A wonderful day’s journey will begin at Shanghai’s renowned Jade Buddha Temple. Within this century-old monastery, numerous devout men and women kneel before the Buddha statues, praying for blessings for themselves and their families. Of course, here you will have the privilege of admiring two white jade Buddhas, brought back from Burma over a hundred years ago by Master Huigen. It is because of these statues that the Jade Buddha Temple has gained fame both in China and abroad.

We will also drive to the heart of the former French Concession. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Western countries constructed various styles of villas within the concession. This area was once home to all sorts of notable figures and has witnessed Shanghai’s history over the past century. Today, these houses have been transformed into Shanghai’s artistic district. We can stroll through the area or take a break at a roadside café, experiencing the elegant side of Shanghai.

We will also visit the old town, which has a history of several hundred years. It was the city center of Shanghai before it opened as a treaty port. Today, the old town remains a shoping center, filled with various shops, restaurants, and teahouses. We can sit in a teahouse there, sipping a cup of Chinese tea. Of course, the Shanghai’s most famous garden—Yuyuan Garden is also there. This garden, first built in the 16th century, is hailed as a living landscape painting. There, we can marvel at a world crafted from stones and water, comparing the differences between Chinese and Western garden design, and experiencing the beauty of ancient Chinese landscaping.

The Bund, renowned as the "Gallery of World Architecture," is, of course, not to be missed. Most of the buildings there were constructed in the early 20th century and once served as the headquarters of Shanghai’s major banks. We will stroll along the Huangpu River, witnessing both Shanghai’s past and future. On the opposite bank in Pudong stands Shanghai’s skyline, which is also the city’s current financial center.

If the weather is favorable, we can drive to the Lujiazui Financial Center. You can purchase a ticket to take the fastest elevator to the highest point in Shanghai, enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city. If we’re lucky enough, we might even catch a distant glimpse of the mouth of China’s greatest river—the Yangtze—where it meets the sea.