SHANGHAI, CHINA
Shanghai, China - Luxury Travel Magazine
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City Snapshot | |||||
| By: Judy Chapman, Issue 34 – Autumn 2008 | |||||
| (Shanghai, China) | |||||
| 20 ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE ULTIMATE SHANGHAI STAY. | |||||
| Things change so fast in China’s super-city that you need a new guide every few months. So here’s the latest on Shanghai’s new glam; the bars, the cafes, the shops - the sheer style of it all. Once known as the Paris of the East, Shanghai has long been a seduction for the senses. More recently, a host of brand new places to eat, drink and sleep have emerged, many of which are housed in restored European and Art deco style villas. From intimate cafes to nurturing spas and designer hotels. 1. Journey by foot or bike through the historic FRENCH CONCESSION, in particular, along Fuxing Road where Art Deco residential buildings are being refurbished into bohemian galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. 2. Browse through URBAN TRIBE, a small gallery set in an old Shanghainese house. From exquisite ceramics, clothes and handmade jewellery, almost everything is handcrafted from natural materials, many of which are inspired by China and Tibet. | |||||
| www.urbantribe.cn/pressen | |||||
| 3. Revisit old Shanghai at the elegant SECRET GARDEN, a Cantonese restraunt set in a restored 1928 English-style villa. Patrons are invited to the wine cellar to sample wine before the bottle is opened. 4. Check into the newly opened JIA BOUTIQUE HOTEL that is well-priced and conveniently located. Set in a restored 1920’s building, each of the 55 modern rooms and suites has its own kitchen, Audio visual with mp3 and wi fi. www.jiaboutiquehotels.com | |||||
| 5. Book the three-hour ‘Jade Journey’ at CHI, the spa in Shanghai that will restore your faith in spa treatments. As good as a hot stone treatment (if not better), the warmth of the Jade stones effortlessly melted away all the tension and tightness within. www.shangri-la.com | |||||
| 6. Work up a sweat at Y PLUS, Shanghai’s hippest yoga shala positioned inside a four-storey colonial building where dark wooden floors and sliding Chinoise screens create an intimate atmosphere. Downstairs is Ginger, a western-style café where you can order healthful soups, salads and juices. www.yplus.com.cn | |||||
| 7. Keep an eye out for upcoming (and affordable) artists at ANDREW JAMES ART, a chic art gallery located in an old colonial mansion that showcases the new generation of upcoming Chinese art. www.andrewjamesart.com | |||||
| 8. For one-off pieces then Han Feng, one of China’s most experimental designers can be found at YOUNIK, a boutique popular with Shanghai’s elite. Prices range from $30 for accessories into the thousands for haute couture. www.bund18.com | |||||
| 9. Join the throng of tourists at YU GARDENS, nearby a 400-year old Chinese temple built during the Ming Dinasty. Skip the ‘souvenir’ shopping and sample mouthwatering bites from one of many dumpling houses. 10. Soak up the vibrant atmosphere at LOST HEAVEN, located inside a three-storey 1920’s villa where is Yunnan style, a mix of somewhat spicy ethnic dishes from China and Tibet. Interiors are equally exotic inclusive of colorful daybeds and an enormous Buddha statues. 11. As twilight approaches head to FACE BAR, set inside a gorgeous colonial villa. The Thai and Indian cuisine is first class while the outdoor terrace is the place to drink in the balmy evening. 12. Drop by the Vault Bar on Thursday for Martini night at LARIS, owned by the infamous David Laris, a luxurious establishment known for its oyster bar, homemade chocolates and martini’s. 13. Spend a day browsing through Armani and Cartier stores along The Bund, Shanghai’s legendary waterfront lined with wide colonial facades left over from the 1920s and 30s. 14. Wander around the recently opened FERGUSON LANE, five hidden away French buildings inclusive of a European boutiques, a French Bistro, wine bar, art gallery, bookshop, flower shop and spa. 15. Purchase gifts that you won’t easily find elsewhere at MADAME MAO’S DOWRY, home to propaganda art, relics and lifestyle treasures inspired by the cultural revolution. Offerings include Mao Chinese posters and T’shirts featuring humorous political messages. 16. Be a local and order delicious dumplings from one of the traditional ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ outlets dotted around the city - where Chinese ‘Pulled’ Noodles sell for a song. 17. Head to VIENNA CAFÉ, a small European bistro that serves the best coffee in Shanghai alongside Austrian dishes like Sour Cream Cake and Apple strudels. 18. Sip a mix of vodka, cherry brandy and blood orange at the GLAMOUR BAR, Shanghai’s hippest watering hole. Inside are sunken lounges, hand-painted Chinese murals and incredible views over modern and historic Shanghai. 19. Book a healing session with Dr. Guo, Shanghai’s best-kept secret for VIP clients that happens on the 86th floor at The Grand Hyatt. Delivering incredible healing sessions, every treatment is tailor made to the individual. www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com | |||||
| 20. Check into the newly refurbished 88XINTIANDI BOUTIQUE HOTEL, a home away from home that overlooks the picturesque Lake Taipingqiao. Each of the 53 chic rooms are fitted out with luxurious South East Asian furnishings and feature their own kitchen facilities. www.88xintiandi.com | |||||
| 21. Slow down a notch or two at SHILE, a beautiful new lifestyle center fitted out with a lounge bar, a study room for leisurely reading, healthful café and the organic Fei Fei Xiand Spa, so boutique that only three customers are pampered daily. www.jjtshile.com | |||||
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