FOREIGN INFLUENCE: Buildings along Hengshan Road, in the former French Concession area, remind people of the road's foreign style (ZHANG MAO)

The impressive Nanjing Road is magnified by the colorful neon lights of a large number of high-rise buildings, like the Shanghai Silk Mall, Shanghai New World City, and Shanghai No.1 Department Store, dazzling every inch of the street.

South Maoming Road is located in the former French Concession area. Differing from the crowded Huaihai Road, South Maoming Road is more suitable for enjoying the time-honored architecture, listening to jazz music and enjoying a peaceful dinner.

Before Hengshan Road and Xintiandi became popular, South Maoming Road was the best choice for those looking to go out for a night on the town. The famous Maoming bar complex can be found between Fuxing and Yongjia roads.

1931 Café Pub is the very reason Maoming Road became the heart of the city in terms of relaxing. The cafe is small—it only admits 10 guests at a time—but its nostalgic atmosphere has become legendary among foreign and domestic visitors. 1931 Café Pub is now a favorite restaurant for people wanting to truly experience and immerse themselves in life of the1920s and 30s.

Located at No. 207 South Maoming Road, Blue Frog is relatively tranquil compared with the other Shanghai bars. It is a classic American pub with no dance floor or loud music, but is ever popular among first-time foreign visitors to Shanghai. The high wooden tables, chairs and bar counter distinguish Blue Frog from other bars, and the cocktails come highly recommended.

Starting from Guotai Cinema and making its way south along South Maoming Road, the sceneries along the street have changed significantly over the years—the section between the Middle Huaihai Road and Nanchang Road has become an area dedicated to cheongsam and Chinese style dresses. The clothes displayed in shop windows are indicators of the fashion trends currently in style in Shanghai. Famous cheongsam boutiques include Jinzhiyuye Cheongsam Shop and Shanghai Tang.

Shanghai Tang is the only cheongsam shop to boldly alter the traditional cheongsam into a modern dress. The fashion design, classic style, and elegant and embroidered patterns make the altered cheongsam a hot item among travelers.

About Shanghai

Shanghai is one of China's most prosperous cities and a popular tourist destination. It is located in the middle of China's eastern coast on the Yangtze River Delta. The city borders the sea in the east, and the two affluent provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the west. Favorable geographic location makes Shanghai both a great river port and sea port.

Shanghai has mild and humid subtropical monsoon climate and four distinct seasons. Rainfall is abundant, and the average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. The climate is suitable for travel all year round, while spring and summer are the best seasons for sightseeing.

The city has a history of more than 700 years. It started as a fishing village and became a national center for the textile and handcraft industries during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In 1843, Shanghai opened up to foreign trade, and foreign commodities and investment poured into Shanghai. Foreigners built docks and established concessions and banks. Shanghai gradually became an international trade center.

Today, the Shanghai Port is an important international port in the west Pacific. Its cargo handling capacity accounts for about one third of China's total. Shanghai is also a large industrial and science and technology base. It has more than 800 scientific research institutes, 550,000 research staff and more than 50 full-time institutes of higher learning.

Shanghai has grown into a "sleepless" cosmopolitan city, as well as the "Pearl of the Orient." With a mix of Chinese and Western cultures, Shanghai is one of the most open cities in China and a major trend setter. Shanghai residents are known for their business acumen, and its products are famous for their excellent quality.

Fans of Shanghai opera and other traditional arts often enjoy themselves in neighborhood theaters, and people who are fond of Western music and performances such as symphony or ballet go to the Shanghai Grand Theater. People who love local cuisine or French food can all find something to their taste in Shanghai.

Shanghai's skyline has been constantly modified by its landmark buildings. The Bund was previously Shanghai's signature landmark. Recently, however, new landmarks have mushroomed, such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Shanghai International Convention Center, Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Grand Theater, the Xintiandi pedestrian street and of course the Shanghai World Expo site.

For visitors, Shanghai is more than just a major metropolis. A network of highways connects Shanghai to adjacent cities and towns. Cities such as Wuxi, Suzhou and Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province, as well as the cities of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, are located less than 300 km from Shanghai. These cities are famous for their pleasant scenery, historical sites and exquisite delicacies. Tourists to Shanghai often include these neighboring cities in their schedule.