China, Japan & Taiwan Cruise: Shanghai, Okinawa & Taipei

Shanghai is a city of two faces. It is home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, miles of luxury goods shops, and scores of trendy bars and restaurants. But look just beyond the main streets and you’ll find narrow alleyways packed with traditional lane houses, where laundry billows from bamboo poles, and local communities are alive and well.Shanghai has always been China’s most Westernized city. In its heyday, Shanghai had the best nightlife, the greatest architecture, and the strongest business in Asia. Nearly a century later, after extreme tumult and political upheaval, it’s back on top.Shanghai’s charm lies not in a list of must-see sites, but in quiet, tree-lined streets, the Bund’s majestic colonial buildings, sweet boutiques, and a dizzying array of places to eat and drink, from literal hole-in-the-walls to celebrity chef restaurants.Today, Shanghai has nearly 24 million people, the skyscrapers keep getting taller, the metro keeps getting longer, and the historical buildings continue to evade the wrecking ball. For how much longer is anyone’s guess.

Shanghai is a city of two faces. It is home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, miles of luxury goods shops, and scores of trendy bars and restaurants. But look just beyond the main streets and you’ll find narrow alleyways packed with traditional lane houses, where laundry billows from bamboo poles, and local communities are alive and well.Shanghai has always been China’s most Westernized city. In its heyday, Shanghai had the best nightlife, the greatest architecture, and the strongest business in Asia. Nearly a century later, after extreme tumult and political upheaval, it’s back on top.Shanghai’s charm lies not in a list of must-see sites, but in quiet, tree-lined streets, the Bund’s majestic colonial buildings, sweet boutiques, and a dizzying array of places to eat and drink, from literal hole-in-the-walls to celebrity chef restaurants.Today, Shanghai has nearly 24 million people, the skyscrapers keep getting taller, the metro keeps getting longer, and the historical buildings continue to evade the wrecking ball. For how much longer is anyone’s guess.

Naha, Okinawa, invites travelers with its blend of Ryukyuan history, pristine beaches like Naminoue Beach, distinctive cuisine featuring Okinawa soba and taco rice, bustling Kokusai Dori shopping street, traditional Eisa dance performances, and nearby natural wonders such as the Kerama Islands. Visit historic sites like Shuri Castle, and explore the warm hospitality of this vibrant city for an unforgettable journey in Japan's southernmost prefecture.

Perhaps best known for the picture-perfect setting of Kabiri Bay, where the water is the purest blue, the island of Ishigaki and its beautiful coastlines, beaches and look-offs are a nature lover’s dream.

There are two facets to Taipei: the modern, international east side with its upscale malls, chic stores and trendy restaurants, and the west bastion of traditional life, its narrow lanes lined with vendor stalls.

Hong Kong is neon lights, mountains and beaches, junk boats and yachts, street markets and high-end malls, and an unbelievable array of skyscrapers, all designed with the essential input of feng shui.

Hong Kong is neon lights, mountains and beaches, junk boats and yachts, street markets and high-end malls, and an unbelievable array of skyscrapers, all designed with the essential input of feng shui.