Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide
We had the absolute BEST 3 days in Shanghai – and here’s why in our Shanghai attractions travel guide:
Shanghai is one of the most influential financial and economic centres in China. It is also the most populous city in China and the 3rd largest city in the world, after Tokyo and Delhi! It’s the city where EVERYTHING is happening!
To be honest, it’s exactly what we try to avoid. We could almost taste the pollution and congestion just thinking about it. But Shanghai was everything we expected a major Chinese city NOT to be!!
Jen enjoying the warm sun and fresh air.
In short, Shanghai is not polluted (as far as cities go). The streets are actually pretty beautiful! There’s an old world meets new world vibe in the streets, there’s birds in the trees, everyone is friendly and the transport was easy to figure out.
Just another wake up call for us to never judge an area before actually visiting!!
Skylines from Gucheng Park next to Yuyuan Gardens
Shanghai is a cultural hotspot of glamorous architecture. A complete mix of Western skyscrapers, Colonial ‘Big Ben’ look-a-likes and oriental Shikumen homes. It’s a complete architectural journey!
We stayed in a cheapish hotel near all the main attractions and decided to walk our way to as many interesting places as possible. These walks ended up being our favourite part. One moment you’re in a futuristic first world city and two seconds later you’re in 1920s China!!
Outside Xaihai Temple
Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide
Try to get a local tourist map or the Maps.Me App and visit our below favourite spots:
1) Bund 2) Pudong 3) Nanjing Rd 4) Huaihai Rd 5) Old City 6) Xaihai
The Bund
This promenade looks over the Huangpu River and onto the best of Shanghai’s skyline – Pudong Park. The Bund is such a vibe! Travelers, business men and locals from all across the world meet here to enjoy the views, the dumplings and the nightlife.
*Walk down the popular Nanjing Road towards the river and you will arrive at The Bund.
*Metro: Line 2 or Line 1 to East Nanjing Rd Station. Walk 10 min toward the Huangpu River.
You may have to wait your turn to get a shot
Pudong Park
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower
This incredible pink jewel is as beautiful in the day as it is mesmerising when lit-up at night. Make your way over to the Pudong Park in Lujiazui and ride in the double decker elevators to the rotating restaurants, the futuristic ‘Space City’ and the Municipal History Museum.
*Metro: Line 2 – get off at Lujiazui Station from Exit 1
The Shanghai Tower
This 632m tower is the tallest skyscraper in Asia and the 2nd tallest in the entire world. If you’re feeling brave, take the express elevator to the sightseeing deck on the 118th floor (and 119th on weekends). It’s 116 RMB between 9am and 9pm.
*Metro: Line 2 – get off at Lujiazui Station from Exit 4
The view of Pudong Park from the Bund
Shanghai’s Nanjing Road
This is China’s premier shopping street. It starts at the Jing’an Temple and continues West all the way until you reach the Bund.
We must have walked this street every night – shopping around, eating moon cakes and ending up at the Huangpu River to watch all the lights.
There’s tiny colourful trams carrying kids and families that drive past as you walk and thousands of billboards which fill the evenings with neon colour. “Made in China” dreams were made here in Nanjing Street. For example: The ‘Great Wall of M&Ms’!!
Jen’s favourite shop called MINISO
Shanghai’s Huaihai Road
Another great shopping street is Huaihai Road. Here you can also find the Xiangyang Park, Xu You Tea House and Huaihai Park.
At South Huangpi Road you will find Xintiandi. A great spot for bar hopping in the evenings or ordering a Starbucks coffee ;). Right alongside these modern outdoor streets are the narrow alleyways of old the traditional Shikumen homes.
*Metro Line 1 to South Huangpi Road Station – Exit 3 – walk to South Huangpi Road.
Shanghai’s Ancient Area
Shanghai Old Street
This street can be found alongside the Huangpu River (South of the Bund).
Yuyuan Garden
The Yuyuan Garden displays two hectares of classical Chinese gardening architecture as well as some of Shanghai’s most treasured cultural relics. Unfortunately we didn’t end up going in, so we can’t recommend it for sure. The overwhelming crowd outside the entrance gate frightened us off! Or was it the very distracting, well architectured waffles right next door.
But we can definitely recommend coming to the Yuyuan Bizaar outside the Garden. This is a super vibrant market with some really interesting and quirky stores and food vendors.
*Metro: Line 10 and get off at Yuyuan Station
* Bus route: No. 932 (get off at the City God Temple)
Next to the Yuyuan Garden you will find Shanghai’s oldest Tea House.
The Mid-Lake Pavilion Tea House
Here you can enjoy a high tea and a tempting array of mouth watering snacks such as preserved plums and glutinous rice dumplings. The tea house overlooks an artificial lake filled with Koi fish and excited tourists.
The excited tourists
The Shanghai City God Temple
Just around the corner from Yuyuan Garden is the largest Taoist Temple in Shanghai. Although you’ll find yourself in and out within a few minutes, it is worth the small entrance fee.
Xaihai Temple
North East of the Bund area, continuing along the Huangpu River, you can find the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum (Changyang Road) and the Xiahai Temple (Kunming Road) just a street or two above.
Entrance to the Xaihai Temple
How Expensive is Shanghai
We visited Shanghai in April 2017, so keep this is mind.
8 Small pork dumplings in a local restaurant: 15 RMB/ 2.20 USD
KFC chicken wrap meal: 15 RMB/ 2.20USD (just for perspective)
Bottled water 1 litre: 4 RMB/ 0.60 USD
Dumplings for 5 RMB each
Navigating your way around Shanghai
Arriving at Shanghai Airport
The best tip for Shanghai, is to ensure you land in Pudong International Airport before 11pm. The train subway runs straight from the airport to central Shanghai and costs roughly 3 to 7 RMB. We arrived after 11pm when the train was closed and had to catch a Taxi for 216 RMB/ 31 USD. A major price difference.
On that note, the subway is great. There are stations at all major attractions and the maps provided are both in Mandarin and English. Shanghai also has a the famous Red Bus Tours (like those in Paris and London). These are great if you have limited time and a large bucketlist.
If you have more time then we recommend your travel around by way of comfy walking shoes and terminator robots ;). We walked to every attraction mentioned above from our hotel.
Shanghai Accommodation
We traveled China during our 8 month backpacking trip, so our budget was MINIMAL. We actually almost scrapped the whole Shanghai idea after searching for accommodation options. It’s FAR more expensive then most other places in China, other than Beijing.
With that in mind, we ended up finding a hotel that was basic and central- Xinlong River Hotel Shanghai. *If there’s only one nice but affordable room in an entire city, Rudi will find it.
One bedroom, non-English TV, air-con, kettle. No cupboards.
Ensuite bathroom with hot water shower.
Location is everything, but if you have extra money try look to see if there’s a slightly cleaner (better maintained) hotel available.
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If you enjoyed our Shanghai attractions travel guide then visit our China Page for more on our favourite places, attractions and experiences.
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