Shanghai by night

GLOBAL ART: The art street Tianzifang is home to artists from around the world who have set up studios, cafés, bars and restaurants in the area (JIANG ZHENXIONG)

The magnificent urban architecture and tourist attractions seen during the day are just one side of the city. Once the sun sets, Shanghai becomes an even more special and attractive place.

Located in the prosperous Lujiazui area, Riverside Avenue(watch video) is just opposite the Bund along the Huangpu River. The modern avenue compliments the classic architecture of the Bund area. Riverside Avenue is 2,500 meters long and features numerous sightseeing opportunities and abundant green space. It consists of a waterfront terrace and a broad walkway dotted with kiosks that resemble a slightly smaller, yet modern Bund.

The Shanghai International Convention Center, Pudong Shangri-La, Oriental Pearl Cruise Dock and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium can also be found along the avenue.

The Huangpu River is characterized by these two distinct riverbank sceneries—one a collection of classic architecture from various countries built decades ago; the other touted as an oriental financial center.

Entertainment and culture come together nicely in Xintiandi(watch video), an area of Eastern and Western design, to form a tourist hot spot as well as a relaxing place for local residents.

Time seems to travel backward to the 1920s with a leisurely walk through Xintiandi, but the building interiors and shop inventories remind visitors of the current date. International galleries, fashion boutiques, themed restaurants, coffee houses and so much more can be found in Xintiandi. Handicrafts sold at the China Cultural Store are unique to Shanghai, and the rich cultural performances in the open square attract and encourage tourist participation. The Shikumen Museum vividly portrays the lifestyle of a Shanghai family in the early 20th century, enabling tourists to get a glimpse of life in Shanghai from a historic perspective.

Hengshan Road (watch video) offers travelers an alternative to the upscale Xintiandi. The road and adjacent streets are full of stylish entertainment establishments, like bars, teahouses, hotels, entertainment centers, beauty saloons and galleries. The Shanghai people are especially proud of the road's Chinese parasol tree shade. Hengshan Road is home to the most bars in Shanghai and at night, with its spectrum of colored lights, provides a calming atmosphere after a tiring day of work or travel.

The size and style of the bars on Hengshan Road vary, but each bar—the passionate American style Bourbon Street, British style Sasha's, and modern-classic Chinese style Lapis Lazuli, for example—has its own atmosphere.

While Hengshan Road and Xintiandi are known as entertainment centers, Nanjing Road (watch video) and Huaihai Road are by far the city's focal points for shopping.

Starting from the Bund in the east to the intersection of Jing'an Temple and West Yan'an Road in the west, the two streets are 5.5 km long with skyscrapers and more than 600 stores on both sides. The department stores in Nanjing Road are filled with a dazzling array of beautiful exhibits.