Shanghai launched 25 new tourist routes to provide a feast for the eyes during CIIE

Photo via Xinhua

Shanghai’s tourism administration on Tuesday launched 25 new routes for tourists to enhance the travelling experiences of worldwide visitors during the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in the city.

As one of world’s most famous cities, Shanghai is known for its blend of classical culture and modern skylines. Twenty of the routes are within the city, including eight new routes for self-guided travelers, providing sightseers with half-day, full-day, or multi-day tours to suite their schedules and preferences.

First-time travelers to Shanghai can enjoy notable landmarks, including Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and cruises on Pujiang River. They can also experience the city’s ever-changing development through the one-day-long “Smart Tour,” which allows visitors to learn how technology has transformed the city after 40 years of reform and opening-up. Other routes include one for those interested in “red tourism” (revolutionary-themed tourism) and one for people who love Chinese food.

The local government also introduced five regional travel routes which cover the nearby cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou, through which travelers can be intoxicated by the enchanting scenery in neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

The administration also published travel brochures in both Chinese and English, aiming to provide bilingual suggestions for worldwide travelers. About 30,000 paper copies will be distributed at exhibition centers, consulting service centers, and major terminal stations, as well as at popular hotels and travel agencies. Visitors can also download a digital version and register for group tours online by scanning the official QR code.

More than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions have confirmed their participation so far and Shanghai is preparing to welcome more than 300,000 visitors during the expo.

Shanghai’s two main airports are expected to reach peak passenger flows on Nov. 3 and 4, and flight ticket orders have increased by 50 percent year-on-year, according to ThePaper.

“Sightseers in Shanghai will definitely have a memorable experience, no matter how many times they have visited the city before,” said Shen Chao, the marketing director of the tourism administration.