It’s the view you’re going for: on a clear day, Jin Mao Tower offers incredible 360-degree panoramas across the city. It’s 88 storeys high and located at number 88 — have you guessed that eight is a lucky number for the Chinese? There are offices up to the 50th floor, then the Grand Hyatt hotel from floors 53 to 87. A public observation deck is located on the top floor. Otherwise, forget the lucky numbers and go for a drink at the Grand Hyatt’s Cloud 9 bar, just one storey below.

Xintiandi, an upscale car-free district in Shanghai, emerged in the late 1990s as a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment hub. Originally a neighbourhood of traditional Shikumen houses, many were replaced with modern apartments to improve living conditions, sparking concerns about the potential loss of cultural heritage. In response, the government preserved some Shikumen structures, blending history with contemporary flair. Today, Xintiandi stands as a dazzling landmark, boasting fine restaurants, chic clubs and luxury boutiques, seamlessly integrating Shanghai's past with its cosmopolitan present.

A fascinating adventure through the island's past via the over 900 plant species contained in this well-maintained botanical garden awaits visitors to the domaine du Café Grillé, where the journey starts at a modern creole garden and ends at a lush forest containing indigenous plants.