Shanghai 上海
Glossy, fast and fashionable — with old lanes hiding behind the skyline
- Best time
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Stay
- 3–4 days
- Getting here
- ~5h by train from Beijing
Know before you go
- 💡“Skip the Bund at 8pm on weekends. Go at 6:30am for an empty promenade, or ride the ¥2 ferry across the river for the skyline without the crowd.”
- 🎟Free museums need online booking, 1–7 days ahead
- ✓Metro + Alipay covers almost everything
- ¥Mid-range ~¥500–750/day
- ☂Plum-rain season mid-Jun to Jul: hot & wet
What’s here
21 places & tips in Shanghai
Shanghai Museum EastWorth it
🎟 Book up to 7 days ahead
World-class collection, spacious and rarely feels crowded once inside.
The BundWorth it
Go twice: at dusk when the lights come on (usually until about 10pm) and at 6:30am when it’s just joggers and people flying kites.
🚇 Tip The Jinling Rd (金陵东路) ↔ Dongchang Rd (东昌路) ferry costs ~¥2 and gives the classic skyline view from the water.
Jia Jia Tang BaoWorth it
Thin skins, rich broth, fair prices.
Lanxin RestaurantWorth it
Proper benbang (Shanghai home cooking): sweet braised pork belly (红烧肉), smoked fish, stir-fried river shrimp.
West Bund riversideWorth it
Where young Shanghainese go at the weekend: bike the riverside path, catch a show at West Bund Museum or Long Museum, and stay for sunset over the river.
Wukang Road & the old French ConcessionWorth it
Walk, don’t tick boxes: Wukang Road to Anfu Road, then Fuxing Road’s plane-tree lanes.
- ZhangyuanWorth it The most carefully restored lane-house block in the city, and still calm on weekdays.
Yu GardenOK
🎟 Book up to 3 days ahead
The garden itself is lovely but small; the surrounding bazaar is a tourist mall.
Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (Yu Garden)Skip
Famous name, hour-long queues at the takeaway window and tourist pricing upstairs.
Instead: Eat at Jia Jia Tang Bao instead.
TianzifangSkip
Locals say it’s lost its soul — narrow alleys, crowds and the same shops as everywhere else.
Instead: See restored lane-houses at Zhangyuan, or wander Wukang Road for the old-Shanghai feel.
Jade Buddha TempleOK
A peaceful hour and a good vegetarian noodle lunch at the temple canteen.
Shanghai Tower observation deckOK
Impressive on a clear day — on a hazy day you’ll pay ¥180 to look at white.
Quickest from Shanghai
About Shanghai
Shanghai is China’s most international city and the easiest first stop: a metro that goes everywhere, English signage, and two airports with direct links worldwide. Beyond the famous skyline, the best of it is small — plane-tree lanes in the old French Concession, restored lane-houses and neighbourhood dumpling shops that locals queue for.