In the days of yore, Shanghai was just a fishing town. Today, Shanghai is one of China’s cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications hubs. A bustling city, remnants of ancient history and colonial settlements can be found everywhere.
Strolling down the one-mile stretch of The Bund, evidences of its rich colonial past are seen in the 52 buildings of various architectural styles, ranging from Art Deco and Baroque, to Gothic, Neo-Classical, Renaissance and Romanesque. Not too far away lies "Paris of the East", the French Concession, where Tudor mansions abound. And in its midst stands the Shikumen, a blend of European and Chinese design tenement housing unique to Shanghai Chinese culture. Enter the Yuyuan Gardens and there are the amazing Chinese pavilions, carp ponds and sculpted gardens dating all the way back to the Ming dynasty.
