"Who wants to be Shanghaied? I do..." Shanghai by stamporama

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "shanghaied" as to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug. The term even became the title of one of Charlie Chaplin's movies released in 1915. Why or how the adjective got associated with this city is not clear, although it is undoubtedly an important port city to where ships from the Pacific Ocean got to the inner reaches of China via the mighty Yangtze River.

Today, I don't think anybody would mind if they get shanghaied. For the place has earned its right to belong to those league of cities where its appeal emanates from the mixture of the old and the new bound by a major waterway, much like London, Paris, Hong Kong or Singapore.

The glitter of East Nanjing Street

East Nanjing Street is the city's prime shopping lane, and is filled with people practically every night but are noticeably just hanging around or browsing through. Its eastern end connects with the Bund, so many night strollers predictably start their leisurely walk from the Bund to the farthest point of East Nanjing St. or vice-versa.

The ancient Yuyuan Garden

In the daytime, should you wish to escape the smog and congestion to a more tranquil setting then head off to the Yuyuan Garden. However, to get to the actual garden means having to traverse the seeming endless gamut of souvenir and food stores with repetitious merchandise, all hungry for tourist cash.

But once inside the garden, the abstract rock formations, classical Chinese-style architecture, pools with hundreds of colorful carp, and lush greenery beckon you to stay for as long a time as possible.