Whichever nickname you prefer, "Paris of the Orient" or "Pearl of China", Shanghai captures the essence of new China, as well as its centuries of history and culture.

Your tour begins at the Jade Buddha Temple. Built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1875-1909) it contains a priceless collection of jade statues from Burma. The construction of the temple is in the magnificent architectural style of the Song Dynasty. There are monks currently living in the Temple and the Temple houses the Shanghai Buddhist Institute.

Our next stop is the Fresh Water Pearl Gallery. Here we will see the process of pearl cultivation. One lucky participant will be presented with a single pearl from a mussel.

People Square is a spectacular space in the heart of the city. It is a vast green area including plants and trees, and surrounded by great buildings on all sides.

At the height of the morning, we will visit Shanghai Museum. This museum is designed in keeping with Feng Shui principles. It houses a great permanent collection and hosts various exhibitions with over 120,000 pieces including bronze ware, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ancient Chinese coins, jade carvings, ancient furniture, and western art. It all adds up to the viewing of about 5000 years of Chinese history. We recommend you to rent an audio phone (USD 5) to make the 1.5 hours' visit even more splendid.

Travel back in time to the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). After lunch, you'll view classic sights from the Ming and Qing dynasties when you visit the enchanting Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Old Street. The garden covers a significant amount of space and includes many halls, springs and other buildings of interest.

The tour stops at the Bund on Shanghai's waterfront, a showcase of pre-1949 architecture. The symbol of old and new Shanghai, Bund is Shanghai's most famous landmark. Four kilometers long, the Bund has long been one of the most important areas in Shanghai, and a must see for visiting tours. In the 1930s, the row of buildings was host to the city's financial and commercial centers. The world's greatest banks and trading empires also established a base here.

The silk factory in Shanghai is not only an interesting place to see how Chinese silk has been produced since the 14th century, but also a desirable site to purchase it at a low price.

Drive along the former French Concession District, characterized by beautiful, tree-lined streets and weathered European architecture. At our next stop, you'll finally be able to stretch your legs in Shanghai's hottest new entertainment district, Xin Tian Di. The brick buildings on these two-square blocks have been preserved and transformed into trendy clubs, restaurants and boutiques. You will have time on your own here, or you can go back to your hotel with the group.

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