Shanghai: Bright lights, Expo city

You've probably heard about it. Supposedly it'll attract 70-90 milion visitors and has been labelled by some as the "greatest show on Earth." Though there may be a little embellishment at play in that claim, an opportunity to visit Expo Shanghai 2010, an Expo that is truly unprecedented in both its scale and significance, is an opportunity no traveler should miss.

Not only does a visit to the Expo entail seeing how countries of the world envision a better, brighter future, but it represents a chance to explore Shanghai, one of China's most dynamic and internationally-focused cities. And despite the fact that Shanghai is home to some 18 million people who mostly speak nothing but Chinese (or some dialect belonging to the 56 ethnic groups resident here), visiting the Expo can be easy, especially with this little how-to explaining all the ins and outs.

How to get there

Though many travel companies have raised their prices for the Expo, there are still plenty of deals to be had. Ctrip, China's largest travel company, offers great deals on flights from the United States to China. Once you're in China, there are yet more  domestic China flight deals to take advantage of. Why not? You might as well check out the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, or that breathtaking Guilin scenery you've seen in so many movies and post cards while you're here!

How to buy tickets

You don't even have to think about tickets if you take advantage of Ctrip's Shanghai Expo tours. You'll get picked up at your hotel and once you're in the Expo Site itself, you won't be harried from one pavilion to another, but rather, be free to explore at your leisure. Of course, if you want to do things independently, see our posts on how to buy Expo tickets outside of China, and how to buy Expo tickets in Shanghai (hint: they can be delivered to your door).

What to see? Where to go?

You might have heard that lineups at Expo have been long, long, long. This is true of some pavilions, but definitely not all. Check out this feature on how to avoid long lines for in-depth information, but the key is basically to avoid the top ten pavilions. There are over 200 more to explore, and you can learn plenty about them by visiting our Shanghai attraction guide and typing "Shanghai Expo" in the search field.

Beyond the Expo is a city full of food streets, art galleries, temples, museums, trendy bohemian hangouts and more to explore. Whatever you do, make sure to take a walk along Shanghai's most popular attraction, the Bund, and to take in the dizzying views of Shanghai's skyline from the crown of the Jin Mao Tower. For even more, see ChinaTravel.net's Shanghai attraction guide for a long list of things to do in and around the city.

Where to stay

Selecting a hotel in Shanghai can be a daunting task, but we've made it easier for you by creating an interactive Shanghai Expo hotel map close to the Expo Site. You'll find everything from boutique to budget to five-star hotels. You could also take a look at Ctrip's Shanghai Expo hotel deals to see what they're offering.

What to eat

Not only is Shanghai a great place to try out authentic Chinese cuisine in all its surprisingly diverse glory, there's plenty else besides. From Hong Kongese to Indian, Brazilian, Thai and Mexican, Shanghai has a little of something for everyone. See our interactive Shanghai restaurant map or our Shanghai restaurant listings (put "Shanghai" in the destination field) for more.