Best Of Fukuoka Cruise ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Shanghai (Baoshan) , China | Fukuoka , Japan | Shanghai (Baoshan) , China
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Shanghai (Baoshan), China
BACK TO THE FUTURE
When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighbourhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town – check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.
When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighbourhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town – check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.
in Shanghai (Baoshan)
Better in the Bund
The Bund is Shanghai's art deco heritage neighbourhood, with colonial architecture from the 1920s and '40s. Walk along the riverfront promenade at the golden hour for beautiful photos – from here, you can see the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong's skyscrapers across the river.
Height of Adventure
Take a river cruise to see some of Shanghai's modern architectural highlights: The 470-metre-tall Oriental Pearl Tower looks like something straight out of the Jetsons, while the twisting Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world, is meant to evoke a lucky dragon coming out of the earth. The World Finance Centre Tower looks like a giant bottle opener.
Ancient Ambience
Get a feel for old China by wandering through the Yu Garden during your Shanghai cruise holiday. The classical garden is 400 years old, with carp-filled pools and bamboo groves. See more of ancient China at the Shanghai Museum, which has 120,000 ancient relics, including bronze artefacts and sculptures.
Local Cuisine
Eating in Shanghai is all about street food. You'll see people drinking from giant dumplings through strwas in a dish called xiao long bao – a soup dumpling. Join in, or eat them with chopsticks in a sit-down restaurant. Try cold noodles with eel, ginger and bamboo shoots, or pick up a flaky, pork-flecked spring onion pancake – this comfort food is practically a way of life here.
Shopping
It's hard not to find shopping in Shanghai. Nanjing Road is the busiest, with everything from speciality food shops to modern shopping centre. If you have time to get something tailored, try the South Bund Fabric Market. During your China cruise, pick up a distinctive Chinese red lantern at the Antique Market or at most street markets.
INSIDER TIP
China's currency is the renminbi (abbreviated as RMB) and also called the yuan. Shanghai has lots of cash machines, though not all accept foreign cards. Smaller Chinese cities don't always have cash machines, so it's wise to stock up on extra cash in Shanghai.
CRUISING
Fukuoka, Japan
FUKUOKA’S GOT FLAVOUR
Fukuoka is a historic port city where cultural imports from the Asian mainland were introduced to Japan. Explore Japan's first Zen Buddhist temple at Shofukuji. Then, see the ruins of Fukuoka Castle amid the dazzling cherry blossoms of Maizuru Park. Or hit the sands at Momochi Seaside Park, a long artificial beach along the waterfront, with modern skyscrapers towering behind you and forest-covered mountains in the distance.
Fukuoka is a historic port city where cultural imports from the Asian mainland were introduced to Japan. Explore Japan's first Zen Buddhist temple at Shofukuji. Then, see the ruins of Fukuoka Castle amid the dazzling cherry blossoms of Maizuru Park. Or hit the sands at Momochi Seaside Park, a long artificial beach along the waterfront, with modern skyscrapers towering behind you and forest-covered mountains in the distance.
in Fukuoka
Towering Views
Head over to the 768-foot Fukuoka Tower for stunning views of the city and the coast. Then take a relaxing stroll on the beach right next door at Momochi Seaside Park. To cool down, get familiar with local history at the nearby Fukuoka City Museum, which houses the Gold Seal, a national treasure linked to the foundations of Japan as a country.
Get Centered
Founded in the late 12th century by the priest Eisai, Shofukuji is Japan's first temple dedicated to Zen Buddhism. The philosophy of Zen grew to become a central teaching for Japan's samurai warriors. The tranquil grounds here are perfect for reflection or a respite from the bustle of the city.
Bee-Line for Shrines
On the outskirts of Fukuoka, Dazaifu is a historic administrative center packed with temples and shrines. During your Fukuoka, Japan cruise, head to the grandest of them all, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to scholar Sugawara Michizane. Some 40 kilometers south but easily reachable by train, you can find Yanagawa, an ancient castle town of gorgeous old canals overhung by willows and cherry trees.
Local Cuisine
Fukuoka is synonymous with noodles. While ramen originated in China, Fukuoka took the dish to new heights with its hearty tonkotsu broth — made from long-simmered pork bones — and long, thin noodles. One of the best ways to enjoy this dish is at an outdoor yatai stand, where the beer and sake flow.
Shopping
In Fukuoka, you can pick up Hakata ningyo, ceramic dolls that were first made in the 17th century and gained international renown in the 19th. They're elaborately painted and can be remarkably lifelike. Shogetsudo in the Nakasu district offers a wide selection of dolls — you can even create your own.
INSIDER TIP
There's no tipping in Japan, but there is a blanket 8 percent sales tax. Look for tax-free sales promotions.
CRUISING
Shanghai (Baoshan), China
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Most international flights arrive at Pudong Airport. Take the bullet train into the city; it takes only 8 minutes between the airport and Longyang Road Station. From there, check out Longhua Temple: You'll recognise its two-metre-tall copper bell from Steven Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun'. Then, marvel at the modern skycrapers of Pudong – head to the Oriental Pearl Tower with its three distinctive spheres and get a 360-degree view of the city from the observation deck.
Most international flights arrive at Pudong Airport. Take the bullet train into the city; it takes only 8 minutes between the airport and Longyang Road Station. From there, check out Longhua Temple: You'll recognise its two-metre-tall copper bell from Steven Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun'. Then, marvel at the modern skycrapers of Pudong – head to the Oriental Pearl Tower with its three distinctive spheres and get a 360-degree view of the city from the observation deck.
in Shanghai (Baoshan)
Better in the Bund
The Bund is Shanghai's art deco heritage neighbourhood, with colonial architecture from the 1920s and '40s. Walk along the riverfront promenade at the golden hour for beautiful photos – from here, you can see the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong's skyscrapers across the river.
Height of Adventure
Take a river cruise to see some of Shanghai's modern architectural highlights: The 470-metre-tall Oriental Pearl Tower looks like something straight out of the Jetsons, while the twisting Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world, is meant to evoke a lucky dragon coming out of the earth. The World Finance Centre Tower looks like a giant bottle opener.
Ancient Ambience
Get a feel for old China by wandering through the Yu Garden during your Shanghai cruise holiday. The classical garden is 400 years old, with carp-filled pools and bamboo groves. See more of ancient China at the Shanghai Museum, which has 120,000 ancient relics, including bronze artefacts and sculptures.
Local Cuisine
Eating in Shanghai is all about street food. You'll see people drinking from giant dumplings through strwas in a dish called xiao long bao – a soup dumpling. Join in, or eat them with chopsticks in a sit-down restaurant. Try cold noodles with eel, ginger and bamboo shoots, or pick up a flaky, pork-flecked spring onion pancake – this comfort food is practically a way of life here.
Shopping
It's hard not to find shopping in Shanghai. Nanjing Road is the busiest, with everything from speciality food shops to modern shopping centre. If you have time to get something tailored, try the South Bund Fabric Market. During your China cruise, pick up a distinctive Chinese red lantern at the Antique Market or at most street markets.
INSIDER TIP
Check visa rules carefully. They vary greatly depending on your nationality, length of stay, where you visit and if you re-enter the country.
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INSIDER TIP