Business Traveller (Middle East)

4 HOURS IN STOCKHOLM

Beyond the Bund there are plenty of historic districts, modern enclaves and ample shopping opportunit­ies to explore,

- writes Craig Bright

Tom Otley enjoys the sights of the Swedish capital

1 NANJING ROAD

China’s most famous shopping street is a fivekilome­tre stretch of retail wonder with hundreds of outlets to peruse. Start near the iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel that sits on the Bund (Ok, we said “beyond the Bund”, but really it would be madness to visit Shanghai without drinking in the sights at least once!), and from there work your way west. You’ll find fashionabl­e local boutiques, high-end brands from Tiffany to Mont Blanc, as well as plenty of cafés, restaurant­s and bars. The section from the Bund to People’s Park can get extremely crowded – sometimes it feels like the whole city is on one street.

2 PEOPLE’S PARK

After giving your wallet a work out, leave Nanjing Road and enter People’s Park. This green oasis is a favourite with locals and a great place to observe charming scenes of everyday life, from local card tournament­s to practising t’ai chi. Hidden in the woods you’ll see the Museum of Contempora­ry Art Shanghai, which hosts rotating modern art and design exhibition­s throughout the year. Current exhibition “Apple+” features the lifework of Japanese designer Ken Miki, specifical­ly summarisin­g his “Learning to Design, Designing to Learn” theory on design education, through the simplistic form of an apple. Entry to the museum costs RMB80 (US$12); open 10am-6pm daily; mocashangh­ai.org

3 XINTIANDI

If you haven’t managed to get your fill of shopping on Nanjing Road, then the slightly more upscale offerings just south of Huaihai Road in the city’s trendy Xintiandi district are a safe bet. Beginning just south of People’s Square, head down Madang Road past The Langham and Andaz hotels to explore the European-cum-Chinese Xintiandi entertainm­ent district. Small shops, art galleries and restaurant­s with indoor and outdoor seating are dotted throughout the area, and its thin alleyways comprising old brickwork buildings can be a joy to explore on foot.

4 TIANZIFANG

From Xintiandi, head southwest farther into the French Concession – a historic area with picturesqu­e buildings and large, leafy avenues. There’s plenty to explore, but a highlight is Tianzifang, an arts and crafts enclave that has been repurposed from a traditiona­l residentia­l area. The entrance is subtle, but enter and you’ll find a maze of narrow alleys, populated with small dwellings housing modern coffee shops, cafés, galleries, boutiques, restaurant­s and bars. Address: Lane 210, Taikang Road.

5 JING’AN TEMPLE

Compared with heritagela­den Beijing, Shanghai is certainly lighter on historical sightseein­g opportunit­ies, but Jing’an Temple proves the city is not devoid of offerings. A 15-minute taxi ride from Tianzifang will get you back to West Nanjing Road where it is located. Tracing its origins back to the third century AD during China’s Three Kingdoms period, the Buddhist temple has been relocated, refreshed and rebuilt a few times, but is nonetheles­s unmistakab­le for its red walls, golden roofs and towering spire. Comprising multiple buildings that enclose a central courtyard, this is a good place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the Jing’an business district. Open 7.30am-5pm daily, entrance fee RMB50 (US$8).

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