The China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme participants recently made a trip to Shanghai. The global metropolis remains my favourite among the cities I have visited in China so far.

Located on China’s eastern coast in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone and facing the East China Sea, Shanghai is one of the world’s leading financial and shipping centres. Beyond its cosmopolitan ambience, the city is also rich in history. It rose to prominence during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) as one of China’s principal trading ports. In 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded in the French Concession area of Shanghai, a site now preserved as the Memorial of the First National Congress of the CPC.

During my first visit to Shanghai more than 15 years ago, I enjoyed exploring the city, which was once dubbed the ‘Paris of the East’ in the 1920s and 1930s. This time, I was captivated by Shanghai’s world-class blend of colonial and cosmopolitan architecture – especially the vibrant, colourful lights that illuminate its skyline at night.

Our first stop in Shanghai was The Bund, the city’s iconic waterfront promenade. It stands as a symbol of Shanghai’s historical role as an international financial hub, lined with rows of colonial-era buildings along the western bank of the Huangpu River, known as the ‘mother river’ of Shanghai.

I was informed that most of the buildings on The Bund date back to the 1860s.

From The Bund, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Shanghai’s iconic skyscrapers in Lujiazui, the city’s modern financial district often referred to as the ‘Wall Street of China’. Dominating the skyline on the opposite bank are the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Standing at The Bund, with its colonial architecture and proximity to the water, reminded me of Beach Street in Penang, my hometown, which also features several colonial-era structures, including historic foreign banks located near the sea.

A view of Shanghai city at night from the Shanghai Tower observation deck.

After admiring the Shanghai Tower from The Bund, we were thrilled to visit the landmark itself – currently the third-tallest building in the world after Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Merdeka 118 back home, and the tallest building in the Land of the Great Wall.

Standing 632 metres tall with 127 above-ground floors and five underground floors, the tower features a spiral design inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, symbolising a dragon ascending toward the heavens. Its twisting structure also serves a functional purpose, reducing wind resistance and enhancing the stability of the supertall building during storms.

The Shanghai skyline from the river-cruise vessel.

We took a high-speed elevator travelling at 20 metres per second to reach the 118th floor at around 546 metres above ground, where the observation deck is situated. From there, we watched the dazzling lights of Shanghai stretching beneath us, while the Huangpu River shimmered like a silk ribbon weaving through the city.

Our exploration of Shanghai city continued with a river cruise from Oriental Pearl River Cruise Terminal, offering a mesmerising view of the city from the Huangpu River. The sight of Shanghai’s towering buildings reflected in the water, illuminated by colourful lights, was breathtaking.

The next day, we visited the Memorial of the First National Congress of the CPC, located in a shikumen-style building – a distinctive Shanghai architectural form blending traditional Chinese courtyard house features with Western-influenced materials and design.

Emerging in the late 19th century, shikumen architecture combined the privacy of traditional Chinese courtyard homes with the durability and security of Western materials such as brick and stone. Today, it stands as one of Shanghai’s most historically evocative architectural styles.

The memorial site is in Xintiandi, a former French Concession area now transformed into a vibrant district where many historical shikumen buildings have been beautifully preserved and repurposed into cafes, boutiques and restaurants.

From its foreign concession-era architecture to its cosmopolitan charm, dazzling nightscape and soaring modern skyscrapers, Shanghai is a city I will never grow tired of visiting.

-- BERNAMA

Rohani Mohd Ibrahim, a journalist with BERNAMA, is currently in Beijing to attend the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme from Aug 18 to Dec 15, 2025.

The initiative, organised by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), serves as a platform for practical cooperation between Chinese media organisations and those from emerging markets and developing economies.

The programme also provides foreign journalists with the opportunity to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China’s society, development and international engagement.

This marks BERNAMA’s eighth participation in the CIPCC since 2018.