of the Chinese nation, but they were also brother and sister. In ancient Chinese, "interlocking tails" is a metaphor for sexual intercourse, and this carving indicates that marriage between a brother and sister was practiced in ancient times. The exhibition comprises 10 sections: the evolution of sex, sex worship, the development of the marriage system, sexual oppression of women, sex accessories, erotica, sexual health, sex and religion sexuality. The Chinese nation has a subtle attitude towards sex, and consequently most of the exhibits have an implicit significance. For example, one may wonder why a 5000-year-old frog-patterned pottery jar is on display here. What does the frog have to do with sex? The answer is that the frog has bi belly, and is a prolific breeder, so it was an object of fertility worship for the ancient Chinese. The museum exhibits include objects of ancient sex worship, and also on display are the tools used to bind women's feet, and to keep them chaste. There are, in addition, instruments used to torture women, seals used to mark the chaste status of candidates for posts as maids-in-waiting, and artificial vaginas dating from 3,500 years ago through to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). There are, moreover, artifacts used in ancient sex education, and images relating to narcissism and homosexuality in ancient times, as well as articles common to ancient brothels. Curator Liu Dalin of the museum is a professor at Shanghai University, and a noted sociologist in China. The 1000 or so items on display at the museum are his personal collection. In the early 1980s, he became keenly aware of sex as a social problem and concentrated his attention on the science of sex. From 1989 to 1990, he presided over a nationwide sex survey of over 20000 cases - the largest ever in the world. He then plunged himself into research into China's 5000-year history of sex culture. Without any understanding of our present and future, says Professor Liu. He has collected a large amount of ancient sex artifacts, in order to study as well as rescue these precious cultural relics. "Many sex artifacts have great cultural value, but historical bias categorizes them as pornography and results in their damage or destruction. I must therefore rescue them, make them known, and leave them to our descendants."

Zhouzhuang, a Town on Water
The ancient town of Zhouzhuang is in Kunshan City, between Shanghai and Suzhou. It is known as the No. 1 Water Town in China, and it is rich in produce. The ancient town of Zhouzhuang is in Kunshan City, between Shanghai and Suzhou. It is known as the No. 1 Water Town in China, and it is rich in produce. Zhouzhuang abounds in waterways, and boats are a must. The town fears a waterscape typical of the regions south of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, with houses built along the rivers and streams. Thanks to these waterways, the town avoided the chaos caused by wars in the past dynasties, and its architectural layout from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) has remained intact. The rivers and streams in Zhouzhuang crisscross in the form of the Chinese character jing and are spanned by 14 stone-arch bridges from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The water, streets, bridges, houses, trees, and sailboats blend into a harmonious whole, affording a simple, leisurely life for the residents. "Mount Huangshan has a concentration of the enchanting beauty of Chinese mountains, and Zhouzhuang is the epitome of beautiful waters," said Wu Guanzhong, a great master of traditional Chinese painting. epitome of beautiful waters," said Wu Guanzhong, a great master of traditional Chinese painting. Zhouzhuang also has a rich cultural heritage. The Shuangqiao, Fu'an, and Zhenfeng bridges show the town's unique bridge culture. The house of the Zhang fily, where a boat can enter through the front gate and sail past in the courtyard; the splendid residence of Shen Wansan, a wealthy man of the Ming Dynasty; the Milou Pavilion where the poet Liu Yazi chanted poetry while drinking wine; and the teahouse that San Mao, a writer from Taiwan, felt emotionally attached to- all contribute to the cultural flavor of the town. San Mao, a writer from Taiwan, felt emotionally attached to- all contribute to the cultural flavor of the town. In 1998, Zhouzhuang was included in the supplementary list of World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO. In 2000, the United Nations Center foruman Settlement awarded Zhouzhuang with the Best Example Prize of the Dubai International Living Environmental Improvement Conference. man Settlement awarded Zhouzhuang with the Best Example Prize of the Dubai International Living Environmental Improvement Conference. In 1984, an oil painting inspired by Zhouzhuang won critical acclaim in the United States. Armand Hammer, chairman the board of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation of the United States, bought the painting, Remembrance of My Hometown by Chen Yifei, and presented it to Deng Xiaoping on a visit to China. Afterwards, the world became aware of the beauty of Zhouzhuang, and the town became a tourist attraction. Zhouzhuang was among the first batch of China's AAAA scenic resorts. Today, it is a noted scenic spot on the eastern China tourist route, one of China's 16 recommended routes for visitors. The number of tourists going to Zhouzhuang registers an annual increase of 30 percent, and in 2000, the town received more than 1.5 million tourist/times and earned ¥420 million from tourism. On June 6, 2001, Zhouzhuang hosted the Informal Trade Ministerial Conference the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Trade ministers from the 21 member economies saw the integration of old and modern China in Shanghai and Zhouzhuang. "The meeting lasted for two days," said Long Yongtu, vice minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Economic Cooperation and Trade. "It was held for one and a half days in Shanghai and the remaining half day in Zhouzhuang. "The arrangement was meant to show how a nation can keep its traditions alongside today's trend of economic globalization Long continued. "Shanghai represented the modern side of China, and Zhouzhuang showed that a nation can maintain its culture, tradition, and values while participating in the drive of economic globalization and opening to the outside world."

The Ancient Town of Wuzhen
On both sides of a slabstone-paved street stand pubs, restaurants, pawnshops, weaving and dyeing establishments, and other businesses, all housed in wooden structures of brown. Rivers and creeks spanned with stone bridges in various designs flow through the town, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes by. Old waterside houses and outside corridors can be found here and there. This is the ancient town of Wuzhen. Wuzhen Town, in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, has a history of more than 1,000 years. Of the ancient residential houses, workshops, and stores still standing on the banks of the rivers, 169,600 sq. m, accounting for 81.54 percent of the town's total floor area, have remained unchanged, lending an atmosphere of antiquity. Wuzhen has many sites of historical and cultural interest. From the Sung (960 - 1279) through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), Wuzhen produced more successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations than any other town south of the lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Bearing witness to the town's emphasis on education is the Lizhi (Aspiration) Academy of Classical Learning of the Qing Dynasty, which still retains its original appearance. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 - 581), Crown Prince Liang Zhaoming once studied at Wuzhen. The prince is famous for his Literary Selections by Zhaoming, a milestone in the history of Chinese literature, and the town of Wuzhen built a memorial archway to commemorate his stay there and has kept it well preserved. Other historical and cultural sites include the Wenchang Pavilion, the Xiuzhen Taoist Temple, the ancient stage, the mansion of a member of the Imperial Academy, and the former residence of Mao Dun, a great master of contemporary Chinese literature. Tradition is still very much alive in Wuzhen. In addition to flower-drum opera, shadow-puppet shows, and temple fairs, Wuzhen also attracts visitors with its time-honored art of making indigo-dyed printed calico. In ancient times, indigo-dyed printed calico was used for curtains, scarves, and tablecloths in every household in the countryside of Zhejiang Province. Today, it is still common to see old women in indigo-blue gowns leisurely operating spinning wheels or looms at weaving workshops in the old lanes of Wuzhen, while the squeaks of the looms resound throughout the lanes. Carrying on this tradition has become a part of the lives of the old women. The raw material for dye printing is Eupatorium fortunei, a herb that turns into indigo after being fermented and precipitated. For convenience in transporting the cloth, the weaving workshops and dyeing workshops are usually on the same street, only a few doors from each other. At the dyeing workshop, the cloth is soaked and air-dried again and again to produce white flowers on a blue background.

Shopping on "China's Number One Street"
The advent of the 1990s saw the ongoing efforts of Shanghai in maintaining its image as a tourist metropolis for visitors from other parts of China as well as foreign countries. Having long enjoyed fame as "China's Number One Street," Nanjing Road provides a remarkable blend of old and new shopping venues. On the one hand, long-established stores and old famed restaurants have recovered their youthful vigor and their business continues to thrive as never before. On the other hand, utterly new shopping centers have been built, including stores such as Mosta, Manhattan Square, Wings Dressmarket, and Sincere Company. As an international shoppers' paradise, often referred to as the "Paris of the East," Shanghai proffers many of the most exquisite goods in the world. The shops on Huaihai Road fulfill this requirement for elegant articles on the highest plane, including Esprit, Nick, Jeans West, and Dison. In the Yu Yuan Bazaar, there is a complete range of souvenirs with the unique Shanghainese features. Lastly, Xujia Hui, which used to be a border assembly area years ago, has now been built into a new commerce and shopping assembly area. Here, you will find the Oriental Shopping Centre, the Pacific Department Store plus its square, and the Daqian Centre of Delicious Foods - as well as hotels such as the Jianguo Hotel and the Huating Sheraton Hotel. If you go there, there is no doubt that you will experience the out-of-the-common breath of spirit of this metropolis of the Orient - its name is Shanghai!   The following is a list of other famous shopping centers:  Hualian Commercial House, Shanghai Garments Store, Shanghai International Shopping Center, Shanghai No. 1 Department Store and  Shanghai No. 1 Foodstuff Store.