Chinese Palatial Architecture & Chinese Martial Arts (WUSHU) Museum

Shanghai’s many historic buildings have a variety of characteristics, charting the changing fortune of the city over the past century, and university campuses are a prime example of this. Chinese palatial architecture is a common sight in the older, large cities of northernChina, such as Beijing and Xian, but is rarely seen in the south. The former Shanghai Special Government Headquarters (now a Shanghai Sports University office building) is a contemporary version of the Forbidden City’s Taihe Temple .

The Chinese Martial Arts Museum (Wushu Museum) in Shanghai was established to present genuine Chinese Kung Fu to all visitors. Located in the gymnasium of Shanghai University of Sports, the Chinese Martial Arts Museum provides a good platform to help people better understand Chinese martial arts which are beneficial for both self-protection and fitness. This is the first multifunctional museum in the world to display all aspects of the history and culture of Kung Fu.

Shanghai Landmark Tour

Located in the center of Shanghai south of middle Huaihai road, Xin-Tian- Di has become an urban attraction which illustrates the historical and cultural legacy of the city. It is a fashionable pedestrian street composed of both Shikumen (Shanghai’s traditional residential buildings) and modern architecture. Nearby is the historical meeting site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, considered to be the birthplace of Communist China.

The Huangpu River is the mother river of Shanghai. The Bund, the famous and attractive waterfront along the west bank of the Huangpu River, has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. There are twenty-six diverse buildings of different architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classical and Renaissance. The Bund is a must-see landmark site in Shanghai. The night scene is beautiful beyond description when lights are focused on the World Architecture Exhibition on the Bund which spreads along the 1000-meter-long embankment of the Huangpu River. The most bustling section includes the well-known urban landscape of Shanghai. Taking a boat cruise on the Huangpu River is also a traditional tourist attraction in Shanghai. Cruising the river allows a panoramic view of the urban landscape on both banks. The east bank of the river is the newer district of Shanghai, its financial and commercial hub, named Lujiazui. It is now one of Shanghai’s most charming places. It provides the most substantial cross-section of cosmopolitan Shanghai. Lujiazui boasts not only an “outdoor museum of global architecture,” but also frames the skyline of modern Shanghai with its modern skyscrapers.

Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts

The regal white building that houses the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts dates back to the early 1900s. Visitors will find a vast collection of local artwork and artifacts that highlight the city’s history, development, and design. Though the museum is relatively small compared to others in the city, travelers say the coin and bill collection and jade and bamboo carvings are some of the best around. What makes this museum different from other museums is that visitors can see the artists at work, while they are seated in different rooms according to their craft. The first floor of the museum showcases paper-cutting, painted lanterns, paintings, and antiques. The second floor showcases various carvings of jade, ivory, wood, ink-stone, bamboo, porcelain, and lacquerware. The third and final floor of the museum showcases Gu embroidery, woolen

needlepoint embroidery, theatrical costumes, woolen knitting, and dough modeling. The Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts is a melting pot of two cultures. It showcases the various crafts of Shanghai within the French interior design of carved ceiling swirls, fresh flowers above the fireplace, and red carpet on the spiral staircase. The three exhibition halls of national arts and crafts, sculpture, and brocades respectively and about ten specialized workrooms in the main building bring together about 50 industrious, artistic professionals.

Shanghai Local Food Tour and Acrobatics Show

Students will be able to satisfy their taste for traditional Chinese food while on this culinary tour in Shanghai City Center. After sampling some typical Shanghai-ness dishes, the group will then attend an acrobatics show! The ERA is a multimedia odyssey whose inspiration is a direct result of the combination of traditional Chinese acrobatic arts and modern technology. Just like Shanghai, ERA evolves through a constant collision between the past and the future. Not only will the audience be amazed by the acrobats’ control and precision, they will be enchanted by the world that is created by using multimedia technology, lighting and sound effects, elaborate costumes, original live music and much more!

Shanghai's History and Development Exhibition Hall & World Financial Center

Located at the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Lujiazui of Pudong New District, the Shanghai History and Development Exhibition Hall is an exhibit of the Shanghai History Museum.The museum is dedicated to the century-long history of the city of Shanghai. Visitors can enjoy a tour of Shanghai’s past via a collection of waxwork figures and historic relics. Equipped with modern technology such as video and simulation, the museum also presents a vivid picture of old Shanghai city, covering six sections including the former concessions and old footsteps in Shanghai.

The Shanghai World Financial Center is a symbol of commerce and culture that speaks to the city’s emergence as a global capital. Located in Shanghai’s Lujiazui of Pudong District, the multi-use Shanghai World Financial Center is a vertical city, containing offices, conference facilities, urban retail and dining spaces, and a hotel. Above the hotel, on the 94th to 100th floors, is a visitor’s center and observatory.

Suzhou

Today, Suzhou is considered a core city of China’s Yangtze River Delta economic zone, due to its high GDP contribution. In recent history, it has been a center of the silk trade and known for its gardens and canals. Suzhou has long been a haven for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen, which holds true even today.

Suzhou was the capital of the Wu kingdom from the 12th to 4th century BC. Historically, it was the center of Wu culture, and its dialect (Wu language) is still considered the standard dialect, even though the language is now often called “Shanghainese.” Suzhou is a modern bustling city, although you can still see traces of a very old lifestyle centered around its canals.

Jinji Lake, the largest inland city lake in China, is located in the central part of the Suzhou Industrial Park, just east of Suzhou’s old city. Deriving its name from the legendary golden rooster (Jinji) that once fell into a boat on the lake, Jinji Lake occupies an area of 10 square kilometers. The landmark buildings of Jinji Lake currently include the SSCAC Culture and Arts Centre, the Suzhou Expo Centre, and the Ferris Wheel Park. The Suzhou International Expo Centre intends to become a major venue and host for conferences and exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region. The shape of the Expo Centre is unique, resembling a huge open fan.The architectural structure of the SSCAC, located on the eastern side of Jinji Lake, bears a resemblance to Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest”, thus sometimes referred to as the Suzhou bird’s nest. There is even a massive LED Sky Screen that is said to be the largest in the world. As Suzhou’s ‘New Heaven on Earth’, Jinji Lake is definitely a must-visit place of interest!

Beijing

API students will tour the capital of China, where they will be visiting such treasures as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Olympic Center, and the Silk Market.

Nanjing and Wuxi

Literally “the southern capital”, Nanjing was an ancient metropolis of six different dynasties in China. The city is in a perfect location with majestic scenes of high hills, deep rivers and a big plain. Students will explore the Confucius Temple, Ming City, Walls, and more in Nanjing. Located in the middle of the Yangze Delta, Wuxi, a coastal city, one of the fifteen economic centers
and ten important tourist cities of China. The city is bordered by the famous Taihu lake and the Grand Canal also passes by the city.

WuZhen and Hangzhou – Water Town

Wuzhen, a 1300-year-old water town on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is a national 5A scenic area and one of China’s top ten historic, cultural towns. It is located in northern Zhejiang Province, at the center of the golden triangle made up of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. This small town, whose black brick and tile roofs contrast sharply with their white walls, appears like a Chinese ink wash drawing.

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