Shanghai Daily News

The city selected its "10 best tour routes for visitors," the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission announced yesterday.

The routes were chosen from more than 1,000 applications by more than 4,000 voters.

"I heard many friends and visitors to Shanghai complain that the city offers no beautiful and interesting places to go," said Zhang Xiaoyue, one of the designers.

"So I designed a route to remind people of some good places they've overlooked."

The commission put the routes on its Website (http://05you.online.sh.cn/temp/index.php) and recommends them to all tourists.

1. Glorious history and exquisite older buildings

People visit the Former Residence of Chen Yun (1905-1995) in Qingpu District to see the revolutionary history of the Communist Party of China, and visit Jinze Ancient Town famous for its canals and ancient bridges.

2. "New" Shanghai in one day

Tourists view the most characteristic architectures and scenic sites of modern Shanghai and feel the city's rapid progress. The sites include the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Maglev train.

3. Shanghai's past and present for 71 yuan

The package is cheap and suits first-time visitors. Please don't forget to try Shanghai's traditional foods and snacks such as nanxiang xiaolong, small stuffed steamed bread.

4. Salute to arts

Tourists view ancient Chinese paintings while walking along the "art street" on Taikang Road, flutes made 8,000 years ago at Oriental Musical Instrument Museum, and fine folk embroidery works in the Shanghai Folk Arts and Crafts Museum.

5. Bookworm tour

Looking for interesting titles to read? Numerous bookstores on Fuzhou Road and a regular book fair at Shanghai Confucian Temple are the best choices. Built in 1294, the temple was once the city's highest learning institution and is now the only downtown site of Confucian study.

6. All about tea

Let's first drink a cup of superb green tea in Qiuping Tea-Banquet House, the only restaurant in the city that offers various dishes made of different types of tea, and then, visit the private tea pot museum of Xu Sihai, where the collection dates to prehistoric times.

7. Commemoration of Heroes

The route offers sites like the Baoshan Martyr's Cemetery, Memorial of Chen Huacheng, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) general who died in the First Opium War), and a Memorial of Resisting the Japanese Attack of Shanghai in 1937. It provides people a good chance to recall the great deeds of our national heroes.

8. Parks in Pudong

Sites such as Shanghai Natural Wild Insect Kingdom and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium are ideal for children who like animals and nature.

9. Art, History and Theater

Simply go to the People's Square area where Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Art Museum and Shanghai Grand Theater can be found and you may have an excellent cultural journey.

10. Fishing and Boating

People can go fishing at Oriental Land in Qingpu District, and then, look for delicious folk snacks in nearby Zhujiajiao watertown.