shanghai world financial center shanghai. Superstructures: Shanghai World Financial Center

General information about construction
More than 1 billion US dollars was invested in the construction of the World Financial Center in Shanghai. The main investor was the Japanese company Mori Building Corporation. In addition, another 40 companies from different countries peace. The World Financial Center building is located next to the Jinmao Tower, which is the second tallest building in Shanghai. The central part of the building has a height of 492 meters and 104 floors, including 3 underground floors.

Building layout
The building has 3 underground floors, which house parking, shops and office space. Conference centers are located on floors 1 to 5, offices are located on floors 7 to 77. Floors 79 to 93 are occupied by a hotel that is managed by the world famous company Hyatt Group. On floors 94 to 100 there are viewing platforms and exhibition halls. To protect the building from swaying during strong winds, engineers have developed a special system. Adjustable vibration isolators were installed on the 90th floor of the World Financial Center, which are able to keep the building from strong deflection during a storm wind or even an earthquake. There are three viewing platforms on floors 94 to 100. On the 94th floor there is an exhibition hall and an observation platform with total area over 700 sq. m. On the 100th floor there is an observation pavilion 55 m long. This observation deck is the highest in the world. It is taller than the viewing platform on the Canadian Television Tower, which is 447 meters high, and taller than the Dubai Tower, which is 440 meters above the ground.

Sightseeing at the World Financial Center in Shanghai
The world financial center is the most tall building in Shanghai. Together with the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jinmao Tower, they are the main modern architectural landmarks of the city. It only takes 1 minute to get by elevator from the 1st floor to 95. The speed of movement in this elevator is 10 m per second.

Being on the 100th floor and viewing the city from the observation pavilion, visitors can see the very top of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the upper floors of the Jinmao Tower. Being in this gallery 55 meters long, visitors can also see everything that is under their feet thanks to the transparent floors. The pavilion is specially brought out, so visitors can see the streets of the city under their feet. lookout bridge at the very top of the building is the highest observation deck in the world.

Ticket price

The Shanghai World Financial Center was opened to the general public on August 30th. At present, the price of visiting the 94th floor is 100 yuan, visiting the 94th and 97th floors is 110 yuan, and visiting the 94th, 97th and 100th floor will cost you 150 yuan. It is expected that the number of visits to these observation decks will reach 300 million in the future.

Address: Shanghai, Pudong District, Lujiazui, Z4-1 Financial and Commercial District

Total area: 381600 square meters

Number of floors: 101 floors above ground, 3 floors below ground.

Height: 492 meters

Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox and East China Institute of Architecture and Design

Development company: Mori Building Corp.

Contractors: State Construction and Engineering Corporation of China and Main Shanghai Construction Company.

The height of the center is 492 m, thus it is the eleventh tallest skyscraper in the world and the sixth tallest in Asia (as of 2015). The tower was built by the Japanese company Mori Building Corporation. The project's lead designer is David Malott of New York-based Kohn Pedersen Fox. The unofficial name of the building is "opener".

Shanghai World Financial Center among the city skyscraper ensemble at night

Building project

The construction of the building was actively supported by the Japanese magnate Minoru Mori, so the skyscraper unofficially bears his name. The first stone was laid on August 27, 1997, but due to the financial crisis of 1998, construction dragged on for ten years. The construction process itself took four years. active financing began in 2003, it took another year for interior decoration and installation of communications.

In 2003, changes were made to the project, in particular, the developer Mori Group increased the height of the building to 492 m and the number of floors to 101, from the original 460 and 94, respectively.

Also, in 2005, the shape of the window at the top of the building was changed to reduce air resistance. Initially, a rounded window 46 m in diameter was supposed. However, this design caused great protests from the Chinese, including the mayor of Shanghai, who believed that it was very similar to the rising sun on the flag of Japan. The round hole was replaced with a trapezoidal one, which reduced the cost of construction and simplified the implementation of the project.

Investors wanted to increase the height of the building by adding a spire to break the Taipei 101 (509.2 m) height record, but architect William Pedersen and developer Minoru Mori opposed adding a spire to the building, explaining that a building as majestic as the SWFC would be sufficient with its current size. .

The building area is 377,300 m², there are 31 high-speed elevators and 33 escalators.

Building features

The building has passed all the tests for seismic resistance and can withstand an earthquake of up to seven points.

In this regard, three options for rescuing people were used: by protected stairs in the middle of the building, descent by elevators located on the sides of the building, as well as protected floors.

A protected floor is located on every twelfth floor of the building. It is designed to shelter people from a fire until the arrival of rescuers. Each such floor has its own reinforced concrete frame, which divides the entire building into sections, and increases its strength properties. These floors are reinforced with refractory steel, and these floors also have glass windows that can be broken to allow air to enter the room.

3 underground levels in the skyscraper are occupied by car parking.

The building of the Shanghai World Financial Center (Shanghai World Financial Center) was recognized as the best skyscraper in the world in 2008. And this is not surprising, the futuristic building with a height of 492 meters, consisting of 101 floors, cannot but arouse admiration.

The skyscraper also has an unofficial name - the Mori Tower, consonant with the name of the developer company, the Japanese company Mori Building Corporation. David Malott of New York-based Kohn Pedersen Fox was the lead designer on the project. The construction work was carried out by the Shanghai Construction Group.

The foundation stone of the SWFC was laid on August 27, 1997, but the 1998 financial crisis froze construction for several years. Later, the design of the tower underwent some changes, and further work on the object was carried out according to the updated drawings. The project was financed by large multinational companies - Japanese, Chinese corporations, as well as European and American investors. And the American investment bank Morgan Stanley coordinated the financing. According to experts, investments in the project amounted to at least $1 billion.

In 2003, active funding for the project resumed, and work began to boil. The construction of the facility took 4 years, and already on September 14, 2007, the height of the building exceeded the mark of 492m. Finishing work and communications were carried out for another year. On August 30, 2008, the Shanghai World Financial Center welcomed its first visitors.

Anyone who looks at the tower will find something in common with a giant bottle opener, especially the trapezoidal opening at the top of the skyscraper. Initially, the hole was supposed to be in the shape of a circle. However, the similarity with rising sun", displayed on the Japanese flag, caused a lot of protests among the public and the Shanghai City Hall. Then it was decided to change the shape of the hole, making it trapezoidal.

In addition to the decorative function, the hole also has a functional purpose, because on high altitude the speed of air movement is very significant and puts serious pressure on the walls, and the hole reduces the load.

Mori Tower is the owner of the highest observation deck in the world. The first platform is located on the 94th floor (423 meters above the ground), the second on the 97th (439 meters), and the third, "Observatory - Bridge", is equipped on the 100th floor at a distance of 474 meters from the ground. All sites are equipped with the latest technology, in compliance with all safety standards.

The plans of investors included a spire, which was supposed to be placed on the roof of a skyscraper. He would have added a few more meters to the building, and made it possible to get ahead of the famous Taiwanese Taipei 101 (509.2 m). However, the designer Minoru Mori opposed the addition of the spire, and the idea never came to fruition. The parameters of the SWFC without the spire will impress anyone: the area of ​​the building is 377.300 square meters, inside the skyscraper there are 31 high-speed elevators and 33 escalators, as well as 3 underground floors.

The skyscraper is located in prestigious area Shanghai, Lujiazui, which is called "Chinese Wall Street". It houses offices, hotels, conference rooms (ready to receive up to 1000 people at a time), restaurants, shopping centers, and on the upper floors there are observation platforms that attract tourists. The famous component of the Financial Center is the Park Hyatt Shanghai hotel, which includes 174 rooms. The uniqueness of the Park Hyatt is that it has become the highest located hotel in the world.

But the main purpose of the Shanghai World Financial Center is office work - company offices occupy 70 floors, and about 12 thousand employees come to work in the Mori Building daily.

Before my arrival in Shanghai, I had been in China for more than a week, so it seemed that little could surprise me. However, already on the way from the airport to the hotel, I realized that this city is not like everything that I had seen before. As if I mixed up the flights and flew somewhere in the wrong place.

After gray communist Beijing, dirty and stuffy Guangzhou and provincial Shanghai became a sip for me fresh air. Looking at the architecture, people, shops, cars, I began to understand why this city is called “Window to the outside world” and “Paris of the East”. Probably, the truth is that somewhere here East and West meet each other. It seemed to me that even time in Shanghai feels different, and the usual Eurocentric picture of the world goes somewhere in the past.

How to get there

Of course, the best way to get from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Shanghai is by plane. You can't think of a more reasonable way to overcome about 7,000 kilometers. ABOUT land transport in this case, it makes sense to think only residents Far East, however, it is worth remembering that you will have to make a transplant (or even more than one) in Beijing or northern Chinese cities, because Pdirect railway and even more so bus service does not exist for this route.

By plane

Most best option flight - a direct flight without transfers. Two airlines fly from Moscow on this route almost daily: Aeroflot and China Eastern Airlines. In both cases, the departure is from Sheremetyevo, and we arrive at international Airport Pudong, which is located 30 kilometers from the city center. Direct flights from Saint Petersburg airlines China Easten Airlines and VIM Avia.

Travel time will average nine hours, so stock up on music and books. The price of tickets in economy class is approximately 45,000 to 90,000 rubles for flights from Moscow and from 70,000 rubles for flights from St. Petersburg. From personal experience, I can say that it’s impossible to fly back and forth cheaper than 50,000 rubles. The earlier you book your tickets, the higher your chances of saving. Price options for the dates you are interested in can be viewed by.

The option of a flight with a transfer looks tempting, since the cost of such tickets is half as much. However, not everyone will like the idea that they will have to spend almost a day on the road. Usually, most connecting flights fly through or Guangzhou.

From Pudong Airport to the center, it is most convenient to get in three ways:

• Metro: Line 2 (green) passes through the city center and connects two airports - Pudong and Hongxiao. Pudong Station International Airport located right at the airport, it is very convenient, but on the way you will have to change at the Guanglan Road station (you will be reminded of this in the car in Chinese and English).
• Maglev Train: This is something like our Aeroexpress, only several times faster. In about ten minutes, the miracle train will take you to the Longyang Road subway station, from where you can continue your journey by subway, bus or taxi. Tickets cost 7.5 USD or 50 RMB (15 USD or 100 RMB in business class).
• Taxi: The best, in my opinion, option for those who value their time and nerves. Taxi stands are located at the exit of the terminal. The cost of the trip will cost you about 19 USD or 130 yuan (landing 14 yuan, then 2.4 yuan per kilometer).

By train

For those who prefer the romance of long journeys to the sound of wheels, getting to Shanghai will be very difficult.

If you are traveling from Moscow, you can take train 043 - or 020 - Vostok, which departs from the Yaroslavsky railway station. Travel time - 6 days 2 hours. Ticket prices start from 29,000 rubles (according to the Russian Railways website).

In Beijing, you will have to change trains: either on a modern bullet train G1, or on a regular train in a compartment or reserved seat. In the first case, you will be in Shanghai in 5-6 hours, but spend a decent amount on tickets (92 USD, or 574 yuan), in the second - in 15-20 hours, but save money (tickets cost from 44 USD, or 300 yuan) and get unforgettable impressions from Chinese long-distance trains. No one has been left indifferent by the three-story second-class carriages, saturated with the smell of freshly brewed noodles. By the way, bed linen in Chinese trains is changed only once, at the final station, so if the train is passing, do not rely on the freshness and cleanliness of your bed.

Another important point: these trains go through Mongolia (043 for sure, but Vostok may be bypassing, you need to check when buying tickets), so you will need a transit visa from this country.

You also need to know that return train tickets can only be bought at railway ticket offices China.

By bus

bus route looks about the same as the railroad. For example, buses run from Vladivostok or Ussuriysk to Harbin, Suifenhe or Hunchun. A ticket costs around 2000-3000 thousand rubles, travel time is 7-10 hours. However, getting from these cities to Shanghai is not very easy. In some cases, you will have to make additional transfers or even change the mode of transport along the way. Most affordable option- train Harbin - Shanghai, which takes about 30 hours and costs about 90 USD or 600 yuan for a seat in a reserved seat.

In general, a bus trip to Shanghai can be classified as extreme tourism.

Clue:

Shanghai - time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow - 5

Kazan - 5

Samara − 4

Yekaterinburg - 3

Novosibirsk − 1

Vladivostok 2

When is the season. When is the best time to go

The ideal time of the year to travel to Shanghai, in my opinion and according to my friends who have lived in this city for many years, will be spring. The weather during this period is simply excellent: the hellish cold is already behind, and the hellish hell has not yet arrived. And there are not so many tourists, because the holiday season and the mass pilgrimage of foreigners to the Celestial Empire begins in June.

Shanghai in summer

Most tourists come to Shanghai in the summer. And they make a big mistake. It is clear that many have holidays, and at other times it simply cannot be done. But if you have the opportunity to choose other months for the trip, use it. Summer Shanghai is a glass-concrete capsule with a population of twenty-four million people, which melts from the indescribable heat 24 hours a day.

Being outside is sometimes just not possible. Plus, the already bad air becomes even dirtier and more unbearable, so you are unlikely to part with a gauze mask. And, of course, you will fully experience the unique smell of China, which will remain in your memories for a long time.

Shanghai in autumn

If you decide to visit Shanghai in autumn, it is best to do so in late September and October. True, frequent rains can spoil the mood for someone, but as for me, walking in rainy weather is even more interesting: the city becomes somehow especially cozy and hospitable.

Shanghai in spring

As already mentioned, it is spring that will make your trip to Shanghai as comfortable and unforgettable as possible. The heat here comes very early, nature begins to wake up already in mid-February. In March, sakura blossoms in the Garden of Joy, and in May everyone already wears shorts.

Shanghai in winter

The first thing to know about China is that the country does not have a central heating system as such. Neither in the south nor in the impossibly cold north will you find a single battery. The only source of heat in the rooms are ordinary air conditioners, which are set to warm mode. Therefore, in this country (with the exception, perhaps, of the southernmost cities with a subtropical climate), winter is a real torture for the body.

I happened to visit Shanghai in winter. It was December, but during my stay in the city, it established itself extremely warm weather. I even had to remove winter things, because it was frankly hot in boots. But this is pure luck. Because it is usually very cold and damp in Shanghai in winter. Due to the high humidity, temperatures below +5 feel like severe frost. Naturally, this discourages any desire to go out. All in all, winter period, in my opinion, is not the best time to travel to Shanghai if your goal is to visit as many sights as possible and walk around the city from morning to evening.

Shanghai - monthly weather

Clue:

Shanghai - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

As a landmark, one of the central tourist destinations- People's Square (marked in purple). East coast- Pudong (marked in red) - may be interesting for the legendary skyscrapers and business centers. This is one of the most expensive areas for living, so I would not recommend it for accommodation.

When choosing housing in Shanghai, I recommend acting not on the principle far/close to center, and navigate exclusively on the metro map. It is the subway that will be the most convenient and cheapest way to travel around the city, and having decided on the route of exploring Shanghai, you can easily choose the branch that is most convenient for you. Even if your hotel is not located in the historical center, but within walking distance of the metro station, you can reach any point in the city in a few minutes.

Personally, I stayed at a hotel called Tian Lin Hotel, which is located a 15-minute walk from Guilin Road Subway Station (Line 9). This is not the center-center, but not the outskirts (the location of the hotel on the map is marked with a black arrow in the lower left corner). In my opinion, an excellent option in terms of value for money. I got to the center in 30 minutes (taking into account the walk to the metro), which suited me perfectly. Nearby were many shops and restaurants, as well as a huge Walmart and fruit stalls.

Strange fact: in China in the rooms of almost all hotels (at least in those where I was, and I happened to live in more than 15 hotels different levels) there is a glass wall in the shower. That is, the wall that separates the sleeping space from the bathroom is transparent, so all your bath procedures will be visible to your roommate. It is rather difficult to find any reasonable explanation for this phenomenon. Therefore, if you will be sharing a room with someone, think about it to avoid discomfort.

What are the prices for holidays

Usually when Russian tourists come to, most of all they are pleasantly surprised by the prices. So, this does not apply to Shanghai. This is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so don't expect to be able to buy things or equipment almost for nothing, because the cost of goods and services is almost the same as in Russia. This injustice is especially felt in Lately in the face of rising exchange rates.

Housing

If we talk about housing, then the price range here will be about the same as in Moscow. An average hotel can cost 30-60 USD or 200-400 RMB per night. You can rent an apartment in a more or less decent area for about 1,000 USD or 6,000-7,000 yuan per month. A room for 500-600 USD or 3,500-4,000 yuan per month. For a shorter period, the price will, of course, be cheaper, but not enough to please you.

Transport

To save on transport, I highly recommend taking the subway. The cost of the trip depends on the length of the route and starts from 0.5 USD or 3 yuan. If you take a taxi, be aware that the fixed price for landing is 2 USD or 14 RMB. Further on the counter at 0.35 USD or 2.4 yuan, for each kilometer. A cunning taxi driver can take you the longest way, and then your trip will cost a pretty penny.

Food

Prices for groceries in supermarkets are quite decent. Unless fruits may seem expensive (1.5-3 USD or 10-20 yuan). By the way, be careful: in China, the price of fruits and vegetables is indicated for 500 grams, not per kilogram. Therefore, if you see an attractive price tag, do not rush to rejoice, but multiply the figure by two.

The average check in a cafe will cost 4-7 USD or 20-50 yuan, in more expensive restaurants - from 12 USD or 80 yuan. Water in the store costs about 30 cents, or 2 yuan, noodles, tofu and cookies - 1-2 USD or 3-7 yuan and more.

Clue:

The cost of food, lodging, transportation, etc.

Currency: Rubles, rub. Dollars, $ Euro, €

Main attractions. What to see

It seems to me that to see even the main sights of Shanghai, it will take at least a week. Below I will try to list the most frequently visited places by tourists, which will best help to make an approximate portrait of the city in all its diversity.

Top 5

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Museums. Which are worth a visit

There are several dozen museums in Shanghai, so listing them all would be insane. Among this variety, I would single out the following, in my opinion, the most interesting places:

Among museums of a narrow focus, I would single out:

parks

There are a lot of parks in Shanghai, but I would name only a few of them worth visiting:

tourist streets

In addition to the Nanjing Street already mentioned above, I advise you to visit the French Quarter. This is a very beautiful area where you can have a great evening and relax. Here is Huaihai Street (formerly called Joffre Avenue), which was once called Russian, since after the revolution of 1917 Russian white emigrants settled on it.

Today this place is quite glamorous, there are many expensive (and very expensive) shops and cozy cafes. Huaihai is often compared to the Champs Elysees in Paris and Fifth Avenue in New York. Being in this place, you make a journey through time and space, because the atmosphere here is absolutely European. The most convenient way to get to the French Quarter is by subway line 1, Xujianhui Station.

What to see in 1 day

I do not envy those tourists who have only one day to see the sights of Shanghai. In this case, I would advise you to decide on the direction of your mini-review: shopping, walking tour, historical places, museums... Because it will be incredibly difficult to cover everything at once. Alternatively, I suggest the following route:

• Morning: Zoo/Oceanarium/Temple/Museum. Depending on your interests. You need to understand that any of the points will take at least 3 hours, so it’s better to start your tourist marathon at 9 am (earlier, most likely, everything will be closed). By the way, the Shanghai Aquarium (Lujiazui metro station, line 2) is not a cheap pleasure (24 USD or 160 yuan), but it's worth it.
• Dinner: People's Square+Nanjing Street/Museum/Park. At lunchtime, you can go to lively, crowded places to eat and shop. At this time, you will not be very tired yet, so there will be strength for shopping or a walk in the park. Perhaps you will have time to drop by one of the museums in the city center. This part of the route will take at least 4 hours.
• Evening: Waterfront/Skyscraper Observation Deck/French Quarter/Shopping Malls. I recommend leaving walks along the embankment and an overview of the panorama of the city for the evening: the city at this time is transformed thanks to the unique illumination. In the evening, you should definitely wander along the pedestrian streets, try exotic kebabs, look into shops and stock up on souvenirs.

What to see in the surroundings

If you have a free day and you are easy-going, you can go to the city on the water, famous throughout Asia - Zhujiajiao. This is a real Eastern, you can’t call it otherwise. Here you can take a boat tour or wander along the canals on foot.

It is located in 50 kilometers from downtown Shanghai. You can get there by bus from Shanghai Stadium Subway Station (Line 5).

Food. What to try

In the cafes and restaurants of Shanghai, you will find almost all the same traditional Chinese dishes as in any other city. Meat, fish and tofu with a million different sauces, dim sum and baozi, rice noodles ... You can read a lot of interesting Chinese food.

My absolute favorite in Shanghai is Malatan or "spicy soup". Do it yourself', as I call it. It can be found in special cafes in which all the ingredients of the future dish are in front of you. You take a bowl and put there everything that you want to see on your plate: tofu, meat, fish, herbs, vegetables, noodles... Then you pass it to the cook and after 15-20 minutes you enjoy a hot and hearty lunch. There are a lot of such restaurants both on the street and in shopping centers. The price of such a dish depends on the weight of the collected products: I got 3-5 USD or 20-30 yuan, and in the end it was a very large portion, so I could not even finish it all. Be careful as the dish is very spicy!

Also be sure to try the street skewers. The first time it will be scary, and then you will get involved, you will not be able to live without them. I advise you to pay attention to the kebab-eggplant. A huge purple vegetable is fried right in its entirety, sprinkled with plenty of spices, it is very tasty. The price of a kebab is about 1 USD or 2-3 yuan.

Finally, my biggest gastronomic discovery related to Shanghai is sweets. Before the trip, many people scared me that in China there was no sweet at all, and what was there was disgusting and inedible. Well, this turned out to be false. Shanghai is generally considered the "sweetest" city in China. And these sweets, like many things in this country, are quite peculiar, but memorable. However, to some they may not seem so appetizing, because, as you know, they taste and color ... But, if you have the same sweet tooth as me, start with halva. It was a real delight for me. Chinese halva is completely different from the eastern one, it crumbles like sand, so you need to eat it with a spoon. It is made from nut powder and rice flour and does not taste very sweet. But for me, this was a big plus, oddly enough, because I don’t like it when sugar creaks on my teeth from dessert. And Chinese sweets in this sense were ideal, not cloying at all.

In addition to halva, I advise you to try sachima, which resembles Tatar chak-chak in appearance and taste, as well as fruit marshmallows, rice cookies, crackers, corn sweets, brushwood. The only thing I recommend giving up is chocolate. He's really, really ugly.

To be honest, when choosing a place for a snack or a full meal, I do not trust guidebooks, but my intuition. And she has never let me down. There are so many establishments in Shanghai that it is rather difficult to single out at least a few of the very best. If you see that the cafe is full of people, everything is more or less clean and decent, then most likely the place is normal. You can almost always eat deliciously and safely in the food courts of shopping centers.

Budget

• Jia Jia Tang Bao,
• Yang's Fried Dumplings,
• Fu Chun Xiao Long,
• Din Tai Fung.

Intermediate level

• Shanghai Haidilao Hot Pot,
• ShangHai DiShuiDOng,
• xibo,
• Lost Heaven on the Bund,
• Lotus Eatery.

Expensive

• scene,
• Lao Zheng Xing,
• Hakkasan,
• Bund 18,
• Xian Qian Fang-Yong An.

Holidays

Among the local holidays, one can single out, perhaps, the Shanghai Tourism Festival. It runs from mid-September to early October. This is a very colorful event: carnival, fireworks, food fair, dancing, theater, circus. This is such an ode to Chinese culture. By the way, quite popular with tourists.

The most important holiday, of course, is New Year or Spring Festival, which is celebrated in China in late January - early February. It is curious that the Chinese also celebrate Catholic Christmas: streets, shops, restaurants have been decorated with holiday symbols since December, and mass sales begin in shopping centers.

You can learn more about New Year traditions and other Chinese holidays at.

Safety. What to watch out for

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate Shanghai's safety as a 9, leaving 1 for drunken tourists and international students. In Shanghai, even a lonely girl can safely walk around the city at three in the morning without fear that a maniac or a robber will attack. Severe Chinese laws provide very harsh penalties for any crime, especially against foreigners (up to death penalty). The only thing I advise you to keep your eyes open during the daytime in busy areas, as small thieves And pickpockets which are almost impossible to capture.

Things to do

If museums and temples are clearly not your thing and you prefer active exploration of the present to admiring the past, then Shanghai will not disappoint you. The most popular type of entertainment for tourists, of course, will be a shopping run. This is exactly what many people go to, simultaneously looking back at historical sights and cultural monuments.

For those who want to appreciate the nightlife of this metropolis, fun is also guaranteed. Because Shanghai never sleeps, and you won't be bored at any time of the day.

Shopping and shops

• All the largest shopping centers are located on Nanjing Street. There are so many shops here that, in principle, you can not go anywhere else. The most famous and most-most shopping center is Shanghai No. 1 Department Store. 11 floors at your service malls where you can buy everything.

• The coolest shopping center is considered Pacific Plaza(Xujiahui Subway Line 1 and 9). Shopping here is quite expensive. The shopping center presents mainly European luxury brands.
• My favorite mall in Shanghai I would say Global Harbor(Metro Jinshajiang Road, lines 3 and 4). This is, in general, an ordinary shopping center, not even in the center, but I always got good shopping there.

For those who really want a handbag from Chanel and Louis Vuitton, but are not ready to pay several thousand yuan for it, there are markets. It is here that you can find pretty good replicas of products of famous brands. However, I must warn that everything is individual here. For example, I was unable to buy almost anything in the Chinese markets, because the prices seemed too high to me and I was not ready to pay big money for such quality. Among the largest markets, I would single out fake market(Technology Museum metro station, line 2). Feel free to bargain! If you really like something, bargain like it's the last time! It is very important. For example, I managed to drop the price from 50 USD to 11 (from 350 yuan to 80). Get a thing at a price two or three times less than the specified, really!

Sales in Shanghai are held mainly on the eve of big holidays. The most pleasant discounts can be obtained during the New Year period.

Bars. Where to go

For those who cannot imagine their vacation without hot parties, Shanghai has an ideal area in this regard, where most of the city's nightlife is concentrated.

This is the quarter Xintiandi(Xintiandi metro line 10). Located in the heart of Shanghai, not far from People's Square. The fun is here around the clock, a lot of stylish bars and in general it is quite an atmospheric place.

In general, Shanghai bars are almost no different from Russian or European ones. Alcohol flows like water, fun does not stop until dawn, the range of drinks is almost the same as everywhere else, but the most popular of them is beer. The Chinese drink a lot of it. The price range fluctuates around 50-100 USD for an average check in an average bar.

Great bars:

• Bar ROUGE,
• Da-da
• Jazz Club at the Peace Hotel,
• cloud 9,
• DR Bar.

Clubs and nightlife

Most nightclubs are located in the city center. The presence of a dress code depends on the specific place: most often it is installed in very expensive and well-known establishments that are visited by celebrities and important people. If you are a person with a European appearance, you can be calm: they will let you in anytime and anywhere, no matter who you are. It so happened that "laowai" or "foreigner" in China enjoys great respect and all sorts of privileges.

Great clubs:

• M1nt,
• archam,
• babylon,
• modu,
• Lola.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

The first thing I would advise you to bring as a souvenir is sweets. Each region of China is characterized by certain food preferences, and so, all the sweet tooth gathered in Shanghai. Here you can find a lot of interesting things even in ordinary supermarkets.

Most of the sweets and cookies are made from rice flour, and there are a lot of green tea flavored confections. There are shops on Nanjing Street where you can find sweet gifts in bright and original packaging. If after Shanghai you are planning a trip to another city in China and hoping to buy something similar there, you will be very disappointed. Many delicious and unusual sweet souvenirs can only be found in Shanghai. Verified by personal experience.

Girls may want to buy a traditional Chinese women's dress - qipao. Shanghai has a very large selection of these robes, but such an outfit costs a lot of money. Chinese women are advised to buy qipao in Suzhou. This city is 30 minutes away by car. high-speed train from Shanghai.

Otherwise, Shanghai in terms of souvenirs is quite predictable. Teas, fans, coins, jade jewelry... You can read about what is better to bring or not to bring from China.

How to move around the city

In addition to land and underground transport, you can also move in the center of Shanghai by water. Ferries run along the Huangpu River from the pier on the Bund to the pier near the financial center in Pudong. The ticket price is about 50 cents or 2-3 yuan. In such an interesting way, you can get from one coast to another in just 5 minutes.

Taxi. What features exist

To take a taxi in Shanghai, you can either ask the hotel reception to order one, or go outside and hail a car yourself. If you decide to vote, remember that a free taxi has a checkered green. If you see one, try to get the driver's attention. If the checker is not lit, then a passenger is already riding in a taxi or the driver is not working in this moment. It is usually easy to hail a taxi on the street. Drivers stop immediately.

The following payment system operates in Shanghai: landing, as I wrote above, costs 2 USD or 14 yuan, and then 30 cents or 2.4 yuan, according to the counter for each kilometer. On average, a trip around the city will cost 5-6 USD or 30-40 yuan.

Taxi from the airport can be ordered at special desks, which are located at the exit of the terminal. The cost of the trip will cost you about 20 USD or 130 yuan (according to the same system, where landing is 2 USD and then 30 cents per kilometer).

Trams

There is only one tram line in Shanghai. It is located in the Pudong area and its length is about 10 kilometers. It makes no sense to use it, since it is almost impossible to get anywhere along this line.

Metro

It is written in great detail about the Shanghai metro. Scheme, tickets, fare - in general, comprehensive information. From myself I can add that the metro - The best way movement around Shanghai for those who value their time and want to save on transport.

Opening hours from 5:00 to 22:30.

The fare depends on the length of the route. On average, it is 60 cents or 3-4 yuan. Tickets can be bought at the vending machines of the stations (there is a menu in English).

All information in the subway is duplicated in English. It is very difficult to get lost, as many signs will help you quickly find a way out.

The subway in Shanghai is absolutely safe view transport. Some inconvenience can be experienced only during rush hour due to the large crowds.

Buses

Buses are also quite convenient for moving around Shanghai. They are a little slower than the metro, but you can see the city from the window. The bus fare is 30 cents or 2 yuan. To pay for the fare, you need to put money in a special box office next to the driver. You will not receive change, so prepare a change in advance. The bus network is very well developed, you can get to any point at any time of the day (there are special night lines).

Concerning tourist buses, then there are two types: Big Bus double deckers and Shanghai Sightseeing Bus buses. All of them run along the main attractions. You can catch them almost anywhere historical sites And key points cities. Detailed list of stops. To cover as much as possible interesting places, I advise you to take these buses in the People's Square area.

Big Bus tickets cost 44 USD or 300 RMB and are valid for 48 hours. With this ticket, you can visit the Jade Buddha Temple and Jin Mao Tower for free. Sightseeing Bus is cheaper: from 5 to 7 USD or 30-50 yuan. Their routes are almost the same. All buses have free audio guides, including in Russian.

Transport rental

Traveling by personal or rented transport in China is almost impossible for a foreigner. The fact is that, according to Chinese laws, any foreign citizen who wants to personally drive a vehicle in the territory of China must fulfill a number of special requirements:

• Inform the Chinese state in some way (through a tour operator or in any other way inaccessible to understanding) about a clear schedule of your route. Any deviation from the agreed plan is considered a serious violation of the law.
• The car on which you are going to move there must pass the technical inspection in China and have documentary evidence of this.
• It is necessary to pass a medical examination in a Chinese clinic.
• Finally, the most important point: throughout the entire period of travel in China, you must have a licensed Chinese guide with a driver's license with you, who will drive a vehicle in an area where driving a car by foreigners is prohibited.

Failure to comply with at least one point can result in a huge fine or imprisonment for you.

Renting a car with a guide will cost at least 150 USD per day. And you can see the price options for a car without a driver.

By this, of course, you will greatly surprise the locals, since they are not going to let anyone through and will calmly crush the madmen, but neither you nor the Chinese guide sitting next to you need problems, so be compliant and careful.

Shanghai - holidays with children

In China, the cult of children. Here they are called little emperors and are literally idolized. Therefore, taking a child on a trip to Shanghai, I believe you will not regret it. This city is best suited for children's recreation.

Top children's entertainment in Shanghai:

• Shanghai Wild Animal Park (this is not just a zoo, but a real safari; you can feed giraffes and llamas).
• Oceanarium.
• Circus "Era" (world-famous acrobatic show).
• Shanghai Children's Museum (for children from 2 to 12 years old; something like a science city, where children can try on the roles of astronauts, underwater explorers, doctors, salesmen, stylists or farmers).

Needless to say, the selection of children's toys in Shanghai is beyond imagination?

Restaurants in the SVFC tower occupy floors 87 to 93. Some boast panoramic views and some do not. Before you decide to eat here, you should consider your financial capabilities. A glass of juice costs 50 yuan here, and a full meal costs 1,000 yuan per person.

This is the most popular place for business lunches and dinners in Shanghai. If the Chinese need to show their serious intentions in business, then they take guests to the “opener”.

Let's talk about our case from life. A few years ago, we were not yet engaged in tourism, but worked in the field of selling cables for computer networks. During a business trip to China, our partners, sales managers of the Chinese cable plant, decided to feed us dinner, of course, at the expense of the company.

Our friend pointed to the roof of the SHMFC skyscraper and said: “In the evening we will have dinner there.” He had such a satisfied face, as if the participants in the Miss Universe contest had just approached him to meet, and all at once at the same time.

Then three hours passed on an excursion to, and during the inspection of this attraction, our colleague constantly called. As a result, it turned out that not a single restaurant at the top of the skyscraper has free tables for the evening! But there are several dozen restaurants, they occupy 6 floors.

If you want to dine there, then book a table a week in advance. Although the situation may have improved now. The most famous bar upstairs is on the 91st floor and is called 100 Century Avenue.

From the 70th to the 93rd floors, the tower houses the Park Hyatt Shanghai hotel. It is small - only 174 rooms, for comparison, in the neighboring Jin Mao Tower, the Hyatt Hotel has 555 rooms.

What is interesting for tourists is a shopping and entertainment center on the first floors

Perhaps the most visited floors by tourists are the first. There are shops and more than a dozen restaurants with quite reasonable prices. We recommend visiting here. Prices in local retail outlets are comparable to prices for, but there is no that crowd that happens all the time on the shopping streets in Shanghai.

Good luck with your travels to Shanghai and visiting the observation decks. Read our articles about China ( links below).