Meilongzhen Probably Shanghai's most famous restaurant, Meilongzhen is one of the oldest dining establishments in town, dating from 1938. The building served as the Communist Party headquarters in the 1930s, and the traditional Chinese dining rooms still have their intricate woodwork, and mahogany and marble furniture.

The exhaustive menu has more than 80 seafood options, including such traditional Shanghainese fare as Mandarin fish, and dishes with a more Sichuan flair, like shredded spicy eel and prawns in chili sauce. Since this is a stop for most tour buses, expect a wait if you haven't booked ahead.

The food served here is what we called Shanghai Cuisine, also known as Ben Bang, is not one of the Eight Major. Give it a try, you may enjoy it but Westerners often complain that it's too sweet and oily. There are certainly many better gastric options available.

China tours inclusive of visiting Shanghai