Xintiandi started as an attempt to save a cluster of historical shikumen buildings in Shanghai’s French Concession. The effort became a complete restoration of the traditional architecture and the area is now home to one of Shanghai’s trendiest nightlife scenes. Overflowing with classy restaurants, quaint cafes, and elegant boutiques, Xintiandi is a must for those who want a flavor of fashionable Shanghai.

Xintiandi also houses two worthwhile sites: the Shikumen Open House Museum and the 1st Congress Hall of the Communist Party of China. The Shikumen Open House Museum gives a fascinating glimpse into life in a shikumen in 1920s Shanghai. Surprisingly, not far away is the shikumen where the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held on July 23, 1921. The small museum is quite informative and an important monument for those interested in communist history.

City.Mobi

Also in China today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Shanghai.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Shanghai.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.