"Morning Exercises in Jing'an Park In the mornings, Shanghai residents slow down for tai chi in this small park opposite Jing'an Temple, with a landscaped garden, a Chinese pavilion, and pond. Stop by to observe the peaceful ritual—and keep an eye out for locals who bringtheir birds to the park to learn new songs from each other. By Cindy Chupack"

"Local Fashionista When speaking of local design talents, Shanghai -based designer Helen Lee's name invariably comes up. Her womenswear designs are inspired from her travels throughout China, and she aims to promote ethnic minority cultures through her designs. Her spring/summer collection, for example, was inspired by the colourful clothing of Yunnan villagers. Stop by her Fumin Road flagship shop on Fumin to pick up a one-of-a-kind Shanghai souvenir to add to your wardrobe back home."

"Before it was reincarnated as a dumpling and noodle joint back in 1972, Din Tai Fung was a cooking oil business. That doesn't sound so promising in the flavor department, but it turns out these xiao long bao are some of the best in Shanghai . Try thepork, pork and hairy crab, black truffle and pork, or the shrimp soup dumplings. And if you're into noodles, the noodle soup with pickled mustard greens or braised beef will do the trick. No matter what you order, ask for a side of pea shoot greens to balance the rich main course with a punch of freshness."

"Dragon Rooftop at Yu Garden, Shanghai Yu Garden is a must-go place in Shanghai , especially you like architecture. It is such a peaceful place to go, even in the rain... This dragon rooftop is inside the Yu (Jade) Garden in Shanghai . The dragon looks toward to the sky, and about to fly into the cloud. The whole body of the dragon last the entire wall. By Shan Shan"

"Architecture lovers flock to the Huangpu River's western side to stroll the Bund, a waterfront tourist magnet in central Shanghai. There's a glorious mishmash of late-19th- and early-20th-century styles here, from Gothic revival to art deco. Walk by the Fairmont Peace Hotel—first opened in 1929 as the Cathay Hotel—to behold its copper pyramid roof turned aqua with age. (Talk about aging gracefully.) Then hit the marble-floored HSBC Building (No. 12) to admire thedomed ceiling's eight mosaic murals, with frescoes depicting the 12 zodiac signs."

"Architecture lovers flock to the Huangpu River's western side to stroll the Bund, a waterfront tourist magnet in central Shanghai. There's a glorious mishmash of late-19th- and early-20th-century styles here, from Gothic revival to art deco. Walk by the Fairmont Peace Hotel—first opened in 1929 as the Cathay Hotel—to behold its copper pyramid roof turned aqua with age. (Talk about aging gracefully.) Then hit the marble-floored HSBC Building (No. 12) to admire thedomed ceiling's eight mosaic murals, with frescoes depicting the 12 zodiac signs."

"Architecture lovers flock to the Huangpu River's western side to stroll the Bund, a waterfront tourist magnet in central Shanghai. There's a glorious mishmash of late-19th- and early-20th-century styles here, from Gothic revival to art deco. Walk by the Fairmont Peace Hotel—first opened in 1929 as the Cathay Hotel—to behold its copper pyramid roof turned aqua with age. (Talk about aging gracefully.) Then hit the marble-floored HSBC Building (No. 12) to admire thedomed ceiling's eight mosaic murals, with frescoes depicting the 12 zodiac signs."

"Shanghai's South Bund Fabric Market Shanghai tailors are the best in the world, says fashion designer Christy Holzer, whose label, Dowry Designs, was inspired by the city. She suggests visiting the South Bund fabric market to order custom garments. DRESS: STALL 308 “A fun style to wear is the qipao [a centuries-old Chinese dress that got its form-fitting shape in the 1920s]. Traditional silk patterns make the garment look old, so request a solid-color silk.” SUIT: STALL 309 “If you want truly exceptional fabric, ask for 100 percent wool. Most of the wool fabrics they have are blends. Specify that they line your suit with 100 percent silk or cotton.” COTTON SHIRT: STALL 310 “Look at the buttons the tailors are planning to use, as they often choose cheap ones. If you don’t like the buttons, stop by a button stall at the market; it will be worth the extra investment.” Illustration by Michael Hoeweler."

"Drinks in the Clouds One of my highest recommendations for drinks is the Grand Hyatt Shanghai . The Grand Hyatt occupies the top 36 floors of the 88-story Jin Mao Tower in the Jetsons-looking Pudong district, so at sunset (or anytime) you have a stunning view (with no cover charge!) of all of Shanghai. There are lots of choices for eating and drinking in the Grand Hyatt. When I was there at sunset, nobody else was in the Cloud 9 sky lounge (which is like a night club with a 360-degree view from the 87th floor), so I went down to the 53rd-floor Lobby Lounge, which still seemed plenty high, and enjoyed the view and the cocktails there. By Cindy Chupack"

"Shanghai People’s Park The Shanghai Race Club, built by the British in the 1800s, is a lingering reminder that horseraces were once held here, just south of Nanjing Road. Opened to the public in the 1950s, this green refuge charms with landscaped traditional gardens and a reflecting pond with fish and pink lotus blossoms. It’s also a prime spot for people watching. Locals turn up to do tai chi exercises, play cards, and scope out the Marriage Market. Parents hoping to attract a suitable spouse wait under colorful umbrellas pinned with notes listing each child’s age, occupation, family values, and even zodiac sign. Photo by Ira Smirnova ."

"Shanghai's arts and crafts enclave, Tianzifang, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes bursting with diminutive shops, restaurants, and bars. Most of the shops here are located inside shikumen , stone gatehouses dating to the early 1930s. Gear up for your shopping spree witha coffee alfresco at Kommune before checking outXingmu Handicraft'sgorgeous handmade leather notebooks orShanghai Code'svintage Chinese glasses and watches. Pick up delicate stationery at Dongxi Workshop, Shanghai 's very first boutique, and head to Sky Music Box for—you guessed it—music boxes from all over the world."

"Completed in 1994, the Oriental Pearl TV tower was the tallest building in Shanghai until 2007 and is still arguably one of the most recognizable towers in Shanghai’s skyline. The tower actually has 15 observation floors but the highest is at 350m and is affectionately known as the “Space Module”. The tower also includes a revolving restaurant, a shopping mall, a museum and even a 20+ room hotel. There’s also a glass-floored observation deck for the brave-footed. Open 8:30-21:30 daily Ticket prices vary (depending on what you’d like to see/do) from RMB 120-220 By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Di Shui Dong: a Hunan Institution Rustic charm and good home-style cooking are what come to mind when you eat at Di Shui Dong. The Hunan eatery is always packed, a testament to how good their grub really is. If you're unfamiliar with Hunan cuisine, it's the spicy cousin of Sichuan's fiery fare, but they use a more standard and tongue-friendly chili, meaning you get the kick without the mouth-numbing experience of Sichuan's infamous peppercorns. Don't leave without trying the cumin-rubbed ribs and the fish-head steamed with chili. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Newman Tours: Gangsters, historians and kung fu masters The crew at Newman Tours will show you a side of Shanghai you won't soon forget. For a peek into the lives of Shanghai's notorious gangsters or a historical jaunt down the Bund, this is your team. Check out their website for a public tour schedule or set up a time for a private outing. Recommended: Kung Fu Tour "From the soft and graceful Taoist arts of Wudang Mountain to the explosive Buddhist techniques of Shaolin Temple, China is famed for its rich martial arts heritage. Our Shanghai Kung Fu Tour aims to give you a broad overview of that heritage by not only taking you on a guided tour of Shanghai’s excellent Kung Fu Museum, but also giving you the chance to try your hand at Chinese martial arts." They've also got not-to-be-missed tours in Beijing and Xian as well. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Picnic in Century Park Covering 140 hectares (about one-half square mile), this is no small green space. Pack a picnic, grab a kite, and head over to Century Park for some space to run around, or simply to chill out and watch life go by. Open daily from 7am-6pm. 10 RMB entrance fee. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"One block west of the Bund you can find the Rockbund Art Museum, housed in Shanghai's former Royal Asiatic Society building (1932). Like many of the grande dame Bund buildings, RAS was dreamt up by British design firm Palmer and Turner and done to the nines in art deco style. The museum hosts its share of heavy hitters from the contemporary art world, such as Zhang Huan, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres. Rockbund is small but charming, especially the tranquil top-floor café and lounge, which give way to a small terrace overlooking the Pudong skyline."

"Row after row of booths are sprawled across this small part of Shanghai , just south of People's Square. Here, you can find pretty much anything you want, from tiny Mao statues, to old leather suitcases stacked 10 feet tall. Each vendor will be on you as soon as you approach their booth. They are quite polite, however, and will have a calculator or phone handy to show you the price for their items. The catch is that the majority of these "antiques" are actually factory-made items, and most booths have similar items. The good part is that you have a really good chance of a low price if you bounce back & forth between booths that have the same items. Shopping aside, this is also a great spot to see daily Shanghai life. Laundry hangs over your head, food trucks cruise up and down the rows, and the vendors socialize with each other when they are not selling items. This is a must for any visitor to Shanghai. By Blake Burton"

"Power Station of Art The renovated Nanhui Power Station, situated on the banks of Huanpu River, is now home to China's first state-run Contemporary Art Museum. From local artists to international icons such as Andy Warhol, the museum boasts a great selection of contemporary art. Open 9:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays General Admission: Free By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Malt Fun: Shanghai's Epic Whiskey Bar “If you’re looking to enjoy a quiet drink and you love whiskey, this is your bar. An iPad menu acts as a directory of more than 150 whiskeys and their origins, from Scotland to Japan. Malt Fun also has a list of mostly classic cocktails. Call ahead to reserve a seat." — Bartender Tree Mao on the French Concession. Read more about his local's take on Shanghai here . This appeared in the January/February 2015 issue."

"Suzhou is an easy day trip from Shanghai , just 25–40 minutes from the Hongqiao and Shanghai railway stations. The city may be nicknamed the Venice of the East for its many canals, but it’s also known for its classical gardens and silk production and embroidery. Suzhou’s largest garden is the Humble Administrator’s Garden, its nearly 50 buildings spread around a lake and connected by bridges. At the Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute, visitors can watch as expert silk embroiderers work on delicate pieces. For one of the best introductions to Suzhou, take aboat ride along the Grand Canal to see the small tile-roofed houses for which the cityis famous."

"Nearby Water Town with Famous Street Food Qibao, in Chinese, means 'seven treasures'. And a treasure it is. The closest water town to Shanghai , it holds both the charm of an ancient, canal-traversed village as well as one of the most famous food streets in Shanghai. Head to Qibao Old Street for a culinary tour de force. And while you shouldn't leave without sampling the Hai Tang Gao (rice cakes with a red bean filling) or--if your nose can handle it--the stinky tofu, there's more to this little water town than the snacks. Round out your cultural venture with a shadow play show, a trip to the Qibao Temple or even a cricket fight. How to get here: Jump on Line 9 to Qibao Station and take exit 2 to reach the old town. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"