Shanghai, the largest city in China, is an amazing mix of modern and traditional Chinese features. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its historical landmarks, its modern ever-expanding Pudong skyline and its reputation as a cultural and design center. Nanjing Road is often billed as the #1 shopping street in Asia, Yuyuan Garden is a traditional Chinese garden in the heart of the city and the Oriental Pearl Television Tower offers panoramic views of the city. Whether you are visiting Shanghai on a land tour or on a Yangtze River Cruise, you will find that it is a cultural, prosperous city, offering visitors some of the world’s grandest sights. But, like anyplace, there are things that first-time visitors need to be cautious about.
Shanghai is a fairly safe city; however, the nightclub areas of Mao Ming Road and Ju Le Road can be a bit risky late at night when the establishments close around 2AM. If you want to see these areas, being aware of the surroundings and keeping to well lit areas is the best way to make sure that you return safely to your hotel at the end of the evening. An even bigger issue in Shanghai is pick pocketing. On pedestrian boulevards and in outdoor shopping areas, no pocket or bag is safe. Again, being aware of surroundings is the best policy to protect you and your belongings.
Another important thing for first-time visitors to remember is that Shanghai is a very busy city. When crossing streets, visitors should know that motorists, bicyclists, and motorcyclists will probably not stop for you. Even walking on the sidewalk is challenging when silent motorized bikes whiz by without warning. Just keep in mind that pedestrians are lowest on the food chain in China and you’ll be fine!
Unsuspecting tourists can also become the victim of scams. The majority of these scams happen at tourist spots around People's Square, on Nanjing Pedestrian Street and at the Bund. As a rule, the people of Shanghai are very friendly and are always willing to help if you ask them, but they would seldom approach a foreigner first. Therefore, it is wise to be suspicious if someone speaks to you in English on the street.Shanghai may be surrounded by huge rivers but it’s plagued with a lack of clean drinking water. The greatest risk to your enjoyment of traveling in Shanghai is stomach problems caused by low hygienic standards. To minimize this risk, wash your hands frequently; eat only fruit that you peel yourself; and only drink bottled water…you should even use bottled water to brush your teeth.
Shanghai is China's largest city and is situated in the centre of the coastline where the Yangtze River flows through its delta into the East China Sea. For first-timers visiting China, a Shanghai holiday is ideal; the city's blend of traditional and modern lifestyle allows tourists to enjoy the best of both worlds. And if travelers are aware of their surroundings and take caution to avoid risky situations, Shanghai is the perfect introduction to China for westerners.
I thought it would be a good idea to share what camera gear I use. I shoot (sometimes) with a Canon EOS350D with standard EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens and EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens. 
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