1-day Tour to Zhouzhuang

As the most important shipping artery of Shanghai, Huangpu River winds it way like an undulating muddy dragon from the mouth of the Yangtze River in Wusong to the East China Sea. It is 114 kilometers (71 miles) in length, 400 meters in width and 9 meters (30 feet) in depth. The yellow Huangpu River is ice-free. The cruise boat sails eastward along the river to the attractive "three-layer waters" at the Wusong Mouth, confluence of the three and half hours over a distance of 60lilometers, with beautiful view emerging one after another.

Huangpu River connects 29 kilometers (18 miles) north of downtown Shanghai and divides Shanghai into two parts, east and west. Cruising on the Huangpu River, You can appreciate the magnificent skyscrapers, the Monument Tower to the People's Heroes, the well-known Waibaidu Bridge and Huangpu Park on one bank, and the Orient Pearl TV Tower, International Convertion Center, Jin Mao Building and the newly rising Pudong New Area on the other.
 

Shanghai Grand View Garden is a classical garden, which was built according to the model that was described in the novel of Dream of Red Mansions. Located by Dianshan Lake-side in Qingpu County in western Shanghai, it is consisted by a dozen groups of scenic constructions, like Daguanlou (Grand View Tower), Xiaoxiangguan (Bamboo Lodge), Yihongyuan (Cheerful Red Court), Hengwuyuan (Lush Grass Court), Daoxiangcun (PAddy-Fragrance Cottage) and so on. These architectures, being either elegant, or simple, or secluded or exquisite, are fully embodying the charm and mood portrayed in the novel.

It is said that the imperial concubine, Lady Jia, gave audience to her clansmen in the Grand View Tower when she was going home for a visit. The principal hall is flanked by Hanfang Pavilion and Zhuijin Pavilion connecting each other by a corridor, linking with the two verandas in the fore-court. She was fond of watching the performances on the stage standing on the side. The Gorgeous and magnificent tower matched the imperial palace in grandeur and splendor.

Constructed in 1994 and completed in 1998, Shanghai Grand Theater is situated at the People's Square in the city heart. Covering an area of 62, 803 square meters, the theater has 10 storeys, two for underground, two for lofts and six on the ground. The lobby is elegantly decorated, occupying approximate 2000 square meters. There are three stages in the Grand Theater: a 1,800-seat main stage for ballets, operas and symphonies, a 600-seat medium theater for chamber orchestras and a small 200-seat auditorium for dramas and fashion show. Since it is open to the public on August 27, 1998, the Shanghai Grand Theatre has successfully held many shows and evenings, such as operas, musicals, ballets, symphonies, chamber music concerts, spoken drama and the Chinese operas.

The former residence with a total area of more than 4300 square meters, is divided into the front garden, the back garden, and the main building. It was built in the early 1920 s, formed by the sitting room, dining-room, study room. Soong ching lived on the second floor .The house have a broad lawn, flowers and trees lush garden, surrounded by evergreen camphor trees, beautiful environment clean.

The display of former residence within keep soong ching ling was the same. Downstairs in the lobby, on the wall hangs the traditional Chinese painting "galloping horse" from Xu beihong, and landscape painting from her international friends. Sun yat-sen's portrait hangs on the wall on the back of the sitting room, the picture chairman MAO zedong visit here in 1961, hanging on the wall to the south. The sitting room is dominated by the important souvenir from her friends all over the world in her whole life . The restaurant furnished very simple, here Soong ching ling's had host many of the visiting guests. And there are Chinese and foreign books more than 4000 copies. Downstairs in the garage, a "Jim" brand car given by Stalin.

Now soong ching ling's former residence as the national key cultural relics protection unit, memorial for national museum, patriotism education base in Shanghai.

It opens from 9：00～16：30, with ticket RMB20.

Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Hall is situated in the east of the City Hall. There are four giant steel caps on top of the building, symbolizing the city flower- the magnolia. Glittering in the sunlight, the steel caps offset the crystal palace-like Grand Theater by its side. The building is at a height of 43.3 meters, with 5 stories above ground and 2 stories underground and a total floor space of 18,393 square meters. On one hand, it is available for citizens to comprehend the changes in the city and its future planning from this City Planning Exhibition Hall. On the other hand, it also introduces the planning and construction of Shanghai to visitors. It helps to set Shanghai's image as an international metropolis open to the outside world.

The site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China is a famous historical attraction in Shanghai, situated at No.76 Xingye Road. The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held here on July 23, 1921, which passed the Party's program and resolutions, elected the central committee, and declared the founding of the CPC. Under state protection, it has been listed as a key relic.

In 1999, the reconstruction of the memorial hall was conducted by the city government here. The new memorial hall is at a height of 12 meters, with 2 stories at the front and 3 stories at the back. You can find that there are photos of the delegates to the Founding of the Communist Party of China, First National Congress, several hundreds of precious relics, documents and photographs on display. Standing in the middle is Young Comrade Mao Zedong, holding a paper in his hand. Appreciating the photos, you might feel that the historical scene of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China was showing in front of you.
 

The new Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, in the shape of a butterfly, which is designed by leading French architect Paul Andreu, is an architectural symphony in Shanghai. Situated at Pudong New Area, it covers an area of 40,000 square meters close to Century Square. The five main halls of the center are like the five petals of a beautiful butterfly orchid in full bloom, which are the entrance to the main hall, the concert hall, the performance hall, the exhibition hall, and the opera house. In the center is the 1,953-seat concert hall, which is the city's first fully professional performance venue for concerts with the most advanced digital sound console, first-class seating for audiences and a state-of-the-art organ. It is considered to be one of the very few top concert halls in China. Besides the concert hall, the center is consisted by a 1,020-seat opera house and a 333-seat performance hall. The inner is decorated with a dazzling display of porcelain accessories.