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Shanghai’s colonial-era promenade sits on one side of the Huangpu river, its Art Deco grandeur facing off against the glass-and-steel glamour of Puxi on the opposite bank. Overlooking it all is the Fairmont Peace Hotel, a stately landmark which watches over a city that has modernised around it.

Once the industrial epicentre of Shanghai, the West Bund has transformed into the city’s museum mile. In this part of Shanghai, must-see cultural landmarks include the Long Museum West Bund, as well as world-class art venues such as the Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum.

Shanghai is the spiritual home of xiaolongbao – dumplings filled with pork and a piping-hot, flavour-packed broth. Restaurant chain Jia Jia Tangbao – known for delicate dumpling wrappers – and rival Fu Chun Xiaolong have been vying for the title of best xiaolongbao for years, and are Shanghai attractions in their own right.

Get a bird’s eye view of the mega-city atop the 632-metre Shanghai Tower – the Chinese Mainland’s tallest building and the world’s third-tallest. In less than a minute, the world’s fastest lift will whisk you to the 121st floor of this Shanghai tourist attraction for panoramic views of the city and other iconic buildings like the Shanghai World Financial Center nearby.

Historic Shanghai organises walking tours focusing on Shanghai attractions, history and culture. Art Deco-focused tours take guests through the lanes of the Old City and the Bund’s former banks, hotels and missionary buildings – while others reveal lesser-known gems in Hongkou district, north of the Bund.

Get up early to sample some of Shanghai’s tastiest street eats. In the former French Concession, you’ll find staples like the ‘four heavenly kings’ – fresh soy milk, cifantuan (rice balls), youtiao (fried dough sticks) and dabing (fried pan-cakes) – as well as dumplings and noodles in all shapes and sizes.

The former French Concession, a neighbourhood of leafy lanes and colonial-era villas, is a Shanghai attraction that’s home to many great fashion boutiques and quirky indie stores. Changle Lu, Xinle Lu and Julu Lu all boast interesting stores, but Fumin Lu has emerged as the place to be.

The 460-year-old Yu Garden is a spectacular example of traditional Chinese garden design, and one of the most popular tourist spots in Shanghai, with its pretty pavilions, ponds and ornate bridges connecting various intricate buildings.

At Shanghai Disneyland you’ll find all your favourite Disney characters, thrilling rides and landmarks including the Enchanted Storybook Castle and Zootopia-themed land, alongside distinctive Chinese cultural elements such as the Gardens of Imagination.

A popular summer retreat for city-dwellers about 170 kilometres west of Shanghai, the mountain village of Moganshan is known for bamboo forests, hiking trails and European-style villas. The area also has outdoor adventure resorts, with survival classes, wall climbing, guided hiking tours and hot-air balloon rides.