Short trip to Shanghai, 上海

Beautiful Night View of Pudong

In Oct. I had a chance to visit Shanghai for 4 days.
I have stayed in Courtyard Marriott Puxi, one of the 18 Marriott's hotels in Shanghai. 
Those 18 facilities are; One JW Marriott, Two Executive Apartments, Two Ritz-Carlton, Four Marriott, Five Renaissance and Four Courtyard.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel Puxi

It was very nice staying in Courtyard Puxi. The hotel with 416 rooms is one of the biggest as a Courtyard hotel.

Hotel is still new and good location too -5 minutes walk to subway station and 10 minutes walk to Shanghai main station-. Getting around by taxi to Bund about 28RMB (4.5USD)  to Xintiandi about 20RMB (3.2USD). Room is also nice and clean, big enough. Only without a bathtub, it's not a big deal.  

JW Marriott Hotel & Executive Apartments at Tomorrow Square

Unique structured building with 60 stories includes JW Marriott Hotel and Executive Apartments.

Next to the building, on the ground floor, there are shops of Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche. As Chinese economy keeps growing, all the famous brands come into China from all over the world!

That is also same for Marriott International brand which has just announced 100th hotels in China. And it will open average of one hotel a month in China for at least the next three years.

Newly opened, Marriott City Centre

18th hotel in Shanghai has just opened in this fall 2011.
Marriott City Centre has a famous Japanese restaurant "Inagiku" inside the hotel.

Famous Shanghainese Sheng Jian Bao (left), Xiao Long Bao and Guan Tang Bao

Shanghainese local cuisine is still remain the same and keeps attracting people.
Many tourists from in and out side of Shanghai come over to enjoy its famous food, like  Sheng JIan Bao or Xiao Long Bao.

 Twilight in the Bund (Wai Tan) 

The Bund, the area of former Shanghai International Settlement, attracts people because of its beautiful 19th Century Europian style buildings. Those buildings with 100 years of history were originally consulates and banks from outside countries.

It is so pretty and hard to believe you are in China!

SUN with AQUA" Japanese Dining & Bar

SFBI (Suntory F&B International), opened a restaurant in the Bund, 2006, when I was working for one of their restaurants inside Shangri-La Taipei.

One of the reasons I visited Shanghai was to see my old days friends, Chef Maki-san and restaurant manager Kawashima-san. I was so happy to see them both and the stunning restaurant.  

Tian Zi Fang

Tian Zi Fang is the latest tourist attraction area, known for small craft stores, coffee shops, trendy art studios and narrow alleys. This area slowly became famous as some artists opened their galleries in this area followed by restaurants, cafe and so on...

The area became "China's Best Creative Industry Park" in 2006. 

City keeps growing...

As China's economy grows, a city of Shanghai keeps grow too. More new buildings and less old buildings. I hope they keep some part of history remain the same...