Travel Insights

Shanghai was already rivaling Paris at the turn of the 20th century with its incredible nightlife and couture houses. And now, a hundred years later (after braving war, destruction, and redevelopment), the city is thriving with posh pubs and magnificent skyscrapers existing peacefully with the serenity of traditional temples and classical architecture.

Shanghai, a city of 24 million busy souls, is always on the move. Always awake and full of activities. Wondering how to overcome the overwhelm and chalk out a do-able itinerary? Rest easy – we’ve curated the best things to do see and do in Shanghai for you.

1. Explore the Bund

The bund is a mile-long stretch of promenade along the Huang po river that’s always bustling with locals and tourists.

Along the west bank of the river, you’ll spot architectural marvels of different styles: Gothic, baroque, neoclassical, etc. The area also has a number of restaurants and cafes that you can duck into for a quick meal or drink.

If you’d rather have a long, leisurely lunch, we recommend M on the Bund – a posh restaurant whose menu includes exquisite dishes made with local produce. The menu also changes seasonally, so you always have something to look forward to when you visit Shanghai.

You can also plan a river cruise either during the day or in the evening. During the day, you’ll get an incredible view of the two suspension bridges (Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge) that seem to arch over the Oriental Tv tower. At night, you’ll enjoy the glittering panorama of a cosmopolitan Shanghai.

2. The Oriental Tv Tower

The Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tv tower is the tallest tower in Asia, which makes it a distinct landmark in the Bund area. The tower has 3 main sightseeing decks and was actually the first building in the world to install all-glass elevators. We recommend planning your visit during the evening to experience the magnificent, twinkling cityscape.

3. Shanghai World Financial Center’s 100 Floor Observation Deck

This is the 8th tallest building in the world and almost resembles a giant bottle opener. This building also has 3 observation decks, the highest of which is located on the 100th floor. Imagine that! If you’re a sucker for panoramic views, this is the place to be in Shanghai (along with the Oriental Tv Tower)!

4. Zhujlajiao – The Water Town

Located in the outskirts of Shanghai, Zhujlajiao is known for its tranquil water-country landscape. The city was set up over 1700 years ago, and its incredibly preserved classical buildings date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

You can explore the town on foot or from the waters and stop by for a quick bite in one of the quaint cafes when you’re tired. Don’t forget to make your way over to the Feng sheng bridge, the largest stone arch bridge in Shanghai and the pride of Zhujlajiao.

5. Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden is a peaceful retreat in Shanghai that’s best visited on a weekday when it’s less crowded. The garden once belonged to the royal families of the Ming dynasty and features decorative halls, pagodas, archways, sparkling pools, and zigzag bridges.

Don’t just concentrate on the large structures when you’re exploring this garden though – it’s all about the details here in the form of intricate carvings and sculptures.

The garden is at its prettiest in spring when it’s dotted with greenery and tiny pastel blossoms.

6. Longhua Temple

The Longhua Temple is the largest in Shanghai and was built strictly on the Buddhist principles of symmetry.

The various decorative halls that house its treasures (gold seals, Buddhist statues, the Dazang sutras) are located along the 164 m long axis: Maitreya Hall (Miledian), Devajara Hall (Tianwangdian), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Three Sages Hall (Sanshengdian), Abbot’s Hall (Fangzhangshi) and the Sutras Keeping Hall (Cangjinglou).

The Longhua Pagoda (40 m high) stands right in front of the temple. Although this iconic pagoda has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, it still retains its Song dynasty architectural heritage.

7. Jade Buddha Temple

Located in the outskirts of Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple is now surrounded by modern buildings. However, that does nothing to underplay its incredibly serene and traditional atmosphere. Yep, this ancient temple is still an active place of worship.

The architecture of the temple is typical of the song dynasty style and its decorative halls house three beautiful jade statues of the Buddha that were shipped from Burma.

8. All aboard the Shanghai Maglev train (from airport to center)

Step into the future when you board the Shanghai Maglev train to reach the city center from the airport. The magnetic levitation technology allows this train to travel a distance of 30 kms in 7 minutes! This is actually the fastest commercial train in the world, faster even thanF1 race cars.

9. Plan a luxurious stay at the Jin Mao Tower Grand Hyatt

Located in the Lujiazui financial center, this Hyatt-group hotel occupies the top 36 levels of the Jin Mao Tower. This means you not only enjoy stellar service when you stay here but also incredible panoramic views round the clock. It’s also quite close to a bustling shopping street that’s lined with hip bars, restaurants, and cafes.

10. Nanjing Shopping Center

A 6 km long stretch on Shanghai’s Nanjing Road is the best place to shop – both high street brnds and bargain shopping – in the city. In fact, it has been Shanghai’s shopping district for over a hundred years! There are over 600 shops in the stretch, selling everything from silk to jade. You’ll even find a Tiffany’s here!

11. Shanghai Museum

Located in the People’s Center, the Shanghai Museum takes on you a wonderful journey of the evolution of traditional Chinese art.

The museum is divided into 11 galleries and three exhibition halls, and the galleries house all the major types of Chinese art, from beautiful bronze artifacts to delicate ceramics and opulent jade pieces.

You will also find traditional Chinese paintings featuring the classical scenes and calligraphy. Another highlight of the museum is its collection of 7,000 types of currency that reveal the evolution of China’s economic system and its relations with foreign countries over the centuries.

You can visit the museum Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM to 5 PM.

12. Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology

Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology exhibits show the country’s scientific, cultural, ideological progress closely aligned with the overarching theme of “Nature, People, and Science.”
Here’s what you shouldn’t miss here:

• Cool educational shows in the IMAX theatre
• The Earth’s Crust exhibition hall that houses exhibits spilling remarkable secrets about the Earth’s geography
• The Light of Wisdom Hall that features interactive exhibits centered around chemistry, physics, and mathematics
• The Robot World
• The Astronavigation Hall

Visit the museum Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM to 5:15 PM.

13. Shanghai Natural History Museum

Shanghai Natural History Museum is an extension of the Science and Technology Museum and the first thing you’ll notice about it is the eye-popping architecture: the building is shaped like a giant green spiral shell.

The museum has over 280,000 exhibits featuring different aspects of paleontology, botany, geology, as well as the evolution of organic life.

You can visit this museum Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM and 5:15 PM.

14. Shanghai Zoo

The Shanghai zoo has more than 6,000 animals including 600 rare species. Here you’ll find animals from all over the world such as kangaroos, giraffes, and penguins.
Here are some the exhibits you shouldn’t miss

• The Giant Panda exhibit
• The Golden monkeys
• Lion and Tiger hills
• The aviary section (more than 40 species of birds nest in Shanghai zoo – watch out for the egrets, swans, and mandarin ducks)

15. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

This aquarium is one of the largest in the world and has the longest submarine viewing tunnel (about 155 m).

The exhibits here include more than 1500 species (including rare finds like poison dart frogs, leafy sea dragons, and emperor penguins) from all the 5 continents and the four great oceans. In fact, the main building is specifically divided into different geographical zones: China Zone, South America Zone, Australia Zone, Africa Zone, Southeast Asia Zone, Cold Water Zone, Polar Zone, Sea and Shore, Deep Ocean Zone and Special Exhibitions.

And, some species in the China Zone (such as the Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze alligator, etc.) are under national protection!

16. Shanghai Circus World

Shanghai Circus World can seat over 1500 people and is known for hosting remarkable performances. Two of its most prominent performances are ERA Intersection of Time and Happy Circus.

The ERA Intersection of Time is a stunning performance that combines dance, martial arts, and acrobatics perfectly in sync with the lighting, sound, and music. The story of China’s evolution – from its ancient past to the modern day – is revealed through the performance.

The Happy Circus isn’t as grand but is great to enjoy with kids. Performances include acrobatics, ribbon dance, sea lion performances, and magic shows with a dash of comedy.

17. Chongming Island

This is the third largest island in China and is great for a nature-retreat day trip. You can explore the tranquil wilderness in the Dongping National Forest Park, go bird watching at Pearl Lake, and explore the hiking trails along the wetlands. There are many ancient temples on the island too.

18. End your trip with a foot massage

You haven’t been to Shanghai if you haven’t indulged in a foot massage! There are a number of wellness spas around the city that offer relaxing foot massages – hop in to wrap up your trip in style!