Recent Posts

Six Smartphone Tips for Traveling Internationally in 2023

Six Smartphone Tips for Traveling Internationally in 2023

CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — With pent up need for travel following yrs of limits, intercontinental travel options are getting in level of popularity. The U.S. dollar is strong, making global travel particularly interesting, and in accordance to a new survey by MMGY Travel 

WTTC and Trip.com Group global traveller report reveals shift towards sustainable travel

WTTC and Trip.com Group global traveller report reveals shift towards sustainable travel

Travellers established to splurge on international vacation this calendar year “Demand for journey is now more powerful than ever” claims WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson MADRID, Jan. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A major new report by World Journey & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Vacation.com 

Things To Do And Where To Go In The City

Things To Do And Where To Go In The City

The bustling, trendy city of Shanghai is where the modern meets the traditional. Touted as one of the greatest cities in the world, Shanghai plays an important role in contributing to the world economy. It is home to some of the tallest skyscrapers, classic art deco buildings, and ornate Buddhist monasteries. Moreover, there is something for everyone in Shanghai, as it is known for its rich cultural scene, Michelin-starred restaurants and awe-inspiring luxury shopping markets. So, if you are planning a trip to this city, make a note of this travel guide for Shanghai.

Visiting this great city is like taking a peek into the future while keeping your feet firmly grounded in the rich history of mainland China. And this travel guide will enable you to plan your time in Shanghai better, as it includes the suitable time to visit, documents to carry and other information.

A guide to the important travel documents you’ll need for Shanghai

Shanghai travel guide and things to do in the city
Image credit: CardMapr.nl/Unsplash
  • A valid passport is a prerequisite to entering China. There is no visa-on-arrival policy for China. So, one must possess an approved tourist visa to enter the mainland.
  • A single-entry visa valid for 90 days that allows a maximum stay of 30 days at a stretch is most commonly sought after.
  • For COVID-19-related restrictions in China, travellers should visit the official health website to know the best time to visit Shanghai.
  • Carrying insurance cover documents is another must before entering Shanghai.
  • Medical prescriptions and vaccination certificate hard copies must be carried.
  • Traveller’s cheques, international ATM cards or exchanged currency notes should be carried.

How to reach

Shanghai
Pudong Airport Avenue, Shanghai, China. Image credit: Wengang Zhai/Unsplash

A great time to visit China is during the Lunar New Year, from January 21 to 27, as the entire country is in the holiday mood and decked out in the festivities. Here are some easy ways to reach this beautiful city.

  • Loads of direct flights ply to the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport from all around the world. To be precise, 65 airports around the world have direct flights to Shanghai. They are spread around 63 cities in four countries.
  • Additionally, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with roughly one flight arriving every four minutes! That is 69 flights per day or 15 flights per hour (including domestic and international).


Book your stay on agoda


Book your stay on booking.com

Shanghai travel guide: How to get around

shanghai
Shanghai Subway. Image credit: Xingye Jiang/Unsplash

Like most big, busy cities in the world, it is pretty convenient to get around Shanghai.

Flights

Those planning to take Domestic flights should check the Air China website for up-to-date information on air travel in China.

DiDi Rider

Although Uber isn’t available in Shanghai, an alternative called DiDi cabs is quite popular here. One needs to download an app and book a cab, just like you would do for Uber.

Maglev train

The local train in Shanghai is called the Maglev, and it is one of the best ways to get around the city and a perfect example of how urban transportation should be. This super train holds a Guinness Book world record for being the fastest train in the world. It covers a distance of 30 kilometres in just eight minutes flat.

Shanghai subway

The Shanghai metro line or subway is also very well connected with all parts of the city, with 16 lines. The instructions are also in English, making commuting easy for foreign tourists. One of the biggest advantages of the subway in Shanghai is its affordable pricing.

Best time to visit Shanghai

shanghai
Image credit: Zhou Xian/Unsplash

Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) are considered the most travel-friendly months, as the days are sunny and nights cool — perfect for going around the city. The average annual temperature is 16.6 degrees Celsius, according to the Shanghai Climate Chart. The winter months of December and January are chilly but are also considered the best time to visit Shanghai as Christmas and Chinese New Year fall in these months.


Book your stay on agoda


Book your stay on booking.com

Travel guide: The best places to visit in Shanghai

shanghai
Jade Buddha Temple. Image credit: Alexandre Trouvé/Unsplash

Architectural wonders, museums, breathtaking towers with panoramic views of the city skyline, amusement parks to old bazaars — this city has it all. A few attractions like The Bund and futuristic buildings like Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl TV Tower should definitely be on your Shanghai itinerary.

The Bund

shanghai
Image credit: Night Glow/Unsplash

This Bund is situated on the estuary of the Yangtze River called the Wusong Estuary, which is where the Huangpu River, the Yangtze River and the East Sea converge. This landmark is a part of the rich tapestry of Chinese history. Originally a business centre, it also houses breathtaking art deco and neoclassical buildings from the concession era.

The Bund boasts some of the best restaurants and luxury fashion stores. A boat tour here along the banks of the Huangpu River in Central Shanghai will allow you to soak in the rich views of this place.


Book your stay on agoda


Book your stay on booking.com

Jade Buddha Temple

Chinese New Year is a peak period to visit this temple, which has a Buddha statue made entirely of jade. The temple, which is also a Buddhist monastery, was built between 1918 and 1928. Grand halls and majestic statues greet the tourists here. An important landmark of Chinese Buddhism, the jade statue was shipped by monk Hui Gen to China in the 20th century. This place is a huge tourist attraction for Shanghai residents and foreigners alike.

Yuyuan Garden & Bazaar

best time to visit Shanghai
Image credit: Yiran Ding/Unsplash

A history lover cannot miss this landmark, for these gardens have been carefully constructed according to the design of the Ming dynasty. It took 18 years to complete. Built between the years 1559–1577, these gardens were destroyed in the wars in later years. However, they have been restored to their classic beauty and are now a part of Shanghai’s rich heritage.

Visitors will find an old market adjacent to it and one of the most famous tea houses in China called the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse.

Shanghai Tower

This burgeoning glass tower is one of the world’s tallest buildings and a landmark of modern Shanghai. Its main draw, of course, is the sky deck, which is on the 118th floor and is one of the highest observation decks above sea level. The building has spherical cylinders, with a twist in the middle, which serves as an architectural marvel. There are corporate offices, entertainment centres, cafes and luxury retail shops in the tower, which stands at approximately 632 metres tall and has 121 floors.

Shanghai Disney Resort

travel guide and best time to visit Shanghai
Image credit: Shanghai Disney Resort

This amusement park is in Central city and is a major attraction for families. Disney’s Enchanted Storybook Castle here is the biggest ever in the world. The TRON roller coaster ride is a crowd pleaser, thanks to its hi-tech appeal.

The place gets especially crowded during the weekends after 9 am. The best time to visit Shanghai Disney Resort would be before the rush hours begin. Book your passes here.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

This Shanghai landmark, which was completed in 1994 is reminiscent of the legacy of China’s great politician Deng Xiaoping. Three spheres adorn this futuristic building and tourists can get 360-degree views from each of these. The topmost sphere is perched at about 349.9 metres.

Shanghai Museum

This museum is fairly new, as it opened in 2018. However, the building it is housed in is historic. It used to be the Shanghai Race Club in 1934. Spanning three floors, this museum marks the historical, political and cultural transformation of this prosperous city from 4000 BC to 1949.

Shanghai travel guide: Where to eat

shanghai
Image credit: qi XNA/Unsplash

If you have a penchant for global cuisine, then you will find Shanghai’s dining scene a vibrant one. Tourists have access to a variety of places, from fancy Michelin-star restaurants to local stalls selling the original Shanghainese cuisine along with the Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisines.

Food is the centre scene of cultural and social life here. 137 restaurants are included in the city’s Michelin Guide. If you want to sample Shanghainese cuisine at its best, then the Lü Bo Lang Restaurant inside the Yuyuan Garden is a must-visit destination. Dishes from all four types of sub-cuisines, which make up the city’s cuisine as a whole, are served here.

Lovers of street food can visit Wujiang Road Snacks Street, which is close to the Wall Street of Shanghai also known as Nanjing West Road in Downtown Shanghai. Another must-try restaurant is Jade on 36, which is situated on the 36th floor of the world-famous Shangri-La Hotel and offers panoramic views of The Bund. The cuisine here is themed ‘East meets West’ and is pretty avant garde.

Shanghai has a happening nightlife too, with bars serving craft beer, mulled wine in the winter and a variety of cocktails with a vibrant music scene. The best time to visit Shanghai’s Puxi district will be at night, as this is where all the hottest pubs are at.


Book your stay on agoda


Book your stay on booking.com

Travel tips

travel guide and best time to visit shanghai
Aerial view of Shanghai. Image credit: Denys Nevozhai/Unsplash
  • There is a currency protocol in place in Shanghai. Taxi drivers are to be paid in coins and shopkeepers need to be paid in notes in the northern and western parts of the city.
  • There is Wi-Fi available at all lounges, cafes and other public places.
  • The traditional toilets here have a squatting style. However, new buildings and airports have western-style loos. It is advisable to carry your tissues with you.
  • Emergency numbers in Shanghai are as follows: fire emergency: 119; police: 110; ambulance: 112. The Shanghai area code is 021.
  • It is useful to download a translation app called Pleco. While the basic version is free, the advanced costs approximately USD 15.
  • Hotels in Shanghai are not finicky towards allotting extra beds in case you are travelling with your family and have children. Requesting extra beds in the same room can save cost.
  • Tipping at restaurants is not a part of the city’s culture.
  • Shanghai is one of the safest places for foreigners and it is fairly easy to get medical help if required. There are clinics in the city that have doctors specialising in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for those interested in wellness.

(Main and featured image: Edward He/Unsplash)

This story first appeared on Travel + Leisure Global

Southwest Pilots Plan Vote to Authorize Strike After Holiday Travel Chaos

Southwest Pilots Plan Vote to Authorize Strike After Holiday Travel Chaos

(Bloomberg) — Southwest Airlines Co. pilots will vote on irrespective of whether to authorize their union to strike, annoyed by lack of progress in talks that started off a few years in the past and scheduling challenges that contributed to 16,700 flight cancellations late very 

Independent travel advisor’s top ten travel tips for January

Independent travel advisor’s top ten travel tips for January

Nichola Court from Escape Savvy, organises every depth of her client’s vacations from commence to complete and can assurance a saving of 10{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} when booking by means of her. January ordinarily calls for new ambitions and scheduling matters to appear ahead to for the 12 months forward. 

World’s ‘most powerful’ tourism city revealed

World’s ‘most powerful’ tourism city revealed

Editor’s Take note — Indication up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly e-newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for foreseeable future adventures, additionally the latest in aviation, food stuff and consume, wherever to continue to be and other travel developments.

(CNN) — Paris is a metropolis beloved for great food items, fantastic artwork and good vogue.

But a new index from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) also suggests that Paris is the world’s most effective metropolis for tourism.

The WTTC, a nonprofit vacation industry physique based in the British isles, analyzed tourism facts from the year 2022 to see wherever tourists ended up shelling out the most dollars.

The in general checklist of most impressive tourism towns failed to only acquire museum tickets and hotel rooms into account, while. The other variable was how significantly regional and nationwide governments and enterprises are investing in these cities as vacationer locations.

Choose checklist-topper Paris for instance: the town is getting ready to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Though fewer than 5{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} of the facilities will be recently crafted for the Video games, the city is pouring resources into infrastructure, protection and other actions that will aid them get all set to host the environment.

By that accounting, the French capital’s overall tourism complete arrived to $35.6 billion.

So, who else created the listing?

The United States of tourism

Las Vegas' total tourism income was $23 billion, according to the WTTC.

Las Vegas’ total tourism profits was $23 billion, in accordance to the WTTC.

DMITRY VINOGRADOV/lucky-picture/Adobe Stock

Two international locations just about every experienced three towns on the WTTC listing. 1 was the United States, with Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas representing the country.

When each and every city makes a sizeable chunk of dollars from tourism, they cater to diverse kinds of vacationers — Orlando is popular with families traveling to the city’s concept parks, Las Vegas is an internationally recognised gambling and nightlife hub and New York appeals to foodies and artwork fans, between some others.

Of this group, Orlando was the maximum earner, raking in $31 billion for 2022. That is a full ton of Mickey Mouse ears.

China on the increase

3 Chinese towns — Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou — landed in the prime 10 for 2022.

Other Chinese locations are working their way up the index. In individual, the seaside getaway of Sanya — on sunny Hainan Island in southern China — and Macao were cited as spots to maintain an eye on in the potential.

China has invested closely in tourism and is advertising to worldwide travelers now that its border has reopened. Macao is the only city in China with lawful gambling, and it is simpler for most travellers to go there without a visa — compared with the mainland.

The WTTC predicts that by 2032 China will dominate its rankings.

“Important cities this kind of as London, Paris and New York will stay world-wide powerhouses but around the subsequent few years, Beijing, Shanghai, and Macao will be shifting up the list of major metropolis locations,” Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stated in a statement.

Other standouts

Of class, there are far more than two international locations represented in the WTTC listing. Tokyo, Mexico Metropolis and London placed in seventh, eighth and ninth respectively to round out the rankings.

In some ways, it was just as appealing to see who did not make it on the checklist.

Two shocking omissions had been in the Center East, which has skyrocketed in popularity around the previous ten years.

Even though luxury-packed Dubai and soccer Earth Cup host Doha topped the record of most amount of money of tourism earnings, they did not score as highly in the other classes and wound up outside the top rated 10.

Amsterdam, Barcelona and Singapore also fell target to the very same phenomenon, scoring remarkably for amount of revenue invested by website visitors but not landing on the overall “most powerful” record.

Beijing was second only to Paris on the WTTC list.

Beijing was second only to Paris on the WTTC list.

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock

The world’s most effective towns for tourism 2022

1. Paris, France

2. Beijing, China

3. Orlando, Florida

4. Shanghai, China

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

6. New York, New York

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Mexico Metropolis, Mexico

9. London, British isles

10. Guangzhou, China