After having breakfast in the hotel, your second day starts from the 1 People's Square, located in one of the few large green spaces in the city. The lush plant and tree-filled park is 459,000 square feet of open area surrounded by buildings. The 2 Municipal Government Mansion dominates the North end of the region, though the 3 Shanghai Grand Theatre sits in dominion over the Northwest corner. The park is lovely by day, but truly shines at night when the light plays off the windows and roofs of these two great edifices.
　　The 4 Shanghai Museum is found in this area, and is well worth a visit. The exhibits focus on Chinese art, culture and history. The eleven galleries and three exhibition halls include examples of costumes, Buddhist sculptures, pottery and ceramics, jade carvings, paintings, silks and furniture. The building itself is an architectural marvel and a testament to Chinese philosophy and culture. The museum has a round top and square base, which is exemplary of the Chinese idea that the earth is square beneath a round sky.
　　You may also want to take a look at the 5Jing’an Temple. If you’re ready for lunch, try the Shanghai Center on the West Nanjing Road, which is famous for Chinese and international food. While most of Shanghai is not that old, Jing’an’s roots date back to the third century AD. It is by far the oldest shrine in the city, though it did do a brief stint as a plastics factory during the Cultural Revolution. In 1983, it was converted back to a functioning temple. A full renovation was started in 2003 and should be completed by the end of this year.
　　Perhaps pandas are more in line with your plans. Head west to the 6 Shanghai Zoo, where you can see spider monkeys, lemurs, flamingos, tigers, polar bears, parrots, and of course, pandas. There are dozens of other exhibits in this world-class zoo, which you can learn more about by visiting its Web site at http://www.shanghaizoo.cn/En/.
　　Note: Depending on your level of interest, you may end up staying here longer than just the morning, as there is plenty here to investigate.
　　You can also see the 7 Jade Buddha Temple while in the area. The centerpieces of the temple are two Buddhas — one seated and one reclining – carved from whole blocks of sparkling crystal white jade. The statues are adorned with gold and precious gems and are housed in settings befitting their glory.
　　When you have had your fill of the People’s Square (or the zoo or Jade Buddha Temple), head North to Nanjing Road. In the early 20th century, there was very little shopping to be found in this area of the city. Then Nanjing Road, the first commercial road in Shanghai, was added, and the region has grown into one of the top shopping districts in the city.
　　After sunset, this road really lights up! The street and neon lights are a stunning tribute to all things commercial and cosmopolitan. Be sure to dine at one of the trendy eateries lining the road. We recommend the 8 Tea Garden Dining Hall in The Portman Ritz Carlton. After dinner, you can catch some traditional Chinese theater at the nearby Shanghai Grand Theatres. Don’t stay up too late though – you have one more day of Shanghai ahead of you!

　　If you are traveling with children or are a kid at heart and would like to view some 1920s Shanghai history, take a trip to the 1 Great World entertainment complex. Part arcade, part music hall, part circus, this all-in-one amusement center has a little something for everyone. Among the amusements are a bumper car rink, a Guinness World Records hall, folk dancing, martial arts and acrobatic demonstrations, and video and arcade games. The hours of operation are typically 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with live demonstrations and shows running throughout the day.
　　After visiting Great World, try 2 Shikumen for a change of pace. Shikumen is the essence of shabby chic. The buildings in this district began life as unique “tenement row houses” only found in Shanghai. The homes are not traditionally Chinese, nor are they Western or colonial. Instead, they are a vaguely uncomfortable but fascinating mixture of the two, originally designed in the late 1800s and early 1900s to house Chinese workers in the Western quarter of the city.
　　The well-known 3 Xin Tian Di has transformed the area by renovating such houses. This stylish quarter of the city was revitalized by the same group behind Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong area. Expensive shops, trendy pubs and glitzy restaurants are the standard here. Prices for foods at these eateries start at around RMB 200. If you prefer a more modest but still stylish luncheon experience, try the mall complex at 4 Xin Tian Di South to find several fast-food and mid-range eateries.
　　Next, head over to 5 Hengshan Road, also known as Shanghai’s Champs Elysees. The French influence is reflected in the shops and restaurants that line the street. Restaurants, pubs, cafes, bookstores, galleries, and curiosity shops line the road, giving it a rather Bohemian atmosphere of leisure and decadent sophistication.
　　Hengshan Road is perhaps most famous for its drinking establishments. The area has attracted sailors, diplomats, workers and scholars for centuries, and as such has a watering hole for everyone. While there are trendier places to go, the heart and soul of the city’s nightlife is here.
　　Yet another place where “old meets new” is 6 Yuyuan Gardens. Yuyuan is not far from The Bund on the Southwestern side of the city.
　　The gardens themselves are lovely, and have a great history. They were first completed in 1577 by the Pan family, though they have been destroyed twice since then. Aggressive restoration efforts have seen them completely renovated and they are now often very busy. You can go to Lvbolang Restaurant to have dinner. 7 Lvbolang Restaurant is a famous old, state-run restaurant in the Yu Garden area, offering all kinds of delicacies.
　　Around the Gardens, in the 8 Old City God’s Temple, “touristy-ness” has taken hold. However, interspersed among the T-shirt shops and souvenir stands are some treats, so keep your eyes open. Antique fairs and markets occasionally spring up on the street, and the side roads are not nearly as heavily renovated as the main thoroughfares – so a little exploring can be quite rewarding.
　　After dinner, head back out onto the ritzy main drag and have drinks or dance the night away at a disco or bar. Plenty of pubs offer live music, or you might find a gallery keeping late hours.
　　When you finally stumble back to your hotel room for some well-deserved rest, you can sleep well knowing you have seen a little bit of everything that Shanghai has to offer. If you have more time in the city, head back to your favorite areas of interest or to see more of things you had to cut short. If you’re on your way home, know you have seen some of the most amazing and unique sights in the world while enjoying the Pearl of the Orient.