Shanghai Centre (Portman Centre)

Shanghai Centre may lack some of the grandiosity of what you see in Lujiazui, but it is no less striking. Like the Jinmao Tower, the building draws much of its inspiration from Chinese aesthetics.

Famed American architecture firm John Portman & Associates designed the three connected towers to  resemble the Chinese character for mountain, "山." Built in 1990, the multi-use facility has long been a haven for well-heeled expats. The Ritz Carlton Hotel inside also makes it a regular haunt for visiting foreign dignitaries.

In addition, there are plenty of mid-range dining options like Element Fresh, Pizza Marzano and Din Tai Fung as well as an imported grocery store and one of the city's better English language bookstores.