Explore Shanghai by night

You have been sightseeing or in business meetings all day. You do not want to have just drinks and dinner, you want more, you are only in Shanghai for a few days and you want to maximize your time. How do you spend a free evening that combines a bit of culture with a bit of fun?

1, Taste local snacks at City God Temple

City God Temple is a Taoist temple located next to Yuyuan Garden in the old city of Shanghai. The area around the temple is famous for its traditional Chinese architectures and various local snacks.

In the concrete jungle, this area has a unique existence with temples, pavilions, halls, and hanging lanterns. There are many street stalls with a random assortment of Shanghai’s foods and snacks, such as crab shell cakes, begonia cakes, and pan-fried buns. You can also find a lot of shops with handmade crafts, counterfeit goods, and folk art, among other items.

2, Walk and shop along Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is Shanghai's busiest shopping street lined with top-end shopping malls, old-brand shops, and traditional eateries.

When nighttime approaches, the street is lit up and becomes crowded with shoppers and tourists. Whether it is just going for a walk among the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, shopping, bar hopping, or dining in restaurants, this is the ideal place to find everything in one area.

3, Save Xintiandi for the evening

Xintiandi is a pedestrian district full of up-market shops and restaurants that are very lively at night and most shops are open late to welcome evening visitors before they have dinner or drinks. It is a good stop during the day but you can also leave it for the evening and enjoy walking around and people-watching before you head off for dinner. You can even catch a movie, the UME theater shows quite a few imports in the original language with Chinese subtitles.

4, Visit the Oriental Pearl Observation at night

The Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower is located in at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund, which makes it a distinct landmark in the area. It is the tallest in Asia and third of the TV towers in the world.

The body of the tower creates and admirable image, and it is described in in an ancient Chinese verse as ‘large and small pearls dropping on a plate of jade’. It consists of 3 gigantic columns, 5 small spheres, basement and the square.

5, Experience the Huangpu River Cruise

The bund is the cultural section of Shanghai that best represents the blending of ancient and modern influences. This renowned waterfront district is the city's most famous landmark. The word bund is of Anglo-Indian origin meaning "embankment on the waterfront," and you will experience the definition literally with a feeling of space and openness that you will not find anywhere else in Shanghai. Taking a Huangpu River cruise to enjoy the night view on the both bunds of Shanghai is a popular things for tourists to admire the charm of Shanghai.

Read more: Reasons why Shanghai is a great place to visit

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Best things to see and do in Taichung, Taiwan

Once thought of as an industrial city, Taichung is fast gaining popularity among the tourist masses. As a melting pot of both culinary and cultural delights, it’s easy to see why this vibrant city is one for the Taiwan bucket list.

Rainbow Village

This one-time home for former members of the military is now an incredible place full of vibrant colors. A former soldier who felt that the drab and dreary neighborhood could do with a bit of life and color started the project. Although the area was marked for demolition, Mr. Huang went ahead and painted every surface he could find in every color of the rainbow. Thanks to his efforts, it is now a protected cultural area and is well worth a visit.

Gaomei Wetlands

The Gaomei Wetlands, located on the Dajia River Estuary, is home to more than 120 species of bird. This area, comprising mudflats and sandy beaches with easy-to-navigate promenades throughout, is a popular spot for ecologists and birdwatchers alike. Take a couple of hours here in the evening, and you can enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Confucius Temple

Although this temple was built in the 1970s, it’s an impressive recreation of Song dynasty structures. It is a very relaxing place to visit, and tourists are more than welcome to take as many photos as they like. However, if you happen to be there on September 28th (Confucius’ birthday and Teacher’s Day), then be prepared for pure bedlam as locals flock to give thanks to Confucius.

Hit the night market

If there’s one thing Taiwan is famous for, it’s night markets, and in Taichung, there’s no shortage of them. But for the complete night market experience, head to Feng-Chia Night Market. It’s an incredible place full of food stalls where you can sample the famous local delicacies. There are also tons of clothing stalls so that you can get a little holiday shopping done.

Take a scenic bike ride

Hou-Feng Bikeway is a 4.5-kilometer-long (2.8 miles) route that takes you along an old railway line in Taichung’s Fengyuan District. On your ride, you get to cross an old iron railway bridge and pass through one of the railways old tunnels. It’s a pleasant ride, and riding through the tunnel is a fun experience that you’ll never forget.

Read more: A vibrant city in Taiwan, Kaohsiung

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Best Thailand destinations for a family trip

Thailand’s affordability, weather and array of activities make it a hot family-getaway destination. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best family-friendly places to visit in Thailand.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, Thailand’s mountainous cultural hub is a fantastic place to travel with the whole family. Chiang Mai has a calm and relaxed atmosphere and is small enough to easily gain your orientation. Chiang Mai offers a host of fun and exciting activities for all ages, including engaging museums, a great zoo, local markets, cooking schools, and much more! Chiang Mai’s surrounding countryside offers trekking, rafting, zip lining, elephant sanctuaries and the opportunity to visit remote hill tribe communities.

Pai

For those looking for an alternative option, look no further than Pai. Pai not only is a great place for a family holiday it also has a great resident community of local Thai and expat families. Pai has a circus training school, jungle trekking, rafting and plenty of healthy places to eat. Pai is best reached by renting a car in Chiang Mai and driving. Chiang Dao is a great place to stop en route to explore the caves and stunning temple.

Bangkok

Bangkok is a bustling hub of exciting and fun things to explore. The city has a huge number of family-friendly activities from theme parks, snake farms and museums to indoor playgrounds for the little ones. Sometimes the best travel memories are created by small activities, for example, trying new foods, exploring local markets or simply playing in one of Bangkok’s many green parks.

Krabi

The beach lovers destination of Krabi is the perfect place to relax on a family-friendly holiday in Thailand. Not only are there some of the country’s best beaches in Krabi, it is also a fantastic place to pick up a snorkel and mask and become acquainted with Thailand’s beautiful underwater world. In the surrounding area, there is also plenty of options for fun day trips to national parks, waterfalls, elephant sanctuaries or, for the older kids, a chance to try rock climbing on some of the world’s best climbing spots.

Phuket

Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular destinations. Phuket has it all from gorgeous beaches and a fascinating old town to aquariums and horseback riding. Many of the island’s resorts offer kids clubs and babysitting services enabling mum and dad to get a well-earned break too. Phuket is easily reached from most parts of Thailand and has direct flights from many other countries making getting there hassle-free.

Koh Chang

For a more local laid-back beach option head to Koh Chang. Koh Chang is a popular destination for backpackers and families alike. Koh Chang has every accommodation option available from cheap bungalows on the beach to boutique dream-like resorts. Koh Chang offers simple genuine family fun including swimming, snorkelling, building sandcastles and exploring waterfalls.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui has long been one of Thailand’s favourite family holiday destinations. Not only is Koh Samui easy to get to, it also has everything one would want and more packed onto the island. If you prefer to be in the thick of it head to Chaweng beach or for a quieter beach getaway base yourself in Mae Nam. Many resorts have kids’ programs on offer and there are plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from. For something, a little different take your tribe to make new furry friends by volunteering at the animal rescue centre for the day.

See more: The most romantic resorts for a honeymoon in Thailand

Source: Internet