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China's megacity is an icon of 21st-century brilliance that embraces its cosmopolitan, artistic identity and welcomes visitors into the hustle and bustle of its beating heart. City guide SHANGHAI One of the world's most iconic cities, Shanghai stands on the eastern coast of China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Its skyline elegantly marries traditional and modern sights. The city's status as China's major industrial and commercial centres dates to 1554, when a wall was constructed to protect Shanghai from Japanese pirates, demonstrating its imperial importance. Shanghai was also the site of the 15th-century City God Temple, and the city's global reputation was ensured in the 19th-century when Europeans recognised the potential for trade along the Yangtze River delta. Shanghai received city status in 1927, and today its 27 million residents and visitors use the ultra-modern, 431km magnetic levitation (Maglev) train. It connects the city with Shanghai Pudong International Airport, covering a distance of about 30km in only 7–8 minutes. Colourful food stalls and markets pepper the city, and history is all around, from the Ming Dynasty People's Square to the art deco residences of the French Concession. There is a real unification of the modern and classical that sets it apart from the rest of China. Must‑sees On the west embankment of the Huangpu River, the protected historical district of Bund is the focal point of Shanghai's distinctive skyline. Its elevated riverside boardwalk features Gothic, baroque, Romanesque and neoclassical buildings. Nearby Yuyuan Garden is a 400 -year-old classical garden in Old Town, dotted with pagoda-style pavilions and carp pools. Pan Yunduan—a Ming-era governor of China—spent 20 years building this for his parents to enjoy. The leafiest district in the "Garden City" is the old French Concession, with its shady sycamore trees and stuccoed villas in Fuxing Park. The People's Park and Square is home to the Shanghai Museum, featuring calligraphy, bronze statues and ceramics. One of the city's oldest and most respected galleries is at 50 Moganshan Road, featuring a collection of former warehouses that showcase Chinese contemporary art. You may wish to attend a mesmerizing performance by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. Established in 1951, they are one of the most renowned and oldest acrobatic troupes in China. C I T Y G U I D E 52 | Viking Explorer Society News