Metro Line 2 is the first rail line in Shanghai that crosses the Huangpu River and connects both sides of the river. Let's take a look at some of the interesting venues along the line.
This museum offers a potted but fascinating history of the city's development – from humble roots to the bustling metropolis of today. It's located in the basement of the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
It does an excellent job of recreating the old streets of Shanghai, complete with both life-size and scaled-down cars, trolleys and buildings.
The museum mainly focuses on the era between 1860 and 1949. The entrance floor traces the evolution of transportation, from hand-pulled sedans to the Shanghai-manufactured cars of the 1980s.
Displays upstairs recreate lifestyle scenes of Shanghai residents prior to the appearance of Europeans in the city.
There are several small-scale replicas of famous buildings in Shanghai that may prompt tourists to add the original construction to their itineraries. The museum takes about an hour or so to browse through.
Address: 1 Century Ave, Pudong New Area
浦东新区世纪大道1号
First-time visitors to the city usually have the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall on their itineraries.
Yes, the shopping is great, but beyond the glut of luxury brands, the area also offers some of the most beautiful old architecture in Shanghai. Although some vintage buildings are not open to the public, a walkabout can take you back in time.
Holy Trinity Cathedral is one example. The oldest Protestant church in Shanghai is usually referred to as the "Red Church" because its facade is all constructed of red brick. First built in 1866, the Gothic Revival structure was claimed to house the city's first church pipe organ. Visitors enjoy snapping photos of its beautiful facade, especially at sunset, when the structure seems to glow in the fading daylight.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Another venue worth a visit is the Building of the Shanghai Municipal Council.
Built between 1914 and 1922, the structure's facade reflects different Western architectural styles. It served as the seat of the city government in several historical eras. In 1989, it was listed as one of the first batch of outstanding historical buildings in Shanghai.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Address: 219 Jiujiang Road, Huangpu District
黄浦区九江路219号
Building of the Shanghai Municipal Council
Address: 215 Jiangxi Road M., Huangpu District
黄浦区江西中路215号
Jing'an Temple, which has a history of more than 1,700 years, stands like a shining golden beacon in a concrete forest on Nanjing Road W.
Constructions in the Vajrayana-school Buddhist temple are symmetrically distributed.
Although most of the buildings in the temple complex were rebuilt during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), stories passed down for centuries are still widely told among locals.
One of them concerns a well that has been at the temple for more than a millennium. The origin of the well, whose formal name is Feiquan, is unknown, but historical records say that hot spring water has gushed from it from time to time. Many scholars and writers have penned poems about the spring.
The original well was filled in during the 1960s, and a new one was dug under the bell tower of the temple in 2003.
Jing'an Temple
Across Nanjing Road W. from the temple is Jing'an Park. Originally a cemetery, especially for foreigners in the late 19th century, the park is now a popular greenery area in Shanghai.
In the park, the ancient "top 8 Jing'an scenes," most of which have disappeared, have been replicated to show the history of the area. The scenes are actually eight pieces of ancient relics, including a pulpit, a stone stele and a fort.
Originally the relics were all stored in Jing'an Temple but were either lost in war or damaged by natural disasters.
Jing'an Temple
Address: 1686 Nanjing Road W., Jing'an District
静安区南京西路1686号
Jing'an Park
Address: 189 Huashan Road, Jing'an District
静安区华山路189号
Zhongshan Park is a great place to take a break. Built in 1914 and originally named Jessfield Park, it was renamed in 1941 to honor Dr Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan in pinyin), founding father of modern China.
This lovely 21-hectare park combines Western-style landscapes with Chinese gardens and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. It has more than 30,000 trees of 260 different species.
Its other attractions include the White Marble Pavilion, the south gate, a lake filled with mandarin ducks, and the great stone bridge. It's a great place to see Shanghai in motion. The park is often filled with people singing and dancing, and children playing.
The sleek White Marble Pavilion, located north of the Great Lawn, was moved to its current location in 1935. It's an ideal spot to take a break and rest in a peaceful setting. The square pavilion stands about 18 meters tall. With its white pillars, stone steps and marble statues, the pavilion is a key attraction in the park.
The White Marble Pavilion in Zhongshan Park
Of the six lawn areas inside the park, the Great Lawn is the largest at over 8,000 square meters. It is a great place to have a picnic, fly a kite, or simply watch the clouds waft by. There is always something happening on the lawn, with people singing or playing frisbee.
The park itself is a beautiful oasis in the hurly-burly of the city. An excellent time to visit the park is cherry blossom season, though flowers adorn the park nearly all year around. Sweet osmanthus and Chinese roses fill the air with fragrance.
Address: 780 Changning Road, Changning District
长宁区长宁路780号