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Shanghai Municipal History Museum before going up to view the seated at his table every night and savor twenty courses specially View of Shanghai’s skyscrapers lost among the clouds
city from above. There are three observation decks: the Space Mod- selected by the chef.
ule (at 350 meters / 1,148 feet), the Sightseeing Floor with its thrill- After a regenerating night at the Bellagio, you are ready for a
ing glass-bottomed corridor (at 263 meters / 863 feet), and Space new day of exploring. Climb up the Shanghai Tower: with its 632
City (90 meters / 295 feet). Stop and have lunch at the revolving res- meters (2,073 feet) and its 128 floors, it is the tallest skyscraper in
taurant on the Sightseeing Floor and enjoy a 360° view of the city as China and the second tallest in the world after the Burj Khalifa in
it rotates. If you love shopping, visit the tower’s Oriental Pearl Em- Dubai. Once you have had your fill of panoramic views of the city,
porium, a series of stores where you can shop at your leisure. You you can go inside for some shopping or to enjoy a bite with a stun-
will find a view unique in the world, good food, shopping, and cul- ning view. In the afternoon, cross the river and enter China’s an-
ture, all in just one place. cient civilization by taking a stroll in the Yu Garden: created 400
In the afternoon, follow the Pudong lakefront (where the tower years ago by the legendary Ming dynasty, the park stretches across
is located) and walk to the China Art Museum, one of the largest over 40 hectares and features bamboo groves, lakes, streams with
art museums in Asia, located in a fascinating building with an enor- koi carps, and pavilions, and it represents one of the crown jewels of
mous multi-level roof entirely covered in red lacquer. It contains Shanghai’s tourism.
over 14,000 works of art, mostly modern, and its dozens of perma- If you want to have a taste of the city’s spirituality, you are not
nent and temporary exhibitions are well worth a visit. far from the Longhua Temple, the largest temple in Shanghai with
From there, choose one of the many bridges and cross the river its five buildings. Make sure to visit the majestic Mahavira Hall with
to reach the west bank of the city, called Puxi. Take a walk along the its enormous statue of Buddha, and the Buddhist Texts Library with
Bund, the waterfront, whose European-style historical buildings its 500 golden statues of arhats. After the cultural visit, refuel in an
tell of the colonial past of this metropolis. You can also enjoy a priv- outstanding restaurant that just received its second Michelin star:
ileged view of the skyline of Shanghai’s most futuristic skyscrapers the Bao Li Xuan, whose Cantonese cuisine offers a creative and un-
rising on the other side of the river. precedented take on local ingredients (try the house-made tofu and
Take your pick, you can take a boat to observe the city from the the scallops with bottarga).
water and enjoy a dinner of Chinese specialties, or you can experi- Your 48 hours in Shanghai are coming to an end. But before
ence one of the finest cuisines in the city: you are just a short walk you leave, there is nothing better than taking a walk in the French
from Ultraviolet, the experimental restaurant by Chef Paul Pairet, district, a large pedestrian area where wealthy European families
the only three-star Michelin restaurant in Shanghai as well as the created an Art Deco oasis in the heart of the city. The neighborhood
only multisensorial restaurant in the world (every course is accom- features a wide variety of colonial-style villas, calm streets lined
panied by lights, sounds, music, and scents). with trees, majestic Art Nouveau buildings, boutiques, art galleries,
With a little bit of luck, you could be among the ten guests and restaurants that still taste of Europe.

132 Experience Protagonist