Part 1: Shanghai Trip | Romantic Vacation Spot

The Bund

Snorlax at Terminal 3, Changi Airport

I spotted two huge cute Snorlax at Singapore Changi Airport. The airport was rated World's Best Airport by Skytrax. Many people who lived nearby would come here just for shopping, dining, watching Sanrio characters performance and indoor sightseeing.

Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Shanghai

  

Air ticket for round trip to Shanghai was SGD500 per person. We departed at 7:30am of February and flying time was 5 hours 15 minutes. Breakfast was served and taste was great. There were two menu options; steamed glutinous rice with chicken and omelette with baked potatoes. I chose the latter one, came with fresh fruits and hot bun including strawberry jam and butter.  

The Bund

The Bund is a mile-long stretch of waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. There are famous Shanghai skyscrapers and other buildings along The Bund such as Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center, the highest building on the right shown in the picture above. It resembles a massive bottle opener. It’s not the only one of the world’s tallest building but also one of the best view in Shanghai city. Viewing can be done either by day or night; all buildings are closed in the evening. The promenade is always crowded both at night and in the day, thus be careful of pickpocket. Bring a rain coat in rainy seasons, a hat and sun cream on sunny days. Umbrella is not useful as it is windy. 

The Bund

Weather was windy and chilly during winter from December to February. Nevertheless, strolling along this waterfront was great at night as the night view of The Bund was amazing. We were under the glow of lights from all the buildings. The dazzling lights fully exhibited the magnificence of the various skyscrapers and made up the best night scenery in Shanghai together with the colorful light shadows floating in Huangpu River and the flashing lights on the far side of the river. Many riverboats cruised on the river, which made the scene even more stunning.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Shanghai night scenes from Pudong towers are spectacular. The view of Oriental Pearl TV Tower from the Bund and on sight is different but equally awesome. The area surrounding Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a lovely place to stroll and it forms beautiful Shanghai skyline. It's worth visiting this spot by both day and by night — the darker it gets, the more colorful it will be. Oriental Pearl TV Tower is also an ideal location to see panoramic view of The Bund and take amazing pictures.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

The Bund

After a long walk along The Bund, we considered taking a Huangpu River cruise but we didn't have much time. On the cruise, you could see the full view of historical architecture on The Bund, as well as the modern skyscrapers opposite the Huangpu River, giving you a distinctive contrast between modern life and the past. You can choose several tour lengths from a 30-minute cruise to a 3½-hour cruise. 

The Bund

The weather in Shanghai is moist all year round. The sky is often cloudy and overcast. There are four seasons; warm spring, hot rainy summer, cool autumn and mild winter - with average temperature around 18°C. Summer (June to September) may be peak travel season, but hot and humid is slightly uncomfortable, with temperature sometimes can be as high as 40°C in July and August. The best time to visit Shanghai is spring from March to May. Weather will change from cool to warm. It is comfortable with average temperature approximately 15°C. Autumn is peak season for travelling from October to November. Weather is also pleasant, generally sunny and dry. 

The Bund

Winter traveller might encounter chilly weather. However, I loved the cold weather make urban exploration more enjoyable. It was sunny in the day, chilly and windy at night. What impressed me the most should be the historical buildings with interesting architectural designs. I had no doubt that The Bund was an exhibition of international buildings, the fusion of western and chinese culture. It was an epitome of Shanghai’s history and a good place to explore Shanghai.

Custom House

The Bund is well suited to history lovers and avid photographers. For a century, the Bund has been one of the most recognizable symbols and the pride of Shanghai. The architecture along the Bund is a living museum of the colonial history of the 1800s. Roaming among the architectural complexes, you'll have a better understanding of the century-long charm of this city. 

Waterfront promenade at The Bund

The night scenery was spectacular. It was one of the most romantic place where I could spend time with my husband. I enjoyed the coldness across the waterfront promenade with gorgeous view of skyscrapers. The historical buildings were closed but all were lit up beautifully. As we walked further, we saw some nice restaurants along The Bund. After long dinner, we wanted to go back to the hotel right away. The Bund was very crowded. Luckily we stayed nearby and didn't have to book a cab or take public transportation. 

Waterfront promenade at The Bund

We stayed at Les Suites Orient On The Bund, which is a life style boutique hotel with an unparalleled location on the city’s most famous boulevard. It was the ideal location for a stay in Shanghai. We booked a huge studio and the bath tub was facing The Bund. Hotel room and the furniture appeared modern, new and clean. Hotel service was excellent. They also provided daily breakfast in Western and Asian cuisine at Cafe Dongxi. At night, we sat on the comfortable sofa at Cafe Dongxi drinking coffee and eating cookies free of charge while looked out of the window enjoying Shanghai night view. Check this hotel website at Les Suites Orient.

The Bund

The Bund

Location
Zhongshan East 1st Road,
Wai Tan, 
Huangpu
Shanghai, China

Best Xiao Long Bao

Xiao Long Bao is well known as a Chinese steamed dumpling with 'soup' in it. It’s easy to say all dumplings are alike, but there are specific distinctions throughout Chinese culture. And the Xiaolongbao is Shanghai’s very distinctive and popular version. Traditionally, they prepare with bamboo steaming baskets. The dumplings are usually stuffed with pork and served with a ginger-type vinegar for dipping.

I googled the best xiao long bao in Shanghai near my hotel, Les Suites Orient On The Bund. I found Jiajia Tang Bao and headed there for late lunch around 2pm. It was a small eatery, not a fancy restaurant. There were no queue and no wait. There were two types; mixture of crab and pork or crab only. I choose the combination of crab and pork. It was very delicious, better than xiao long bao I had back in Singapore. The meat was freshly prepared. Soup was tasty and amount was perfect. Meat texture was loose rather than clumpy, juicy and flavourful. Dumpling's skin was thin and smooth. The dumplings were delectable that I could finish one basket of Tang Bao by myself. 

Location:
90 Huanghe Rd, 
Huangpu, 
Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 6327 6878