Shanghai: where tradition meets the future

The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) is Shanghai's signature waterfront promenade, lined with historic architecture from multiple eras and styles. Walk it at dusk when the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River lights up. A reliable viewing stretch is between Waibaidu Bridge to the north and the landmark Bund buildings to the south.

Arrive by metro to East Nanjing Road and walk east. On weekends and holidays the promenade gets crowded in the evening, so late afternoon is often calmer. If you want a cross-river view, a regular ferry is usually the best-value option.

Behind the Bund, Yuanmingyuan Road and the Rockbund area hold some of Shanghai's best contemporary art galleries including the Rockbund Art Museum. The area around Sichuan Middle Road has excellent local restaurants that most tourists miss entirely.

Pudong's cluster of supertall skyscrapers forms the skyline you see on most postcards. Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center both offer major observation experiences with different views and crowd patterns. Booking ahead is usually the easiest way to avoid long waits.

The Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠) is the retro-futuristic landmark with its distinctive spheres. Its observation levels are popular, and the Shanghai History Museum at the base offers useful context on the city's development. Give yourself enough time if you plan to do both in one visit.

For the best Pudong skyline photos without being in Pudong, head to the rooftop bars along the Bund. Vue Bar at the Hyatt on the Bund and Flair at the Ritz-Carlton offer unobstructed views. If you want to photograph Pudong from the water, take the evening cruise from the Shiliupu Wharf — the 60-minute route covers both the Bund and Pudong sides.

Yu Garden (豫园, Yùyuán) is a 400-year-old classical Chinese garden tucked inside the Old City. It packs dragon walls, rockeries, pavilions, and koi ponds into just two hectares. The Exquisite Jade Rock (玉玲珑) near the entrance is one of the garden's most prized features — a porous boulder from Lake Tai that has survived since the Ming Dynasty.

Visit when the gates open at 8:30 AM to experience the garden in relative peace. By mid-morning, tour groups fill the narrow paths. Allow 60–90 minutes. The surrounding Yu Garden Bazaar is a dense commercial zone modeled on traditional architecture. It gets very crowded, but it is still worth walking through for classic snack stops like Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店).

South of Yu Garden, the Old City streets around Fangbang Middle Road still have local fabric markets, tea shops, and antique dealers. This area is rapidly gentrifying but retains more authentic daily life than the bazaar. The nearby Confucian Temple (文庙) hosts a used book market on Sunday mornings.

The Former French Concession (法租界) is Shanghai's most walkable neighborhood — a grid of plane tree-lined avenues, Art Deco apartment blocks, and renovated shikumen lane houses. The core area runs roughly between Huaihai Middle Road to the north, Zhaojiabang Road to the south, Shaanxi South Road to the east, and Wulumuqi Road to the west.

Start at Fuxing Park in the morning where locals practice tai chi and ballroom dancing. Walk west along Fuxing Road to find independent coffee shops, bookstores, and boutiques occupying former residential ground floors. The Wukang Road–Anfu Road intersection is the epicenter of Shanghai's café culture — Wukang Mansion (武康大楼), a 1924 flatiron-style apartment building, is the neighborhood's most photographed landmark.

For lunch, the surrounding blocks offer everything from Sichuan hole-in-the-wall joints to Michelin-starred fine dining. Ferguson Lane and Yongkang Road have concentrated clusters of international restaurants. In the evening, the bars along Yongfu Road and Julu Road form the core of Shanghai's cocktail scene. Speak Low, a speakeasy behind a bartending supply shop on Fuxing Middle Road, regularly ranks among Asia's best bars.

Nanjing Road (南京路) splits into two distinct sections. East Nanjing Road is the pedestrianized tourist stretch running from the Bund to People's Square — it is Shanghai's Times Square with LED billboards and chain stores. West Nanjing Road is where locals actually shop, anchored by malls like Jing'an Kerry Centre, Plaza 66, and IAPM. If shopping is your goal, skip east and head west.

People's Square (人民广场) is home to several major cultural institutions. The Shanghai Museum has a strong collection of bronzes, ceramics, and calligraphy, and now operates both the People's Square location and a new East Wing (东馆). Entry rules can change by date and exhibition, so check the official channel before you go. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (上海科技馆) reopened in 2026 after a two-year renovation — it is now in trial operation and offers a major family-friendly attraction near Century Park in Pudong. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is known for its large city model and is a useful stop for first-time visitors.

Below ground, People's Square is the busiest metro interchange in the city where Lines 1, 2, and 8 converge. The underground corridors are a city in themselves with food courts, shops, and Shanghai's infamous 'marriage market' corner where parents post profiles seeking matches for their adult children on weekends.

Jing'an Temple (静安寺) is a historic Buddhist temple at the intersection of two of Shanghai's busiest commercial streets. Its golden roofs and traditional halls sit beside luxury malls and office towers, a contrast that feels quintessentially Shanghai. Entry policies and ticket prices can change, so verify before visiting.

The surrounding Jing'an district is Shanghai's most polished commercial zone. Jing'an Sculpture Park, directly south of the temple, is a quiet green escape with rotating outdoor art installations. West along Nanjing West Road, the Jade Buddha Temple (玉佛寺) is another active Buddhist monastery worth visiting — less touristic and more atmospheric than Jing'an, with monks in residence and active worship services.

North of Jing'an Temple, the M50 Art District on Moganshan Road occupies converted industrial warehouses along Suzhou Creek. It remains a key contemporary art zone with multiple galleries and studios. Individual gallery hours and ticketing vary, so check each venue before heading over.

Tianzifang (田子坊) on Taikang Road is a repurposed shikumen neighborhood turned into a labyrinth of artist studios, craft shops, and small cafés. Unlike purpose-built tourist zones, the alleys retain their original residential structure — laundry hangs above boutiques and elderly residents sit on stoops next to gallery entrances. It is small enough to explore in 60–90 minutes.

The area is best visited on weekday mornings before the weekend crowds descend. Notable stops include the Deke Erh Art Center, several independent ceramics studios, and a handful of excellent Shanghai-style brunch spots in the inner lanes. The surrounding Taikang Road neighborhood south of Tianzifang is far less visited and has a growing cluster of design studios and specialty food shops.

For a more expansive creative complex, head to the West Bund (西岸) along the Huangpu River in Xuhui district. This former industrial waterfront hosts major museum and art spaces, and the riverside promenade is a strong walk or bike route between them.

Zhujiajiao (朱家角) is one of the easiest surrounding water towns to reach from central Shanghai and works well as a half-day trip. Its canal network, stone bridges, and old-town lanes make it a practical first water-town visit if you do not want an overnight.

Walk the North Street (北大街) along the main canal for traditional snack shops selling zongzi (rice dumplings), stinky tofu, and fresh zharou (braised pork). The Kezhi Garden is a well-preserved classical garden that sees far fewer visitors than Yu Garden. For a quieter experience, cross to the residential west side of town where daily life continues largely unaffected by tourism.

Other worthwhile day trips include Hangzhou for West Lake and Longjing tea areas, Suzhou for classical gardens, and Sheshan for hilltop walks. Travel times vary by departure point and service type, so confirm schedules on the day you travel.

Xiaolongbao (小笼包) are Shanghai's signature dish — delicate soup dumplings with a thin skin enclosing pork filling and rich broth. Din Tai Fung in the IFC Mall is the safe international choice, but locals prefer Jia Jia Tang Bao (佳家汤包) on Huanghe Road near People's Square for a more authentic experience. Bite a small hole in the skin, sip the soup, then eat — never pop an entire xiaolongbao in your mouth unless you want to scald your tongue.

Shanghainese cuisine (本帮菜, běnbāng cài) is characterized by sweet and savory soy-braised dishes. Must-try dishes include hongshao rou (red-braised pork belly), shengjianbao (pan-fried soup buns with a crispy bottom), smoked fish (熏鱼), and hairy crab (大闸蟹) in autumn season from October to December. For shengjianbao, Yang's Fried Dumplings (小杨生煎) has locations across the city.

Shanghai's street food scene thrives around Yunnan South Road, Huanghe Road, and the side streets off Nanjing East Road. Breakfast staples include cōngyóubǐng (scallion pancakes), cifan (sticky rice rolls), and soy milk with you tiao (fried dough sticks). For late-night eating, Shouning Road is lined with outdoor crayfish and barbecue stalls from May through October. Wujiang Road Snack Street near Jing'an is a clean, well-organized food street that makes a good introduction for visitors.

Shanghai's metro system is one of the world's largest and is usually the most practical way to move around the city. Service hours and line details vary by route and station. A Transportation Card (交通卡) or app-based QR payment both work widely across metro and other local transit options.

DiDi (滴滴) is a common ride-hailing option, and pricing usually compares well with street taxis outside peak surges. Set your destination in Chinese characters before booking. Shared bikes are also common for short trips, with pricing and availability varying by operator and district.

Pudong and Hongqiao airports are both well-connected. The Maglev from Pudong is a fast novelty route to the metro network, while regular metro and taxi options are often more practical depending on your hotel. Hongqiao airport and Hongqiao railway station are in the same broader transport hub, which simplifies train-to-flight transfers.

The best months for Shanghai are late March through May (spring) and October through November (autumn) when temperatures are mild and skies are clear. Summer (June–August) brings intense heat, humidity, and the meiyu rainy season in June. Winter (December–February) is cold and grey but brings the lowest hotel prices and thinnest crowds.

For first-time visitors, stay in the French Concession (Xuhui/former Luwan) for walkability and neighborhood character, or near the Bund (Huangpu) for views and proximity to major sights. Jing'an is ideal for business travelers with easy metro access. Pudong is convenient for Pudong airport but feels isolated from the city's street-level energy. Budget travelers should look at hostels around People's Square which is the most connected metro hub.

Compare a few booking platforms before paying, including Trip.com (Ctrip) and major international sites, because pricing can differ by property and date. Hotels in China require passport registration at check-in, which is a legal requirement. Boutique and short-stay options are available in many districts, but listing quality varies, so check recent reviews carefully.