Shanghai: where tradition and modernity come together and become future
Along the banks of the Huangpu River, a city of a thousand colors stands out in front of its visitors, giving them an image to be preserved forever. Shanghai, the ideal starting point for a journey to China to discover ancient symbols, traditions and legends with an oriental flavor. Always considered one of the most fascinating cities of the Far East, Shanghai appears as a crossroads of unique experiences, where ancient traditions blend perfectly with a futuristic modernity that makes it the most dynamic metropolis in China.
With its twenty-four million inhabitants, Shanghai is the most populous city not only of the country, but of the entire planet, and the number is expected to grow if we consider the millions of tourists who each year walk its streets. What has become the symbol of explosive economic and financial growth made in China. Defined as the Pearl of the Orient thanks to its precious charm, Shanghai has undergone an incredible development in recent years which has made it the focal point of an ever-expanding modernity.
And this liveliness certainly passes through the particular vertical aspect that the city has taken over the last few years, studded with avant-garde skyscrapers and amazing architectures that draw its unmistakable skyline, in which the Shanghai Tower, the second largest building in the world, stands out in its majesty. Almost able to touch the sky thanks to its 632 meters of height, the futuristic skyscraper is located in the financial and commercial area of Lujiazui, the beating heart of the modern financial district of Pudong, hosting hotels, offices and commercial spaces from which to admire a spectacular 360° view of the city. And a breathtaking view can also be enjoyed by climbing on the Oriental Pearl Tower, a television tower and multifunctional skyscraper that has become a symbol of the city since 1995, the year of its completion.
The design of the building, inspired by a poem dating back to the Tang dynasty on the evocative sound produced by the lute, consists of five spheres in the shape of a pearl where it is even possible to eat changing views every hour thanks to a real rotating restaurant! But the best way to admire the city in all its splendor is certainly to walk along the boulevard of the Bund, a prestigious and solemn center of city life. Paved with colorful tiles sprinkled with flower beds and European-style garden lights, this kilometer and a half of riverside on the west bank of the Huangpu is one of the most important architectural symbols of Shanghai, thanks to the numerous and impressive art deco buildings , historical heritage of the colonial past, which gave the city the nickname of "Paris of the East".
The charm of Shanghai is not only linked to modernity. An immense landing point of different cultures and scenery of many imaginaries, the city hides ancient origins that refer directly to the Song dynasty, which made it a merchant center already around the year one thousand. And a real leap into the past is possible entering the winding alleys of the Old City, where walking through the typical Shikumen, the low houses typical of black and gray bricks, it will seem to be back in time. The heart of the oldest part of Shanghai is the enchanting Yu Yan Garden, which is the Garden of Happiness, a place of harmony where to breathe the authentic magic of the East.
Built at the end of 1500 to welcome, in its last years of life, an elderly officer of the Ming dynasty, the garden represents a real oasis of peace where to escape to escape the bustling and frenetic daily life of the metropolis and let itself be absorbed by the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng-Shui, that is, from the ancient knowledge and knowledge through which science becomes wisdom. Following the principles of Feng-Shui, the Shanghai Museum was built, an unmissable stop for all history buffs. Excellent shelter for those who want to browse the wonders of Chinese culture, the museum is a living testimony of a glorious past, thanks to the numerous and excellent examples of the ancient Chinese artistic production that give visitors a suggestive overview of the millennial Chinese history.
Visiting Shanghai is therefore an excellent idea to spend a summer between art, culture and fun, thanks to the many summer camps in the area and dedicated to kids, through which to improve their language skills within an engaging and stimulating context . We only need to pack our suitcases…
