Shanghai
Exploring Shanghai, China, is a breathtaking journey into a rich tapestry of ancient culture melding with ultra-modern innovation, where skyscrapers tower over traditional gardens and bustling markets teem with vibrant flavors.
Shanghai is one of the most populous and vibrant cities in China. It is situated on the eastern coast of the country, at the mouth of the Yangtze River. With a population of over 26 million people, it is also one of the world's largest cities.
Shanghai is known as a global financial hub and a major center for commerce, trade, and innovation. It has a significant influence on finance, technology, fashion, art, and entertainment in China and the world. The city has a modern skyline characterized by towering skyscrapers and architectural marvels.
The city has a rich history and was once a small fishing village. It grew rapidly after the opening of several treaty ports in the 19th century, attracting international trade and foreign investment. This historical background is reflected in the diverse architectural styles found throughout the city, ranging from traditional Chinese structures to European-style buildings.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Shanghai, China largely depends on your preferences for weather and crowd sizes.
Spring (March to May): The city blossoms beautifully in spring, with comfortable temperatures ranging from 50°F (10°C) to 70°F (21°C). It's a great time to visit to experience Shanghai's natural beauty, particularly the blooming cherry blossoms. Rainfall is moderate during this period.
Autumn (October and November): Many consider autumn the best time to visit Shanghai. The weather is similar to spring with mild and pleasant temperatures, and it's also the best time to experience the vibrant autumn foliage in Shanghai's parks. The Mid-Autumn Festival, a major Chinese celebration, also occurs during this time.
Avoid visiting in the summer months (June to September) if possible, as Shanghai can be extremely hot and humid, with temperatures often climbing above 35°C (95°F). Furthermore, typhoons are possible from late summer to early autumn, which can disrupt travel plans.
The winter months (December to February) can be quite chilly with temperatures dropping below freezing. However, crowds are smaller during this period, and the Chinese New Year, which usually falls between late January and mid-February, can be an intriguing time to experience the city's traditions and festivities.
How to Get There
Getting to Shanghai:
Shanghai is easily accessible from many international locations, primarily through its two major airports:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): This is the main international airport, serving most international and some domestic flights. It's located about 30 kilometers east of the city center.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA): This airport primarily serves domestic flights but also handles some international flights. It's closer to the city center, about 13 kilometers west.
You can also get to Shanghai by train, particularly if you're already in China or nearby countries. The city boasts one of the most extensive high-speed rail networks in the world, with direct links to many major Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, and Xi'an.
Getting Around Shanghai:
Once in Shanghai, there are various ways to get around:
Metro: Shanghai has a highly efficient and extensive Metro system. It's probably the quickest and most economical way to travel around the city. The stations are well-signposted in English and Chinese.
Taxis: Taxis are plentiful, relatively cheap, and can be hailed off the street. However, traffic can be heavy, particularly during rush hour. Keep in mind that most taxi drivers do not speak English, so it's a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese.
Buses: Shanghai has an extensive bus network. While cheaper than taxis, they can be more difficult for foreigners to navigate due to the language barrier and crowdedness.
Bicycles: Shanghai is a bicycle-friendly city with numerous bike lanes and bike-sharing schemes. Cycling can be an enjoyable way to see the city, especially in less crowded areas.
Ferries: Ferries run across the Huangpu River and can be a scenic way to travel between the Pudong and Puxi areas.
Walking: Many of Shanghai's attractions are located within walking distance of each other, especially in areas like the Bund and the French Concession.
Most Popular Attractions and Activities to See and Do in Shanghai, China
Top 25 Attractions in Shanghai
Shanghai, one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world, offers numerous attractions. Here are some of the top ones:
The Bund (Waitan): This famous waterfront promenade offers stunning views of Shanghai's skyline. It's lined with historical colonial-era buildings, each with its unique architectural style.
Oriental Pearl Tower: This iconic tower in the Pudong district offers panoramic views of the city from its observation decks. It also houses a revolving restaurant, a museum, and several other attractions.
Yu Garden (Yuyuan): A beautiful traditional Chinese garden in the old city of Shanghai. It's filled with pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and beautiful flora, providing a peaceful break from the bustling city.
Shanghai Museum: One of the best museums in China, it houses an extensive collection of ancient Chinese art including bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals, and sculptures.
Nanjing Road: Shanghai's main shopping street, packed with shops, restaurants, and department stores. It's one of the world's busiest shopping streets.
Jing'an Temple: An ancient Buddhist temple located in the heart of the city. Its peaceful ambiance and beautiful architecture make it a must-visit.
Shanghai World Financial Center: It's one of the highest skyscrapers in the world. The 100th-floor observation deck provides an unparalleled view of Shanghai.
Zhujiajiao Water Town: Sometimes referred to as "Shanghai's Venice," it's a well-preserved ancient water town with a history of more than 1700 years.
French Concession: This area retains a European charm with its tree-lined streets, boutiques, cafes, and restored shikumen houses (traditional townhouses).
Shanghai Disney Resort: A must-visit for families, this Disney park offers a blend of classic Disney magic with Chinese culture.
Tianzifang: An arts and crafts enclave known for its labyrinthine alleyways filled with galleries, boutiques, bars, and cafes. It's a charming and quieter alternative to the bustling city center.
Longhua Temple & Pagoda: The oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Shanghai, with a history dating back over 1,700 years. The temple complex also features a seven-story pagoda, one of the few remaining from the Song Dynasty.
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: This might sound dry, but it's a fascinating exploration of Shanghai's past and future. The centerpiece is a huge scale model of the city as planned for 2020.
Qibao Ancient Town: Another water town closer to the city center than Zhujiajiao, Qibao offers a snapshot of traditional life in the Shanghai area. It is also famous for its street food.
M50 Art Complex: An old factory complex that has been transformed into a vibrant arts district, with numerous galleries and studios showcasing contemporary Chinese art.
Jade Buddha Temple: Known for its two jade Buddha statues, this temple is still in active use as a place of worship and provides a fascinating insight into Chinese Buddhism.
1933 Old Millfun: This former slaughterhouse has been transformed into a creative hub housing galleries, design studios, boutiques, and restaurants.
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center: A unique museum showcasing a vast collection of propaganda posters from Mao-era China, offering an intriguing look at 20th-century Chinese history.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: A great option for families, with interactive exhibits on a wide range of topics. The museum is located in Pudong, near Century Park.
Xintiandi: A shopping and entertainment district known for its beautifully restored shikumen (stone gate) houses, which blend traditional Shanghai architecture with modern styling.
Power Station of Art: This contemporary art museum, housed in a former power station, is China's first state-run contemporary art museum. It hosts the Shanghai Biennale and features rotating exhibits from international artists.
Chenghuangmiao (City God Temple): This is a Taoist temple located in the old city of Shanghai. It's surrounded by a busy market and is adjacent to the Yuyuan Garden.
Fuxing Park: Located in the former French Concession, it's a beautiful city park with a blend of Chinese and French design elements. The park is lively, especially in the morning when it is filled with people doing tai chi, singing, dancing, and playing mahjong.
Shanghai Grand Theatre: Located in the People's Square, it's one of the largest and best-equipped automatic stages in the world. The theatre's architecture is modern and sleek, and it hosts a variety of performances, including ballets, operas, symphonies, and Chinese dramas.
Duolun Road Cultural Street: A pedestrian street in the Hongkou District, it is famous for its literary connections. Many famous writers and revolutionaries lived in this area in the early 20th century. The street is lined with bookshops, teahouses, and beautifully restored shikumen houses, as well as a statue of the writers Lu Xun, Mao Dun, and Guo Moruo.
Top 20 Activities to do in Shanghai
Shanghai offers a wealth of activities for every type of traveler. Here are some top recommendations:
River Cruise on the Huangpu: A cruise along the Huangpu River offers stunning views of the Bund and the Pudong skyline, particularly enchanting when lit up at night.
Explore the French Concession: Wander the tree-lined streets, visit unique boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, and enjoy the historical architecture.
Taste the Local Cuisine: Try local delicacies such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Shanghai hairy crab, or Peking duck. Food tours are a great way to explore Shanghai's culinary scene.
Visit a Tea House: China has a rich tea culture. Visit a traditional tea house, take part in a tea ceremony, and savor the variety of Chinese teas.
Shopping on Nanjing Road: This bustling shopping street offers everything from high-end boutiques to local shops. Nearby Tianzifang and Xintiandi offer more unique, locally made goods.
Visit a Traditional Chinese Spa: After a day of exploring, relax with a traditional Chinese massage or treatment at one of Shanghai's many excellent spas.
Cycling: Rent a bike and explore the city on two wheels. The area along the Bund is particularly pleasant for a ride.
Attend a Chinese Opera or Acrobatic Show: Experience the color, music, and drama of a traditional Chinese performance. The Yifu Theatre and Shanghai Centre Theatre are popular venues.
Morning Tai Chi: Join locals for early morning Tai Chi sessions in places like Fuxing Park or the Bund.
Cooking Classes: Take a local cooking class to learn how to prepare Shanghai's famous dishes like soup dumplings or stir-fried noodles.
Bird Watching at Chongming Island: Just outside the city, this island is an important stopover for migratory birds and home to the Dongtan Nature Reserve.
Nightlife in The Bund: Shanghai's nightlife is vibrant and The Bund area offers a variety of options from high-end clubs to sophisticated rooftop bars with stunning skyline views.
Photography Walks: Whether it's the architectural juxtaposition of The Bund or the charm of the French Concession, Shanghai offers plenty of stunning visual moments. Join a photography tour or just walk around with your camera.
Fuxing Park Dance Classes: Join the locals who gather in Fuxing Park for group dances. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Visit Wet Markets: For an authentic slice of local life, visit one of the city's bustling wet markets. You'll see a huge variety of produce and fresh seafood.
Calligraphy Lessons: Visit a local cultural center or art academy to learn the ancient Chinese art of calligraphy.
Art Galleries: Apart from the M50 district, visit other contemporary art galleries such as Power Station of Art or Rockbund Art Museum.
Ferry Ride Across Huangpu River: For a cheap and scenic way to cross the river, hop on one of the public ferries.
Jinjiang Amusement Park: If you're traveling with kids, this amusement park offers a variety of rides and attractions.
Visit a Jazz Club: Shanghai has a vibrant jazz scene. Spend an evening enjoying live music at a local jazz club like Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai or the famous Fairmont Peace Hotel's Jazz Bar, where the Old Jazz Band, a group of musicians all over 60, play classic tunes. This would offer a delightful way to unwind after a day of sightseeing and absorb some of Shanghai's thriving arts scene.
Best Shopping
Shanghai is a shopper's paradise, with an incredible range of options from luxury boutiques to street markets. Here are some of the best places to shop:
Nanjing Road: Known as the "No.1 commercial street of China," Nanjing Road offers a mix of historic shops, department stores, and modern fashion outlets. It's divided into two sections - Nanjing Road East, which is pedestrian-only and Nanjing Road West, known for high-end brands and luxury goods.
Huaihai Road: This is another premier shopping street in Shanghai, comparable to New York's Fifth Avenue or Paris's Champs-Elysees. You'll find numerous upmarket brands, designer boutiques, and high-end department stores here.
Xintiandi: Located in the heart of the city, Xintiandi is a lifestyle and shopping district known for its restored shikumen houses, which blend traditional Shanghai architecture with modern design. Here, you'll find a range of stores from international luxury brands to unique local boutiques.
Tianzifang: An arts and crafts enclave known for its labyrinth of alleys, Tianzifang is filled with independent boutiques selling clothes, jewelry, home goods, and more. It's a great place to find unique, locally made items.
AP Plaza Market: Located in the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Metro Station, this is the city's largest indoor fake market. It's the place to go for knock-off designer clothes, electronics, and other items. Remember to bargain hard!
Fuzhou Road: This street is famous for its variety of bookstores and stationary shops. The Shanghai Foreign Languages Bookstore, a multi-floor bookstore, offers a large selection of books in different languages.
Yuyuan Bazaar: Near Yuyuan Garden, this bustling market is the place to go for Chinese souvenirs, crafts, and tea.
South Bund Fabric Market: Here you can have custom clothing made at reasonable prices. From silk to cashmere, choose your fabric, get your measurements taken, and return in a few days to pick up your finished garment.
Plaza 66 and IAPM Mall: These are among the city's most luxurious shopping malls, housing high-end international brands and designers.
Qipu Road Clothing Market: Known locally as "Cheap Road," this is the place to go for bargain clothes shopping. It's a wholesale market with a massive array of clothing at cheap prices.
Remember, in markets, bargaining is part of the experience, so don't be afraid to haggle to get a better price. And always be aware of counterfeit goods, especially when shopping for branded items.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Shanghai is a city that truly never sleeps, with an exciting nightlife and entertainment scene that caters to all tastes. Whether you're looking for high-end clubs, cozy live music venues, or arts performances, Shanghai has something to offer. Here are some highlights:
Clubs and Bars in The Bund: The Bund is home to a number of high-end clubs and bars. Bar Rouge and M1NT are known for their trendy crowd and stunning views of the Pudong skyline. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, the Roosevelt Sky Bar offers excellent cocktails and a beautiful rooftop view.
Xintiandi: This area offers a vibrant nightlife with a range of bars, pubs, and restaurants. It's a great place to explore at night, with its beautifully lit, restored shikumen houses.
Jazz Clubs: Shanghai has a thriving jazz scene. The Fairmont Peace Hotel's Jazz Bar is a legendary spot, while JZ Club in the French Concession and Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai are also popular choices.
Night River Cruise: A Huangpu River cruise offers stunning night views of Shanghai, with the Pudong skyline and the historic buildings of The Bund all lit up.
Acrobatic Shows: Shanghai's acrobatic troupes are world-renowned. The Shanghai Circus World and the Shanghai Centre Theatre have daily performances, featuring a mix of traditional Chinese acrobatics and modern techniques.
French Concession: This area offers a mix of trendy bars, chic clubs, and cozy live music venues. Yongkang Road is a popular bar street, and venues like Shake are known for their music and dance scenes.
Pudong: The area around the Lujiazui metro stop is known for its high-end bars and restaurants, many located in the skyscrapers for which Shanghai is known.
Night Markets: For late-night food cravings, Shanghai boasts numerous night markets that are certainly worth exploring. One such market is Tianzifang, a lively and bustling hub nestled amidst traditional Chinese architecture in an old neighborhood. Here, you can find an array of offerings, from tantalizing dumplings to an assortment of kitschy items. In contrast, Changli Road Street Food Market is another favorite spot for both tourists and locals. Its popularity stems from the endless queues of people eagerly waiting to savour the mouthwatering delicacies on offer, such as succulent chicken drumsticks and an assortment of grilled seafood kebabs.
Karaoke: Karaoke, or KTV, is a favorite pastime in China. Chains like Haoledi and Party World offer private rooms for you and your friends to sing the night away.
Live Music: Venues like Yuyintang and Mao Livehouse host rock and indie bands, while the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra caters to classical music lovers.
Remember that the metro in Shanghai generally closes around 11 pm, so you'll need to take a taxi or use a ride-hailing app like Didi if you're out late.
Local Cuisine
Shanghai, known as the "Oriental Paris," is not only famous for its modern, cosmopolitan charm but also for its rich and distinctive culinary culture. Shanghai cuisine, also known as Hu cuisine, is characterized by a harmonious blend of flavors, colors, and aroma, and is noted for its emphasis on using sugar, alcohol, and soy sauce for braising and stewing to create richly flavored dishes. Here are some local specialties:
Xiaolongbao: These are small, juicy steamed dumplings filled with pork or crab roe and soup. They are usually served in bamboo steamers and are a must-try dish.
Shengjianbao: A pan-fried version of the xiaolongbao, these buns have a slightly thicker skin and are crispy at the bottom, filled with hot soup and meat.
Scallion Oil Noodles (Cong You Ban Mian): This is a classic Shanghainese dish. The noodles are coated in a sauce made from oil, soy sauce, and caramelized green onions.
Hairy Crab: Served in autumn, the Shanghai hairy crab is steamed and then eaten with a dipping sauce of vinegar and ginger. The roe is particularly prized.
Beggar's Chicken: This dish involves a chicken stuffed with herbs and wrapped in lotus leaves and clay before being baked. The legend behind its name and the process of breaking open the clay make it a unique culinary experience.
Shanghai Fried Noodles: Thick, chewy noodles stir-fried with soy sauce, vegetables, and often with pork or shrimp, this is a staple dish in Shanghai.
Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs (Tangcu Paigu): These are spare ribs cooked in a sauce made from sugar and vinegar, giving them a tangy flavor.
Niangao (Rice Cake): Niangao is made from glutinous rice flour and can be cooked in various ways. In Shanghai, it's commonly stir-fried with vegetables and meat.
Soy-braised Duck (Nanjing You Ya): This dish is a specialty of the nearby city of Nanjing but is very popular in Shanghai as well. The duck is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and spices, then slow-cooked until tender.
Youtiao and Doujiang: This is a typical Shanghai breakfast. Youtiao are fried dough sticks, crispy and light, often enjoyed dipped in doujiang, or warm soy milk.
Accommodations
Choosing the best area to stay in Shanghai largely depends on your interests, as different districts have their unique attractions. Here are some popular areas:
The Bund & People's Square (Huangpu District): Staying in this area means you are in the heart of the city, with easy access to major attractions like The Bund, Nanjing Road, People's Park, and the Shanghai Museum. The area is filled with a variety of hotels, from luxury ones like The Peninsula or The Waldorf Astoria to more budget-friendly options.
Pudong: If you are in town for business, this is probably where you will be. Pudong is the modern district of Shanghai, home to the financial center and many high-rise buildings like the Shanghai Tower. There are many high-end hotels in this area, such as the Ritz Carlton and the Park Hyatt in the Shanghai World Financial Center.
French Concession: This area is known for its charm and beauty with tree-lined streets, boutiques, cafes, and a hip nightlife. The French Concession is more residential and can offer a quieter stay while still offering easy access to attractions. Hotels like the InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin and the Okura Garden Hotel offer luxury accommodation, while there are also a number of boutique hotels and serviced apartments.
Xintiandi: This upscale area, characterized by a mix of historic and modern architecture, is filled with shopping, dining, and nightlife. Langham Xintiandi and Andaz Xintiandi are luxury hotels in the area, and there are also a variety of mid-range options.
Jing'an District: Home to the beautiful Jing'an Temple, this area is a mix of traditional and modern Shanghai. The district has a range of shopping and dining options and is known for its vibrant nightlife. The Jing'an Shangri-La, West Shanghai, offers luxury accommodations, while there are also more budget-friendly hotels in the area.
Hongkou District: If you're interested in exploring Shanghai's Jewish history, Hongkou is the area to stay in. It's also close to the Bund and has a more local feel.
