The Bund's colonial skyline, Yu Garden, Disney, Lujiazui towers, shikumen lanes, international shopping, East-meets-West cuisine
Shanghai is China's largest city, its financial capital, and arguably its most outward-facing. On the surface it looks like a futuristic metropolis — 5,000+ skyscrapers, the world's second-tallest building, a maglev train from the airport. But the real magic is in the layers: the Art Deco towers of the Bund lit up at night, the plane-tree-lined lanes of the French Concession, the food halls serving xiaolongbao at dawn.
Shanghai rewards slow travel. Plan 4–5 days. Spend one day in Pudong (skyscrapers), one in Puxi west (Bund, Yu Garden), one in the French Concession, one in the museums, and one wandering the food streets of the old town.
From the neon skyline of Pudong to the canal lanes of old water towns just outside the city.
1.5 km of Art Deco and Gothic Revival buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline. Best at sunset and after dark when the towers light up. The most iconic Shanghai view.
Free · 24h · Subway East Nanjing Road station632 m — China's tallest building, world's second-tallest. The 118th-floor observation deck offers a 360° view and the world's highest glass-floor skywalk. Clear days, see 100km.
Tickets: ¥180 · 8:30am–9pm · Subway Lujiazui stationA 16th-century Ming-dynasty classical garden — rockeries, koi ponds, dragon walls, and the famous Nine-Turn Bridge. Right next to the bazaar, a Qing-era market street turned shopping lane.
Garden ¥40 · Bazaar free · Subway Yuyuan stationThe leafy, café-filled former foreign settlement. Walk along Fuxing Road and Wukang Road — Art Deco mansions, art galleries, independent coffee shops. The most European part of China.
Free · Best 10am–6pm · Multiple subway stationsTwo restored shikumen (stone-gate) neighbourhoods. Xintiandi is upscale dining and shopping; Tianzifang is narrow lanes of artist studios and craft shops. Both photogenic, both busy on weekends.
Free · Subway Xintiandi or DapuqiaoOne of China's top three museums. World-class bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and Ming furniture in a purpose-built landmark on People's Square. Free entry, English audio guide ¥20.
Free · Closed Mondays · Subway People's SquareA 1,700-year-old canal town, 45 min west of the city. Stone bridges, gondola rides, rice wine, and dumplings on the water. Best as a half-day escape from the metropolis.
Free (¥30 for combined attractions) · DiDi or tourist busShanghai's most important Buddhist temple, dating from 247 AD, rebuilt in solid Burmese teak and jade. Smack in the middle of a luxury shopping district — a remarkable contrast.
¥50 · Subway Jing'an Temple stationThe world's newest Disney park (2016). The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is widely considered the best Disney attraction on earth. Allow a full day.
¥475–¥799 · 30 min by Metro Line 11 from downtownShanghai cuisine (本帮菜) is sweet, soy-based, and built around river fish and pork. It's also one of China's most varied food cities — every regional cuisine is well represented.
Shanghai's signature. Thin-skinned dumplings filled with pork and hot broth. Bite carefully — let the steam out first. The original is at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant in Yu Garden.
Crispy-bottomed pork buns, juicier than xiaolongbao. Best at Yang's Fry Dumpling (小杨生煎) — half a dozen will set you back ¥20.
From Yangcheng Lake. Eaten Oct–Dec, dipped in black vinegar. A Shanghai autumn ritual. ¥80–200 per crab at good restaurants.
Slow-braised pork belly in soy and rock sugar. Glistening, sweet, melt-in-mouth. The benchmark of a good Shanghainese restaurant.
Simple, cheap, addictive. Noodles tossed in hot scallion oil and soy. ¥15 at any noodle shop.
A flaky sesame-topped pastry shaped like a crab shell, often filled with sweet or savoury fillings. Best with morning coffee.
Skyline views, rooftop cocktails. Flair on the Bund's 58th floor and M1NT in Lujiazui are classics. ¥150–300 per cocktail.
Wine bars and craft beer in the French Concession. Laid-back, expat-friendly, walkable. Try Commune Social (tapas) and Boxing Cat Brewery.
Upscale dining, cocktail bars, and the high-end House of Blues & Jazz. More polished than edgy; great for a date night.
China's most famous live music venue. Indie rock, electronic, hip-hop. ¥200–400 tickets.
Pudong (PVG) — international + domestic, 30 km east. Maglev train from Longyang Rd station (8 min, ¥50, 431 km/h) is a tourist experience in itself. Hongqiao (SHA) — closer to downtown, mostly domestic.
Hongqiao Station (next to SHA airport) is the main hub. Beijing 4.5h, Hangzhou 1h, Suzhou 30min, Nanjing 1.5h. Book on Trip.com.
20 lines, fully bilingual. Cheapest way around. ¥3–8. Closes ~10:30pm. Rush hour (7:30–9:30am, 5:30–7:30pm) is brutally packed.
DiDi is reliable and cheap (¥30–80 for most cross-city trips). Regular taxis metered, ¥14 starting fare. Both accept Alipay/WeChat.
Ferries across the Huangpu between Puxi and Pudong (¥2). Sit on the upper deck for skyline views — cheaper than a cruise.
The Bund, French Concession, Xintiandi, and Tianzifang are all best on foot. Wear comfortable shoes — Shanghai is bigger than it looks.
Old Shanghai charm and walking distance to the waterfront. Mix of Art Deco heritage hotels and modern luxury. ¥800–3,000/night. Best for first-time visitors.
Tree-lined streets, cafés, restaurants, design hotels. ¥600–1,800/night. The most European feel; walkable to nightlife.
Skyline views, business hotels, easy subway. ¥700–2,500/night. Quieter at night. Good for families and short stays.
Europe & US, Japan & Korea, Southeast Asia; large business-travel share.
