Shanghai: China's Gateway to the World
Modern metropolis with traditional charm, perfect for first-time visitors to China. Experience the iconic Bund, world-class dining, and vibrant nightlife.
Best Season
Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Daily Budget
80-150/day
Language
Chinese/English
Recommended Stay
3-4 days
Top Attractions
The Bund 外滩
Iconic waterfront with colonial architecture and stunning Pudong skyline views
Tip: Arrive 30min before sunset to watch the city lights turn on
Yu Garden 豫园
Classical Ming Dynasty garden in the old city, built in 1559
Go early (8:30am) to beat the crowds. Avoid weekends
Shanghai Tower 上海中心大厦
China's tallest building (632m) with the world's highest observation deck
Go on a clear day for 80km visibility. Book online to skip queue
Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠
Iconic TV tower with glass-floor observation deck and Shanghai History Museum
The glass bottom floor is FREE with ticket. Walk on it!
Shanghai Museum 上海博物馆
World-class collection of ancient Chinese art — bronze, ceramics, calligraphy
Closed on Mondays. Free guided tour at 10am & 2pm
Huangpu River Cruise 黄浦江夜游
See both sides of Shanghai — colonial Bund & futuristic Pudong — from the water
Book 7pm+ cruise for the full city-light experience
Suggested Itineraries
Pick the pace that suits your travel style. All plans include honest advice on what to skip.
Day 1The Bund & Old Shanghai
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Morning · 8:30 – 12:00
Yu Garden
A Ming official built this for his aging parents so they could enjoy Suzhou gardens without leaving Shanghai. The rockery alone took 18 years.
Ticket 6 · 1.5 hrs · 5 min walk to City God Temple
Get here at 8:30am sharp. By 10am the zigzag bridge is shoulder-to-shoulder. Skip weekends entirely.
Lunch · 12:00 – 13:00
Nanxiang Steamed Bun
Soup dumplings since 1900, 50m from Yu Garden exit. 3.50 for 6.
Skip the upstairs dining room — tourist menu at 12. Buy from the ground-floor takeaway window instead.
Afternoon · 14:00 – 17:00
Shanghai Museum
World-class ancient Chinese art. The bronze gallery on the 1st floor alone justifies the visit.
Free entry · 2 hrs · Closed Mondays
Free guided tours at 10am and 2pm. Skip the temporary exhibits.
Evening · 17:30 – 19:30
The Bund
Colonial grandeur on one side, sci-fi skyline on the other. Pudong towers flicker on from 18:42 in summer.
Free · Arrive 30 min before sunset
Walk from Peace Hotel southward. If someone invites you to a "tea ceremony," walk away.
Dinner · 19:30 – 21:00
Lost Heaven
Yunnan cuisine, excellent cocktails. 5 min walk from the Bund. About 21/person with drinks.
Book a terrace table. Reserve 1 day ahead via Dianping.
Where to Stay ·
Fairmont Peace Hotel — from 200/night on the Bund. or SSAW Boutique Hotel — from 80/night near Yu Garden.
Day 2Pudong Heights & French Concession
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Morning · 9:00 – 11:30
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building at 632m. Elevator to 118F in 55 seconds.
Ticket 25 · 1.5 hrs
Clear day only — otherwise you pay 25 to stare at fog. Skip Oriental Pearl.
Lunch · 12:00 – 13:00
Xiao Yang Shengjian
Best pan-fried pork buns. 2 for 8 buns.
Afternoon · 14:00 – 17:30
French Concession & Wukang Road
Plane tree-lined streets, Art Deco villas, endless cafés.
Free · 2–3 hrs walking
Start at Wukang & Wuyuan. Tianzifang nearby but gets packed after 3pm.
Dinner · 18:30 – 20:30
Fu 1015
Shanghainese in a 1930s villa. About 50/person.
Reserve 2–3 days ahead. Braised pork belly is the star.
Where to Stay ·
Moller Villa Hotel — from 130/night in Jing'an. or SSAW Boutique Hotel — from 80/night.
Day 3Water Town Day Trip
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Morning · 8:00 – 12:00
Zhujiajiao Water Town
1700-year-old canal town. Venice-of-the-East without Suzhou crowds.
Combo ticket 11 · Metro Line 17, 1 hr
Pay 4 for bridges-and-streets ticket, skip the rest. Arrive 8:30am.
Lunch · 12:00 – 13:00
Riverside restaurants
Local river fish, pickled vegetables. 6–8/person.
Afternoon · 13:00 – 16:00
Boat ride + Kezhi Garden
Gondola-style canal ride. Kezhi Garden — Qing-era private garden.
Boat 8 for 30 min
Dinner · 18:00 – 19:30
Wang Jia Sha
Classic snacks since 1945. 3–6/person.
Where to Stay ·
Keep same hotel as Day 2.
Day 4Art, Parks & Night Cruise
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Morning · 9:30 – 12:00
China Art Museum
Former Expo 2010 China Pavilion. Modern Chinese art.
Free · 1.5–2 hrs · Metro Line 8
Animated "Qingming Festival" scroll on top floor — best 3 you'll spend.
Lunch · 12:00 – 13:00
Street food around People's Square
Jianbing, lamb skewers, bubble tea. 1.50–4.
Afternoon · 14:00 – 17:00
People's Park + Marriage Market
Weekend marriage market is uniquely Shanghai. Weekdays: Jing'an Park or Longhua Temple.
Free · Weekends only for market
Evening · 18:30 – 20:00
Huangpu River Night Cruise
See both sides of Shanghai from the water.
Ticket 21 · 1 hr
Book 7pm sailing. Budget alternative: 0.30 public ferry.
Dinner · 20:00 – 21:30
Lvbolang
Elegant dim sum — Queen Elizabeth II ate here. 17–25/person.
Day 5Hidden Gems & Departure
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Morning · 9:00 – 11:30
Jing'an Temple + Nanjing Road shopping
Golden Buddhist temple surrounded by skyscrapers. Then last-minute shopping.
Temple 7 · Metro Line 2/7
Lunch · 12:00 – 13:00
Deda Western Restaurant
Shanghai-style Western food since 1897. 6–10/person.
Afternoon · 13:00 – departure
Last walk + airport
One final stroll on the Bund. PVG: ~28 taxi, SHA: ~14 taxi.
Store luggage at hotel for "one last Bund walk." Natural History Museum (4) is great rain plan.
Recommended Hotels
Foreigner-friendly hotels with English service
5-Star
Fairmont Peace Hotel
和平饭店
Historic Art Deco luxury on the Bund since 1929
200-350/night
W Shanghai — The Bund
外滩W酒店
Trendy riverside hotel with iconic pool and skyline views
250-400/night
4-Star
SSAW Boutique Hotel
中星君亭酒店
Chinese-style boutique hotel near Yu Garden
80-120/night
Moller Villa Hotel
衡山马勒别墅饭店
Fairytale castle-style hotel in Jing'an — Instagram famous
130-180/night
Where to Eat
From street eats to fine dining — Shanghai has it all
️ Fine Dining
Fu 1015 福1015
Authentic local cuisine in a historic 1930s villa
Lost Heaven 花马天堂
Stylish Yunnan cuisine near the Bund, excellent cocktails
Street Food & Casual
Nanxiang Steamed Bun 南翔馒头店
Famous xiaolongbao since 1900 — a Yu Garden institution
Xiao Yang Shengjian 小杨生煎
Shanghai's best shengjianbao — crispy bottom, juicy inside
Local Favorites
Lvbolang 绿波廊
Elegant Shanghainese dim sum — tried by Queen Elizabeth II
Wang Jia Sha 王家沙
Famous for mooncakes, spring rolls and traditional Shanghainese snacks
Getting Around
Shanghai has one of the world's best public transport systems
Airport to City
️ Pudong Airport PVG
- Maglev 7min ¥50 (¥40 with flight ticket) → Line 2 metro
- Metro Line 2: 65min ¥8 →直达人民广场/南京东路
- Taxi 50min ¥180-250 (night surcharge +20%)
️ Hongqiao Airport SHA
- Metro Line 2/10: 30min ¥5 →直达市中心
- Taxi 30min ¥80-120 (closer to city than PVG)
City Transport
Metro
18 lines, ¥3-15, 5:30-23:00. Use Alipay or Metro App. Day pass ¥18
Taxi & Ride-hail
Didi app has English. Taxi starts ¥14. Have Chinese address ready
Shared Bikes
Meituan ¥1.5/30min. Great for short trips in old town
Huangpu Ferry
Only ¥2 across the river. Best at sunset. Beats ¥180 tunnel
Local Tips
Insider knowledge for a smooth Shanghai trip
Money-Saving Tips
- • Use ¥2 ferry instead of ¥180 sightseeing tunnel
- • Shanghai Museum & China Art Museum are FREE
- • Book tickets on Ctrip for 10-20% off
- • The Bund night view is FREE — arrive 30min before sunset
Essential Apps
- • Didi — ride-hailing with English UI
- • Alipay — pay, metro, taxi in one app
- • Metro App — scan to ride subway
- • Dianping — find restaurants (like Yelp)
- • Apple/Amap — Google Maps unreliable
Avoid Common Scams
- • Tea ceremony scam near The Bund/Yu Garden — walk away
- • Taxi overcharging: PVG→Bund over ¥250 is a rip-off
- • Aggressive touts at Yu Garden — ignore, prices are inflated
- • Costumed characters charging for photos — ask price first
Internet & Connectivity
- • Buy SIM at PVG arrivals: ¥70/7 days/10GB with passport
- • Pre-order eSIM from Airalo or Holafly before departure
- • Free WiFi at airports, Starbucks, McDonald's
- • Install VPN before arrival for Google/IG/WhatsApp
Emergency Info
110
Police (English available)
120
Ambulance
Shanghai East Hospital
Intl Hospital (Pudong)
1500 Minsheng Rd
Entry-Exit Bureau
Local Culture
Shanghai's unique blend of East and West
️ Shikumen Architecture
Shanghai's iconic lane houses — explore Xintiandi & Tianzifang
Coffee Culture
Most cafés of any city globally — Wukang Road is the heart
Shanghainese People
Known for their sophistication, pragmatism and cosmopolitan outlook
Cheongsam (Qipao)
Traditional silk dress — get tailored on South Shaanxi Road