You want to know what to see and do in Shanghai? This is one of the most modern cities what to see in China and that we do not hesitate to include in our trip. We dedicate 2-3 days to explore its attractions. The first day we had so much jet lag, we can't tell it. The city of Shanghai is full of contrasts and plans to do. Below we share the best places to visit in Shanghai, including restaurants and the best area to stay. Don't miss the video at the end with our tour!
13 Things to see and do in Shanghai, China
1. Walk along the Bund and appreciate its skyline, places to visit in Shanghai
The Bund is one of the Shanghai tourist places most emblematic. Walking through this area will allow you to enjoy a spectacular view of its skyline, with its iconic skyscrapers such as the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Along with the one in Hong Kong, I think it is one of the most spectacular we have seen in the world. If you have time, you can take a cruise on the Huangpu River to have a different perspective of the city (recommended at night).
2. Visit the Yuyuan Garden and its bazaar, what to do in Shanghai
El yuyuan garden It is an oasis of tranquility in the middle of the bustling city. This classic Chinese garden, with its traditional architecture and beautiful landscapes, is a place you should include on your bucket list. what to see in Shanghai. Highlights the view of the Shanghai tower that blends with the architecture of traditional Yuyuan houses. It was built during the Ming dynasty and has different pavilions, ponds and bridges. Around it we find the Yuyuan bazaar where you can enjoy street food and buy souvenirs.
3. Climb the Shanghai Tower or the Oriental Pearl Tower and visit the Pudong neighborhood
La Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl Tower offer stunning panoramic views of the city. These towers are located in the Pudong financial district, known for its innovative structures and luxury shopping centers. We decided to climb the Shanghai Tower, the third tallest building in the world with a height of 632 meters (until they inaugurate the Jeddah tower in Saudi Arabia). Its observatory is 561 meters away and offers 360º views and it is the best place to admire the city, including the Oriental Pearl Tower (which is dwarfed by its side). Another option is to climb the Oriental Pearl Tower, which also has an observation platform. The problem is that if you go up to this building you will not have a view of it.
- 💵 Shanghai Tower Price May 2024: 90 yuan (about €12)
- ⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. to 21:30 p.m. (last access time).
4. Gossip the Marriage Market in People's Square & Park, Shanghai what to do
People's Square is the town square y a meeting point for Shanghainese. But why is this square and its park so famous? Here takes place daily Shanghai marriage market, where the Parents find a partner for their children through advertisements and posters. We share an example: "We are looking for a single man born between 1978 and 1984 who is over 1,70 meters tall, has a good character and is an entrepreneur." If you can go on a Saturday, better, since it is one of the busiest days, so they can make an appointment for their children on Sunday (day that the Chinese usually take off). In People's park too you can see locals singing in portable karaokeIt is a very lively place in general. If you are going to take photos, be discreet, there are police officers who will tell you that it is not possible.
5. Stroll along East Nanjing Road, things to do in Shanghai
La East Nanjing Road is one of the most famous shopping streets to see in Shanghai. Here you will find a wide variety of local and international stores and macro shopping centers. The street, which It extends for more than 5 kilometers from the Bund to People's Park where it becomes Nanjing Road West. The busiest area goes from People's Square to the Bund. In addition, within some commercial premises at street level you will see some food courts with street food. There is also a kind of tram that runs along the street. If you travel with children it can be one of the Things to do in Shanghai with kids. We stayed right on this street in the Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai, highly recommended for its location and facilities.
6. Go shopping or eat in the Xintiandi neighborhood, the coolest thing to see in Shanghai
Xintiandi It is one of the neighborhoods more modern and, therefore, one of the Shanghai tourist places. It is known for its wide range of cafes, fine dining restaurants and luxury shops. And if you come shopping in Shanghai, here you will find the most exclusive boutiques: Tiffany & Co, Hermès, etc. Also small shops of local designers, technology, high-end cars, etc. Furthermore, the area combines historic buildings with modern structures. Us We had a luxurious meal for very little in one of the food courts from its Xintiandi Style I Shopping Center. We also tested the famous Venchi ice creams, as if we were just another Chinese tourist. We comment below.
7. Tour the French Concession on foot or by bike, what to see in Shanghai
The French Concession is one of the historical areas to visit in Shanghai, as it was under French possession from 1849 to 1943. This district stands out for its European-style architecture. Here they highlight the Wakung Road and Wukang Mansion. The latter is one of the Shanghai buildings to see its art deco style triangular shape similar to the bow of a ship. It is also known as Normandie Apartments, as it housed important expatriates and cultural figures during the French Concession. We were amazed by all the Chinese who were taking photos. Us we rent a bike to walk its tree-lined streets and explore its cafes and small shops.
💡 To rent the bike, take your passport with you and scan the QR that comes on each bike with the Alipay app, It is very simple. We recommend the blue ones (there are also green and yellow ones). Once you register, it will only take you a minute to pick up each bike. In addition, it will also allow you move easily in other cities in China such as Beijing or Xi'an. By the way, we recommend you take travel insurance for your route through China. If you don't have one yet, we always travel with IATI and, in addition, we have a 5% off in all policies. If you are going to do adventure sports, the best is the IATI Backpacker.
8. Get lost in the alleys of Tianzifang
Tianzifang is a labyrinth of alleys filled with craft shops, art galleries and cafes. It is an ideal area to walk and discover hidden gems in every corner. Originally a residential area of the French Concession, Tianzifang has been transformed into a vibrant cultural and commercial center. Here you can find from contemporary works of art to handmade products by local artisans. It also has some street food stalls and even the famous Spanish Ham Museum, How curious!
9. Walk Taipingqiao Park, green areas to see in Shanghai
Walking through Xintiandi you can also take a leap to the Taipingqiao Park, a green space that has a central lake, different paths and grass areas. In a few steps you will reach the Site of the First Congress of the Communist Party of China where there is a commemorative plaque and many local tourists come to take photos. not one of the essential places to visit in Shanghai, but if you are in the area, you can take the opportunity to tour it.
10. See some of the temples in Shanghai such as the Jade Buddha, the Longhua Temple or the Jing'an Temple
Several temples to visit in Shanghai, such as the Jade Buddha Temple, Longhua Temple and Jing'an Temple. Each offers a unique insight into the city's religious and cultural heritage. He Jade Buddha Temple is famous for its two jade Buddha statues, Longhua Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Shanghai, and Jing'an Temple is known for its architecture and large jade Buddha statue. It is your choice which one or which ones to visit. We do not include them in our route through the what to see in Shanghai in 2 daysWell, we had little time. We share one with you stock photo of the Jade Buddha Temple with one of the Buddhas lying down, there is also another sitting one.
11. Enjoy a magnificent hotpot (Nan Men Hotpot), a must in Shanghai
One of the typical Chinese foods is its hotpot. The hotpot is a type of Chinese fondue where diners cook their own food in a pot with broth that is kept hot with fire. We passed by several times Nan Men Hotpot and, seeing it always full of locals, on the last night we ventured to try it. Great! We recommend you order fresh noodles and mushrooms to accompany the meat of your choice. We loved the one with fat. The restaurant is just a few steps from the Bund and is called Nan Men Hotpot, but you won't find it on Google. We leave you the "skewer" that we keep Google maps so you can find him. There is another restaurant like this in Beijing.
🍽️ There are others restaurants in Shanghai that we show you in the video and that we recommend you visit: Xian de Lai, the Food Court of the Xintiandi Shopping Center and the Dahuchun (Da Hu Chun). However, surely all of Shanghai has excellent food, the one that is a must is the hotpot.
12. Eat ice cream at Venchi ice cream parlors, tourist places in Shanghai
The Italian ice cream parlors Venchi are famous for their exquisite artisanal ice creams. There is always a queue! As we told you before, we visited the one in the Xintiandi area, although there are several throughout China. They have a wide variety of flavors and types of cones here. Venchi is a must-see stop for many Chinese tourists, since ice cream in China is in a different format. (squares). So if you're craving some good ice cream during your vacation, remember this stop. They also have chocolates and other sweets. Yes indeed, Ice cream with three scoops costs around €10. We tried the pistachio, matcha tea and cheesecake with blueberries. We chose the cone with chocolate and hazelnuts, it was delicious.
13. Have a drink at night on one of the rooftops overlooking the Bund
The city of Shanghai has several rooftop bars with spectacular views of the Bund. Un flat What to do in Shanghai if you want to have the best views of its skyline while you drink something. Some of the most popular bars are Bar Rouge, The Fellas and The Captain. If you want direct views of the Eastern Pearl Tower, on the other side of the river, we recommend the Flair Rooftop. This plan is somewhat touristy, since these restaurants usually offer Mediterranean food, pizza, etc. but to have a drink with night views, it is ideal. We leave you with our photo from The FellasWe recommend booking because they are usually full of expats.
And here ends our recommendations on what to see and do in Shanghai. We hope it is of great help to you and, if you have any questions, we will read them in the comments.
Map with places to see in Shanghai
Next, we share with you a map with all the tourist places in Shanghai. We include you on the map our hotel in Shanghai so you can see how central it is. If you still don't have a place to stay, it's the Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai. Really, highly recommended.
Video about what to see in Shanghai
If you prefer a video guide, we will soon share our first-person experience in our YouTube channel. Subscribe and take a look at the entire list of our trip to China!
Unlimited data in China with built-in VPN
Finally, keep in mind that in China it is necessary to have an internet connection to pay, since Chinese payment methods are all mobile. We travel with Holafly offers unlimited data and also has a built-in VPN that will allow you to access apps and social networks controlled by China such as Google (gmail included) and Instagram or Facebook.. It was great for us and we recommend it 100%. Additionally, you can benefit from a 5% off for being our reader.
To continue helping you with your trip to China on your own, we leave you here Other related articles that can serve as a guide:
- What to see in Zhangjiajie
- What to see in Fenghuang
- What to see in Chengdu +Leshan Great Buddha
- What to see in Xian + Terracotta Warriors
- What to see in Beijing + Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section)
- Tips for traveling to China
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
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