Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

If you are stunned by the look of Shanghai today, you can go and see how it will be looking like in 2020. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is at a short walk across the Renmin Square and it is a worth place to visit and more interesting than what its name suggests.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

The centerpiece is the enormous scale model of city centre which takes up the upper floor entirely. Showing the future as well as current development and it is mind blowing. There are also raised walkways to view the model from different angles. The details are fascinating and it shows clearly that what is planned and what already exists. It is also considered to be a good introduction to Shanghai city and will give you a good perspective as well as introduction to the city. This building is attractive and has space for the temporary exhibitions.

With the five stores there is, and of course a great deal seeing than vast scale model. As you have expected, it is very much high tech and have some great displays, walk through, interactive exhibits, sound light and visual effects and illustrate the various aspects of the urban planning of Shanghai. These exhibits are thorough and detailed providing you the information on the urban planning of Shanghai city in future.

You will find a small model of the inner Shanghai at entrance. You will also find shop shops restaurants, tea houses in the basement which is presented as the reproduction of Shanghai Street of the 1930s The other floor house displays hands-on and passive that how planner look at the airport development, all kinds of transport, port, subway and light trains are going to change the face of this city, leisure activities, greening the city, managing waterways, etc. There are photographs of contemporary and colonial Shanghai on mezzanine demonstrating the development of the city in this short time.  There is an art gallery and a café on the fifth floor.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

This city is themed as the Human, environment, city and Development and the planning of this city is one of the hot topics all over the world and attracts tourist from all over the world. The glimpse of future and present Shanghai provide very much elements for thinking, enjoyment and overview of this overwhelming city.

 

Xintiandi

Xin Tian Di is the former old city area of French Quarter of Shanghai. It has been transformed by the American architect Benjamin T. Woodand and Japanese Company Nikken Sekkai during the last decade. Shui On Group, the Hong Kong developer has revolutionized the urban planning and development in China. They have turned the old Chinese as well as foreign style buildings into the residential and a ritzy entertainment area for wealthy and expats people.

XIn TIan DI

XIn TIan Di

They have also preserved the charm of the old style buildings. This has allowed the space for open air and environment that is friendly in opposition to the noisy urban areas of most of the cities. IT is a pedestrian area having a  ready transportation through the nearby metro shops. It has now became the model for the urban redevelopment in the inner city areas of china. It is also one of the favorite entertainment areas in Shanghai despite its small area.

Xintiandi has basically tow city blocks and covers about 128 acres in Shanghai’s center  It has one favorable location between the residence of former president Sun Yat Sen and a small park with pond. This area has been once a part of the wealthy International Settlement. Each of the building in this area exhibits its own unique and mix of international styles. Most of them are mix of Chinese and western styles.

XIn TIan DI

XIn TIan DI

More than 170 million US dollar was spent by the Shui On group for the re innovation of this whole area. They have preserved many of the 19th century style of Shikumen in the buildings of the northern part of Xin Tian DI and modern buildings were constructed in the southern part. Most of the luxury brand companies have set up their restaurants and boutiques in side these buildings. You will be amazed to see the interior decors that depicts the lot of detail, wealth and energy.

 

Jin Mao Tower Shanghai

The Jin Mao Tower symbolizes the emerging of Shanghai into the 21st century. It is the tallest building China and the third tallest building of the world. It also has the tallest hotel build ever. Having the design of east meeting west and signifies the shanghai emerging as a modern global city. Jin Mao follows the paradigm of multi-use and offer retail shopping at its base and the offices above. The Grand Hyatt is the world’s highest hotel which occupies the upper 38 floors.

Xin Tian Di

Xin Tian Di

Jin Mao tower was designed by the architectural firm of US Owings and Merrill and was built by the Jian Gong Group of Shanghai which is the first ever Chinese national construction group tackling such a large as well as magnificent project. The Jin Mao Building is a very luxurious complex which combines office space with the shopping mall, commercial space and the entertainment hubs. Three basement levels house service facilities, electric facilities, food court and parking spaces.
The building of Jin Mao has superb design which combines the elements of Chinese traditional architecture as well as Gothic influence for producing the amazing and modern building. Architects have designed the building keeping the Chinese pagoda theme and the number 8 as the number 8 is considered very lucky number by the Chinese people. The lower segment of this tower is 16 stories high and each of these segments is one-eighth smaller than its preceding segment.

Xin Tian Di

Xin Tian Di

There are two elevator has speed of about 9.1m/sec and it is used for the transportation of visitors from the first basement towards the sightseeing floor. At this level of height you can get a full 360 degrees view of the shanghai city. This building also houses the Cloud 9 Bar which is the world’s tallest bar. You can also get the beautiful view of sunset and the splendid landscapes of the Shanghai City.

 

oriental Pearl TV Tower shanghai

The Tower of oriental Pearl TV is located in the Pudong Park at Ljuiazui in Shanghai. This tower is surrounded by Yangpu Bridge in the northeast and Nanpu Bridge in the southwest side creating a picture like the twin dragons playing with the pearls. This place has photographic jewels of excitement and imagination which attracts hundreds of visitors.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

It is about 470 meters in height and third tallest TV and radio tower of the world surpassed in height only by the towers of Toronto, Moscow and Canada. It is not only the height but the unique architectural design makes it one of the most attractive places to see. It is supported by the three seven meter wide base slanting stanchions. It surrounds the eleven steel spheres which are strung vertically to the center of the tower and there are three nine meters wide columns. This tower also has three sphere including a top sphere which is called space module. Five smaller spheres and three decorative spheres are also there on the base of the tower. This entire structure is build on the green grassland giving it a appearance like the pearls shining on the jade plate.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

You can travel up and down in the tower using double decor elevator which can hold up to fifty people. The attendant in elevator will recite the introduction to TV tower in English and Chinese during the ascent. You will be amazed to see the various activities available on the various columns and spheres which house of recreation, interest and commerce, once you reach the destination. The inner tower is the recreational palace and the Shanghai Municipal History Museum is located at the pedestal of the tower. There is futuristic space city in the large lower sphere and a fabulous sightseeing hall. You can also get a view of the way to the Yangtze River on a clear day. The base of this tower is the home to science fantasy city. The five smaller spheres are the hotel which contains 25 elegant lounges and rooms. The pears at the top contain restaurants including a rotating one, shops and a floor for sightseeing. You can also take a view of the Shanghai from this height and it will fill you with the wonders of beauty.

This tower is an amazing ultra modern tower which combines the ancient concept of spherical pearls and technology, recreation education, commerce and conference facilities of 21st century. The TV and radio tower provides the services in the Shanghai area having nine TV channels and ten FM radio channels.

 

 

Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Located in the city center of the Beijing city with its northwest near the Forbidden City, the Beihai Park covers an area of 71 hectares . It is once the emperor hall of the Liao Dynasty, King Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty and it is one of the completely-preserved emperor gardens with long history in China. It has been an AAAA level scenic area and listed as the key-protected relics unite in China.

Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Featuring a long history of more than 1,000 years, the Beihai Park is made up of four parts: Jionghua Islet, Northwestern Shore Scenic Area, Tuancheng (Circulate City), and Eastern Shore Scenic Area. Among which the Jionghua Islet is its center part which is connected with other parts by a stone bridge and ferry boats, and you’ll find the island covered with luxuriant trees and decorated with a lot of exquisite and elegant pavilions stew in random; besides, the  white pagoda is the symbol of the Beihai Park which stands conspicuously there. The Beihai Park follows the Chinese traditional architectural ideas and artistry and feature its unique gardening art, which makes it the essence and the precious cultural heritage of the classical gardens in China. All kinds of the boating recreational activities and exhibitions in Beihai Park also makes it a best place for travelers from home and abroad to visit. You will surely enjoy yourself here.

Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Travel information: 1) Opening time: 6:30 a.m. to 20:00p.m. during November to March and 6:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m. in April, May, September and October; 6:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. from June to August; 8:30 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. for the Qionghua Island. 2) Ticket price: 20 Yuan/adult and 15 Yuan/ Child; 3) Best time to visit: Middle July to end of August as the lotus at that time is the most beautiful. 4) Ways to go there: Take the city bus No. 101, 103, 109, 685, 614 and 619 to the south gate of the Beihai Park; take the city bus line 107, 111, 118, 701 and 623 to the north gate of the Beihai Park or take the No. 5 bus to the its east gate. 5) For the Boat Tour on Houhai Lake: 1 hour duration.

Huashan (Flower Mountain)

Huashan (Flower Mountain)

Huashan (Flower Mountain)

Huashan is made from the combination of two words. Hua means Chinese, brilliant or flowery and shan means mountain. Huashan is one of the five sacred mountains of Taooist in China. Huashan has a lot of other religious sites: pavilions, Taoist Temples and engraved scriptures which are scattered over the mountain
Hou mountain is famous for its plunging ravines and sheer cliffs. It is also considered as the most precipitous mountain under the heaven and probably the most dangerous mountain of the world freqented by the hikers.

This mountain is located at about 120 kilometers east from Xi’ans and it takes about three hours from city centre to reach there. There are total five peaks which make up the mountain namely Cloud Terrace Peak or North Peak, Jade Maiden Peak or Middle Peak, Sunrise Peak or East Peak, Lotus Peak or West Peak and the Landing Wild Goose Peak or South Peak. North Peak, being lowest of all these peaks is the starting point. There are three ways to go there. The six kilometer winding track from the Huashan village, cable car or the path beneath it.
Jade Maiden peak is next on this route. There is a story that the jade maiden was seen once riding a white horse among these mountains and hence it was named. You can choose to take left for seeing the Sunrise peak which is the best place to enjoy the view of the sunrise in the morning.

Huashan (Flower Mountain)

Huashan (Flower Mountain)

Alternatively you can also take to the right to the Lotus peak. Huashan means the Flower mountain and its name has been derived from the Lotus Peak which has the resemblance to the beatiful blooming flower of lotus. There is a gondola which can take you to the steep valley to the Landing Wild Goose peak which is the highest among these summits. The path there is characterised by the steep rock faces having a wide plack walkway which is fixed to the sheer rock face and there si a chain along the rock for support. The route has the foot hold in the rocks and chain for holding. After that you will get a vertical ladder in the cleft of the rock. The South Peak is very dangeours in winter however the view from this Peak is spectacular. This mountain is worth to see for anybody.

Banpo Museum

Banpo Museum is located at the eastern outskirts of the Xi’an city. It is the first prehistoric excavation museum site of China. Banpo (half slope) was one of the typical villages of Neolithic Matriarchal community of Yangshao culture in 5000-3000 BC which is around 6000 years ago. The culture of Yangshao was named after the discovery of the first civilization in Yangshao of Henan Province. More than 400 sites of this type around the Basin of the Yellow River have been discovered till now and the Banpo site being the largest among all of them.

Banpo Museum

Banpo Museum

This site was discovered in the year 1953 where the construction of a power plant was going in that area. Since after then, the work of excavation was started and it took almost four years. The Banpo site was then opened to the public in the year 1958. More than two million people have visited this site since then.

The Banpo site have occupied an area of about 50 thousand square meters and it has been divided into three major parts which are the pottery making area, the living area and the cemetery area. There are about 46 dwellings, over 200 storage pits, two domestic animal pens, 73 burial jars for the kids, 174 adult tombs, six kilns for pottery making and many domestic as well as production tools. This site provides the clear picture of the life styles of the primitive people of Banpo long ago.

Banpo Museum

Banpo Museum

 

Banpo Museum has two exhibition halls and one excavation site hall. In the first exhibition hall, the tools like stone knives, fishhooks, sickles, specula, etc are displayed which were used by the people of Banpo. These exhibits are the examples for the visitors to see the activities of the Banpo people. The second exhibition hall contains the showpieces which are the art items and major inventions reflecting the social life and fork culture of that time. Few artifacts present in this hall include a pointed bottom bottle, fish-and-human-face design pottery, pottery steamer and burial jars of children.

Forest of Stele Museum

Forest of Stele Museum of Xi’an is located at the three school (15 Sanxue) street which is near the south gate of magnificent City Wall. It was established in the year 1090 during the period of northern Song Dynasty. The Stele Forest Museum of Xi’an is famous nationally for the fine and large collection of over one thousand inscribed stones which was engraved during the 2000 year period of the Han Dynasty to Qing Dynasty. It is one of the best places for getting closer to the history and culture of China.

Forest of Stele Museum

Forest of Stele Museum

This museum is spread over the area of more than 30,000 square meters and is divided into seven main exhibition halls displaying historical records, stone carvings and ancient work of calligraphy.

The Exhibition Hall displays the text of the twelve confucian classic carved on the 14 steles The 12 works include the Book of Changes, Analects of Confucius, the Book of Songs and some others. All of these twelve classics are very much intersting to read for intellectuals to know about the feudal society o china. The stones were engraved about two thousnad years ago and at that time printing was not invented. For preserving these works and the pass them to the later generation, the rulers vave carved them on to these stones.

Hall two has the calligraphy steles which were written by some of the prominent calligraphers of the China’s Tanag Dynasty. The Dynasty of Tang has witenessed the wide creativity in various fields. The classic calligraphy of China has reached in the gloden age during this period. You can find many works of Yan Zhenqing, Zhang Xu, Ouyang Xun and many other ancient calligraphers in this hall.

Third Hall also exhihits excellent works of calligraphy. The steles inscribed have five different varieties of calligraphy i.e. seal characters, regular script, official script, cursive hand and running hand. These steles will give you the clear idea about the development of the Chinese writing. These calligraphy of China are very much important part of magnificent culture of China and these stone tablets have become an important way to explore the long and magical ancient culture of China.

Forest of Stele Museum

Forest of Stele Museum

Hall four have various sculpture of stones and these are the works of Han Dynaty to the Tang Dynasty. These sculpture inclueds various portraits of Buddha and confucius. Hall five displayes some of the historical records engraved in steles and many poems are displayed in the Hall Six and Seven.

 

Bell Tower

The Bell Tower stands at the crossing of East, West, North and South avenues in the city proper is a well known symbol of Xi’an. This tower was originally built in the year 1348 at the end of the Yuan dynasty. It was moved to its present site in the year 1552 during the period of the Ming Dynasty.

Bell Tower

Bell Tower

It was enlarged and rebuilt during the period of Ming Dynasty. There was a huge iron bell which was hung in the tower and used for striking the hours. It is very grand ancient building and has the features of traditional Chinese architecture. This Tower is very beautifully lit at the night. The tourists can get the bird’s eye view from the top of this town of the areas surrounding and the brightly decorated eaves of the building.

The Bell Tower acts as central landmark of this city and four prosperous commercial streets stretch towards in each direction. A must see to Ming city, the Drum Tower is located nearby in the west direction of the Bell tower. They are the outstanding example of ancient architecture. While entering to the old gate of Drum tower, you will be warmly welcome by the old street having bluestone pavement and it is full of the Muslim restaurants which are decorated in the Ming and Qing Dynasty style.

Bell Tower

Bell Tower

There is Beiyuanmen Muslim Market, where you can get the taste of local snacks. The Great mosque is only a block away from the Drum Tower and is the spiritual root of more than 60 thousand Muslims mainly of Hui minority working and living here. If you wish to know the city wall earlier than Ming then Hanguan Gate Site Museum provides you the perfect description of the ancient wall of about 1,400 years ago at Zenith of the Xian history. There are many attractive ancient and historical sites around the Bell Tower and a worth to watch.

Xi’an Great Mosque

Xi’an Great Mosque is located at Change feeling (30 Huajue) lane, which is in the center of the city. It is one of the largest and most important Islamic places for worship in China.

This mosque was constructed in the year 724 ad, Which was the 1st year of the Tianbao Era of Xuanrong reign in the Dynasty of Tang. The additions were made in the Dynasties of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing which makes this mosque an ancient architectural complex and representative of a long period of time and history.

Xi’an Great Mosque

Xi’an Great Mosque

During the period of Tang Dynasty, The Islam was introduced in china by several Arabian merchants. During that time, many Muslims settled in China and married to Han people. Then, at that time, this Great Mosque was constructed honoring the founders of Islamic religion in China. After then several other mosques have been constructed all across this country.

This Great Mosque covers an area of approx 6000 square meters. The whole complex has been divided into the four courtyards. First courtyard has the wooden arch in it. This arch is nine meters in height and covered with glazed tiles which can be traced back to seventeenth century. There are three chambers which stand on the either side of the arch. This displays some furniture which is preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasty. There is a steel arch having two steels on the both side of it at the center of the second yard. There are popular calligraphic writings on the steels from the prominent ancient calligraphers. Fourth of the courtyard contains the big prayer hall which can easily accommodate over thousand people.

Xi’an Great Mosque

Inside view of Xi’an Great Mosque

This mosque is the combination of traditional Chinese architecture as well as Islamic art. In the style of Chinese thee are series of the pavilions and the four courtyards having mosque between them. However, the wall is decorated with the Islamic art. It is the only mosque which is open to visitors in china. But, non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to visit the main prayer hall. This mosque was added I the list of UNESCO Islamic Heritage in the year 1985.