China's largest city is a thrilling hub of international activity that has been developed extensively over the past few decades. As the first Chinese port open for trade with the west, Shanghai has a history of integrating foreign cultures and sensibilities with its own. This multi-culturalism has largely survived the country's tumultuous politics, and visitors will notice that, among other things, many of the city's buildings, particularly along the Bund, are reminiscent of spectacular colonial-era architecture.

With such a cosmopolitan global atmosphere, travellers will feel welcome and at home among the colourful crowds of Shanghai's celebrated street life.

Once a notoriously salacious city (the almost inevitable result of being built around a booming port), Shanghai is famous for its energetic and vibrant nightlife, with a near-endless selection of bars and nightclubs to keep visitors thoroughly entertained. Furthermore, as such a crossroad of cultures, Shanghai caters for the truly international pallet, boasting a diverse restaurant scene and offering some of the best shopping in the world.