CITY GUIDES / SHANGHAI
Shanghai 上海
Colonial-era banks on one bank of the Huangpu, a skyline of towers on the other.
- Best time
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- How long
- 4–7 days
- Daily budget
- ¥250–900 + hotel
- Airports
- PVG · SHA
Overview
Shanghai is China's most international city and the easiest first stop. The old banks and trading houses of the Bund face Pudong's towers across the Huangpu River, and in between are plane-tree streets, classical gardens, busy lanes and some of the best eating in the country.
The metro is signed in English and reaches almost everything, so most days are a mix of walking and a few short rides. Suzhou's gardens and canals are only half an hour away by high-speed train.
See, eat and plan
The Bund 外滩
Walk the riverfront in the morning for the old buildings, then come back after dark when the Pudong skyline lights up.
Yu Garden 豫园
An intricate classical garden in the Old City. Enter at opening, before the tour groups. About ¥30–40.
Xiaolongbao
Soup dumplings. Bite a small hole, let the steam out, sip the broth. A basket is ¥25–50.
Former French Concession 衡复历史风貌区
Plane trees, old villas and lane houses around Wukang, Anfu and Fuxing Roads. Best on foot, with cafés along the way.
Shanghai Museum East 上海博物馆东馆
Bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy. Pick two or three galleries rather than everything.
Shengjian bao
Pan-fried pork buns with crisp bottoms and hot broth inside. A classic breakfast or lunch.
Lujiazui 陆家嘴
The towers up close. Choose one observation deck (about ¥180–220), skip it in low cloud, and take the ferry back.
Suzhou day trip 苏州
The Humble Administrator's Garden, the Suzhou Museum and the canals of Pingjiang Road. Book trains and tickets ahead.
Scallion-oil noodles
Noodles tossed in fried scallion oil and soy. Simple, cheap and very Shanghai.
Red-braised pork
Pork belly slow-cooked in soy and sugar, the centrepiece of a Shanghainese dinner.
Pork chop with rice cake
Fried pork chop with chewy rice cakes in sweet sauce. Old-school comfort food.
Crab-shell pastry
Flaky sesame pastry shaped like a crab shell, savoury or sweet.
Shanghai in 7 Days — The First-Timer's Week
A practical 7-day Shanghai itinerary for first-time visitors: the Bund, French Concession, water towns, day-trip options, plus how to pay, get around, and stay connected.
Getting there and around
Shanghai has two airports. Pudong (PVG) handles most international flights; Metro Line 2 is cheap but slow, the Maglev runs only to Longyang Road, and a taxi is often worth it with luggage. Hongqiao (SHA) sits next to Hongqiao railway station, the main high-speed train hub.
The metro is the default. Fares are mostly ¥3–6, signs and announcements include English, and you can pay with a QR code in Alipay. Big interchanges have long corridors, so allow extra time. Use Didi late at night, in heavy rain, or when a trip needs two awkward transfers.
For trains, check the station: "Shanghai" and "Shanghai Hongqiao" are different places, and many high-speed trains, including those to Suzhou, leave from Hongqiao.
Where to stay
For a first visit, stay near Metro Line 2 or Line 10 between People's Square and Jing'an. That puts the Bund, Nanjing Road, the French Concession and Pudong all a short ride away, with a direct line to both airports.
Good to know
- Carry your passport. Museums, gardens, trains and temples may ask for it, and timed tickets are often booked in your passport name.
- Mondays: many museums close, including several on the West Bund.
- Cash: keep ¥300–500 in small notes as a backup to Alipay and WeChat Pay, and decline card terminals that offer to charge in your home currency.
- Temples: dress modestly, speak quietly and don't photograph people praying.
- Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119.
- Paying: see how to pay in China before you fly.
Prices, hours and visa rules change. Confirm key bookings before you go.