The Rough Guide to Shanghai

Book excerpt: The Rough Guide to Shanghai is the ultimate insider's guide to China's brash new megacity. With the extravagant 2010 World Expo serving as its coming out party, Shanghai is muscling forward to take its place alongside such financial powerhouses as Tokyo and London. But it's no longer just about China's rising business clout; in everything from fashion and art to cutting edge architecture, Shanghai is making waves. All the major and off beat sights of this notoriously fast changing city are covered, from the gleaming new World Financial Centre � China's highest viewing point, to avant-garde arts centre Moganshan Lu, and hip new restoration district Taikang Lu. Cutting through the hype, The Rough Guide to Shanghai reveals the best places to shop, from mall to backstreet tailor; to sleep, whether you want a youth hostel, achingly trendy boutique hotel or luxury pad; and to eat, from the destination restaurants on the Bund to the best street dumplings. When the pace of the city gets too frenetic, there's all you need to know for great day-trips to tranquil canal towns such as Tongli or pretty Suzhou. Easy to read maps are provided throughout the guide, plus there's a handy colour subway map, and the pinyin and Chinese characters are given for all destinations.