There’s the obvious facts about Shanghai that I’m sure you’re all aware of (if not, you can find them on Wikipedia).
It’s the biggest city in China, a global financial hub and is often dubbed as the ‘City of Tomorrow’ because of its futuristic skyline.
There’s a clash of old meets new with colonial-era structures sitting alongside modern towering buildings.
And you can’t forget the traditional Chinese culture fused with touches of the western world.
But did you know Shanghai is home to the world’s fastest elevator in the world or that is will soon house the biggest Disney Princess Castle in history?
Shanghai’s tourism delegation in Australia this week.
We didn’t until yesterday at a Shangai Tourism lunch in Sydney.
A delegation flew into the Australian city this week for their first visit in over eight years.
In addition meeting with local politicians and attending the Travel Industry Exhibition at Luna Park this week, the team unveiled some interesting secrets about Shanghai.
Here are five of them you may not know:
1. Doors are opening
The country will receive four new hotels in 2016, adding some 1,370 rooms in the city.
These in addition to the two Disneyland Themed Hotels opening this year will see a total of 2,590 additional beds around ‘The City of Tomorrow’.
Doors really are opening.
New properties include the Le Meridien Shanghai, Jiading; W Hotel – The Bund; Bvlgari Hotel; and InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland in Songjang.
2. The Princesses are coming
Also coming in 2016 is China’s first Disney-themed park.
Shanghai Disneyland will feature six themed lands – Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove and Tomorrowland.
But more importantly the park will house THE biggest Disney Castle.
Existing castles in other theme parks won’t compare to the one in Shanghai and it will house all the Princesses. All of them.
PLUS there will be a Marvel Universe, which will allow guests to attend ‘mission briefings’ with heroes like the Avengers and Spider-Man.
3. Now this is huge
Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) is the world’s largest single block building and exhibition complex with a total construction area of 1.47 million square metres.
It can handle up to 80,000 people per day.
Inside it has the obvious exhibition, meetings and business spaces but it’s also home to a number of retail stores and entertainment.
4. World’s fastest elevator
Shanghai Tower doesn’t just offer visitors a 360-degree view of Shanghai, it also offers a ride on the world’s fastest elevator.
The elevator moves with a maximum speed at 18 metres per second.
It’s practically a roller coaster.
