Last month I  ventured to Shanghai with my family combined with my husbands business trip. The buzz word destination in Asia where a number of multinational companies seem to be setting up shop. Would we relocate there? Well...... lets call it an adventure and well worth the journey, even though my initial thoughts were that I would be visiting a highly polluted, soulless city.
 
We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which I wouldn't really recommend but I have heard that the Somerset Grand apartments are more than adequate. There was plenty to do on offer with two youngsters though, here are just a few things we did:
 
My children's highlight was the "Sparkle Tunnel" we even had to take the trip again with daddy after he had finished work! So what is it? Well basically an underground sightseeing tunnel where a little train capsule travels under the river from Puxi to Pudong. The effects of the psychedelic laser lighting felt like a cross between a disco and a ghost train, but worth the 5 minute journey.
 
Nanjing Road a popular shopping area with the latest flagship stores worth a trip. You can just about get away with some retail therapy, with the kids in tow, as there is a train ride along the pedestrianised part at only RMB 2 each.
 
There is a nice 1 hour boat ride along the river, or a stroll along the Bund, Shanghai's Corniche.
 
Take a trip on the Maglev Magnetic Train. We did a return trip out to the Pudong International airport. An amazing experience traveling at 431km per hour and a good way to see some of the suburban countryside bordering the big city.
 
Best copy market ever on the corner of Xiangyang Road and Hua Hai Road. Copies to die for, at well below Dubai Karama prices, latest models along with DVDS, shoes, clothes etc.
Xintiandi - a cluster of renovated conservation buildings housing the newest, hip restaurant scene, along with designer stores (Shanghai Tang being one of them) and expat bars. 
 
Out of town a day trip to Zhouzhang, 70km from the city an approx 1.5hrs drive, a real cultural experience, even if its to eat the pig trotter speciality. It is a very old, 900 yrs some parts, quaint town with waterways, bridges, museums and pagodas. I would compare it to a Venice of china, complete with gondala rides.

My little ones loved being scerenaded as we traveled along the waterways I was quite eager to pay for it all to stop. We found a lovely roof top restuarant were we dined on the local speciality and had an never ending meal, with abundant courses, all for RMB 200. There were mainly Chinese tourists, and real copy fresh water pearls being the main tourist souvenir.
  
An afternoon trip to the silk  factory was well worth the taxi ride. My daughter loved the guided tour of the silk  processing, and being taught about the life cycle of the silk worm.
 So all in all a good trip. The downside is my lack of knowledge of Mandarin.The pollution is terrible so avoid at all costs if you have asmatic prone children. They drive like maniacs, with no seatbelt in sight. My kiddies received alot of attention being blonde and blue eyed, which at first was a novelty but became quite tiring with the non stop photocalls. My daughter has decided before returning she will dye her hair black!!
 
We certainly had a good time... but with a greater appreciation of life in Dubai and Singapore.