Riverside Views and the Shanghai Municipal History Museum(644 views)

Release date:2010-05-24 11:07:28

It is hard to believe that Shanghai’s Pudong area was mainly farmland less than twenty years ago. Then came a period of rapid development, forming what is now one of the most famous skylines in the world.

The unique form of the Oriental Pearl Tower, completed in 1995, once stood proudly as the tallest building on Shanghai’s riverbank, though has since been eclipsed by more modern skyscrapers. Still, the tower is still very distinctive and can be spotted easily by the eleven pink “pearls” held up by the long white columns that support them. The two largest pearls contain a revolving restaurant, a hotel, and even a rollercoaster.

As you can imagine a trip up the Oriental Pearl Tower offers some great views over the riverside and the whole of Shanghai on a clear day. Just try not to think about the tower gently swaying in the wind when you’re on the highest level – the movement can be clearly felt, but don’t worry, that is a design feature which helps it to remain standing! While you’re up there try turning your bad hair day into an insane hair day by stepping outside onto the viewing balcony and getting pummelled by the wind.

Why do people choose to see Shanghai? Is it for the shopping? Is it for the nightlife? Yes and yes. Perhaps most visitors don’t have the time or the interest to find out about the history of the city itself, which is a real shame considering its eventful past. If you can find time in your hectic excursion schedule, then wandering around the Shanghai Municipal History Museum is a great way to spend an hour or two. Best of all it is very easy to find, you won’t need a map, since it is located directly beneath the Oriental Pearl Tower. After returning to solid ground, head around to the back of the central lift area for the entrance to the museum. This museum has some excellent displays that really bring to life the history of old Shanghai. Among other things, the lives of those lounging around in Shanghai’s opium dens have been vividly recreated and provide a real insight into how Shanghai achieved its reputation for decadence.

Other great places to take in the cityscape are from atop the two buildings that have now surpassed the Oriental Pearl in height; these are the Jin Mao tower and the Shanghai World Financial Centre (the one that looks suspiciously like a giant bottle opener). With rather less in the way of museums and that gentle swaying feeling, and rather more in the way of swanky hotels with nice bars where you can drink fancy cocktails among the clouds, these are the places to watch the riverside come to life after the sun goes down, before you head back down to ground level, back across the river, to sample what Shanghai’s nightlife has to offer.

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