Shanghai. After our visit to Beijing and Xi’an, Shanghai was our third stop in China. We had only one full day to explore this incredible and bustling city due to our tight plan and had to find a way to explore as much as possible without getting totally exhausted. After a short night in Xi’an the day before we decided to take a nap upon arrival in our hotel – Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai. Rested and a coffee to go in our hands we felt ready to explore another part of China and started with the Bund area which was right outside our hotel. The skyline was fascinating and we had a breathtaking view of Pudong with all its skyscrapers and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Pudong is a new area by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund, and is known as the financial area of Shanghai. We walked along the Bund and took a couple of pictures. Later that day we had dinner at a nice restaurant (I don’t remember the name) and went back to our hotel since we were really exhausted. Well rested and after a huge breakfast we were ready for our full day tour around Shanghai.

We decided not to book a guided tour since I prefer exploring on my own and my own pace. We decided to buy Hop-on-Hop-off bus tickets and where able to get around the city cheap and quickly with a chance of leaving the bus at any stop we wanted to gave us the freedom we prefer. Shanghai reminded me a lot of New York City and it was in my opinion super different compared to Beijing or Xi’an. Beijing and Xi’an felt more quiet and a little bit back in time compared to this fast rising city with it’s skyscrapers. The city offers a couple of parks and nice green areas which invite you to just sit there and relax. We explored Pudong, Huangpu and Luwan and drove across the famous Nanpu Bridge. We had another amazing food experience in a local restaurant close to our hotel and decided to visit one of the main rooftop spots in Shanghai to watch the city by night. We read online that one of the best places is the VUE Bar, an elegant, comfortable and stylish fashion bar located on the top two levels of the Hyatt hotel, commanding the breathtaking views of both sides of the Huangpu River – the Bund on the Puxi side and the colourful skyline of the Lujiazui area on the Pudong side. Make sure to get there as early as possible and I would also recommend making a “daybed” reservation in advance. Keep in mind this is not New York City with lights on 24/7, in Shanghai the lights go out around 10 PM. I think the time changes during each season so make sure you check this in advance. I remember when we left the bar a couple of people where complaining about the missed views because they arrived around midnight. Anyway, this place is amazing and I can highly recommend their drinks and snacks. After our night out we walked back to our hotel and ordered in room dining because it was already way after midnight and we had to get up early to catch our flight for our next stop: Hong Kong