The city of Shanghai is certainly not moving slowly. And it knows where it is going too. The Malta Independent editor Stephen Calleja was one of a group of editors who spent a few days in Shanghai to learn more about this fast-growing city, courtesy of Emirates Airline and KD Travel. This is his experience…

I could not help but feel overwhelmed when I landed in Shanghai. It was evening, and the city was literally lit up. The high-rise buildings that dot the city, all in different shapes and sizes, all seemed to be in competition as to which one will dazzle visitors the most. And the competition is set to increase too as more skyscrapers are being built.

Shanghai is different from Beijing. Completely different. Beijing is the historical cradle of China; Shanghai is more cosmopolitan, more business-oriented, more westernised.

Built on the delta of the Yangtze River in the south-east of China, Shanghai boasts of a population that is bigger than that of the capital city – 18 million against Beijing’s 15 million. And the population is set to grow as more and more businesses look at Shanghai as the base for their transactions; and more business attracts more visitors and therefore more hotels.

But Shanghai is a tourist attraction in itself. It may not have the palaces and the historical treasures of Beijing, but the view from the so-called Bund as one climbs up from street level to the promenade opposite the “new” Pudong area is so breathtaking that it is worth to visit the city just to experience it.

Chris, our female guide in Shanghai, explained that there was a time when the Bund area was the place where lovers met and went out on their first dates. Today, the place has become so frequented by people that they are seeking quieter places. Still, when we were there, there were many couples who walked hand in hand or simply held each other while gazing across the river, the woman holding a flower in her hand.

Far less romantic were the people selling objects to passers-by and, in similar style to what had taken place in Beijing, they tugged at our coats calling out prices while showing us their wares. It was not easy to get rid of them, but by now we had got used to them and it became part of the fun to try to dodge them or try to force out a deal, often with no intention of buying at all.

When we went to the bund the next morning it was just as busy, but this time we did not walk along the promenade. Instead, we went on a cruise on one of the many boats that offer such services on the Huangpu River. In broad daylight, we could admire the skyline which, we were told, continues to change year after year. We were also fortunate to see a large vessel bearing the Maltese flag leaving the harbour at the time we were waiting for the cruise to start.

Shanghai has its own places of interest, and one of them is the Yu Garden, a place built more than 400 years ago by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Yu in Chinese means pleasing, and the tranquil atmosphere that can be found in this place was certainly satisfying.

The Jade Buddha Temple is another major attraction. It is an active Chan Buddhist monastery which hosts two white jade buddhas – the temple’s biggest treasures.

The Shanghai Museum in the heart of the city is also worth a visit. When we were there, an exhibition of paintings by Dutch artist Rembrandt had joined the permanent features of the museum, largely Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, and artefacts.

We were also taken to a silk factory, where we were taken through step by step through the process of producing silk to the making of carpets and clothes. I was amazed to learn that some carpets take one employee one full year to complete.

For those people who enjoy entertainment, attending the acrobatic show where teenagers left us breathless with their stunts for 90 minutes. China is famous for such shows, and this one is definitely worth seeing. Coming out of the theatre, we could not help remark on how China is prepared to astonish the world with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Many of those reading this article – and the one about Beijing – must be wondering why I have not mentioned anything about shopping, except for the “hello people” who you are already familiar with.

Well, how about telling you about a road that is six kilometres long and is lined with shops, one next to the other, on both sides? If you’re interested, jot down this name – Nanjing Road – and, if you’re going, make sure that you dedicate one full day for the trip, perhaps more.

We only had two hours there, but it was enough to see that there is everything that money can buy, from the cheapest objects to the most expensive ones. All the big brand names are there too. Be prepared to spend.

One word about tea. In China, you have the opportunity to taste as many different kinds of tea that you can imagine. I am no lover of tea, but once there I tried several of them and ended up buying a few boxes.

The Chinese seem to have a different kind of tea for every ailment, every condition and every malady. Some are bitter, some are sweet. Tea is the first thing they give you when you enter a restaurant. And if you thought that green and black tea are the only ones that exist, you will find out that the list is endless.

The week in China – the first three days were passed in Beijing – passed like a flash and it was time to go home. It was an enriching experience, one that I would certainly recommend.

Enjoy it.

The first part of this article, on Beijing, was published on 14 December

Some more tips

• If traffic in Beijing was chaotic, traffic is Shanghai was probably more dangerous. So be careful especially when crossing roads. At least the countdown timers that form part of the traffic light system do help.

• Road signs are mostly in Chinese, so it is difficult to find your way on your own. Taxis are cheap in Shanghai too as they were in Beijing, but always remember to take your hotel card with you with the name of the hotel written in Chinese.

• If you are on your own, and would like to visit some place, get one of the hotel staff to write the place in Chinese. Hotel staff speak English, but many taxi drivers do not.

• If you plan to visit China, do not leave it to the last minute. There might be places on the tour, but it takes a few days to issue a visa.

• The low tourist season in China is July and September, which happens to be a time when many Maltese people travel. Going there in these months will help you find thinner crowds.

From Malta to Beijing with Emirates

Emirates flight EK108 leaves Malta at 14:50, arrives in Larnaca, Cyprus at 18:10 leaves Larnaca at 19:30 and arrives in Dubai International Airport at 00:40hrs the following day. EK 306 flight to Peking (Beijing) leaves Dubai at 03:00 and arrives at 14:45, or else EK 308 leaving Dubai at 12:50 and arrives in Peking at 00:35hrs the following day.

The return flight to Dubai, EK 309 leaves Peking at 05:50 and arrives at 11:10 or else departure at 23:30 on EK 307 and arriving in Dubai at 04:50 on the following day. EK 107 leaves Dubai at 8:15, stops in Larnaca at 10:25 and leaves at 11:30 and arrives in Malta at 13:20.

This familiarisation trip was organised by Emirates in conjunction with KD Travel, specialist in group and individual travel to China.