Shanghai Attraction Guide
Shanghai is China's most international city — colonial-era grandeur on one riverbank, a forest of supertalls on the other, classical gardens tucked into the old town, and a Disney resort in the suburbs. Most visitors cluster around the Huangpu River waterfront, but the city's best trick is how much it rewards wandering: every neighborhood has a different century. Three to four days covers the essentials below comfortably.
The Bund (外滩)
The 1.5-kilometer waterfront promenade on the west bank of the Huangpu River is Shanghai's signature sight — fifty-two early-20th-century banks and consulates facing the futuristic skyline of Pudong.
- Bund Sightseeing Promenade (外滩观景大道): The riverside walkway itself — come at dawn for tai chi and empty views, or after dark when both waterfronts light up. Free.
- Peace Hotel (和平饭店): 1929 Art Deco landmark on the Bund, now a Fairmont. Even non-guests can visit the lobby and the famous Jazz Bar.
- Rockbund / Bund Origin (外滩源): The historic block north of the Bund where Shanghai's story started — restored lane houses, galleries, and design boutiques around Yuanmingyuan Road.
- The 52 historic buildings: The Bund's celebrated "museum of world architecture" — Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, and Art Deco façades from the treaty-port era, best appreciated on foot from Yan'an Road to the Waibaidu Bridge end.
- Waibaidu Bridge (外白渡桥): The 1907 steel truss bridge at the Bund's northern tip, where the Huangpu meets Suzhou Creek — a favorite for film shoots and sunset photos.
Lujiazui (陆家嘴)
Pudong's financial district across the river — the skyline you photograph from the Bund, and the observation decks you ride up to see it back.
- Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦): China's tallest building at 632 meters; the observation deck on the 118th floor (546 m) is the highest in the country. Book online to skip queues.
- Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔): Shanghai's instantly recognizable pink-sphere tower (468 m); glass skywalk at 259 m and the Space Module at 351 m.
- Jin Mao Tower (金茂大厦): The pagoda-inspired supertall; its 88th-floor observatory looks straight down through the atrium.
- Shanghai World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心): The bottle-opener building; the 100th-floor Sky Walk (474 m) has a glass floor over the city.
- Lujiazui Riverside Avenue (陆家嘴滨江大道): The 2.3-kilometer promenade along the east bank of the Huangpu — the ground-level angle on all three supertalls, popular for evening jogs and picnics.
Old City (老城厢)
The Ming-and-Qing-era heart of Shanghai, where classical gardens sit a block from the city's most famous shopping street.
- Yu Garden (豫园): A masterpiece of Ming-dynasty garden design dating to 1559 — pavilions, koi ponds, rockeries, and zigzag bridges in the Old Town. Closed Mondays.
- City God Temple (城隍庙): The Taoist temple at the center of a bustling bazaar of snack stalls, tea houses, and souvenir shops — try xiaolongbao at the nearby Nanxiang Mantou Dian.
- Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street (南京路步行街): The 1.2-kilometer shopping boulevard running from People's Square to the Bund — neon, department stores, and people-watching.
- Tianzifang (田子坊): A warren of Shikumen lane houses in the former French Concession turned into craft shops, cafés, and galleries.
- Xintiandi (新天地): Preserved Shikumen stone-gate houses repurposed as upscale dining and nightlife — the polished end of old-Shanghai architecture.
Suburbs (郊区)
Two easy day trips by metro: one for families, one for anyone who wants the Jiangnan water-town experience without leaving Shanghai.
- Shanghai Disney Resort (上海迪士尼乐园): Six themed lands including the world's first Zootopia; buy tickets online in advance and arrive at opening to beat crowds.
- Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (朱家角古镇): A 1,700-year-old canal town at the end of Metro Line 17 — stone bridges, the 36-arch Fangsheng Bridge, and boat rides on the canals. A perfect half day.
- Shanghai Wild Animal Park (上海野生动物园): Drive-through safari zones plus walkable exhibits in Pudong's Nanhui area — a strong pick with kids.
- Shanghai Astronomy Museum (上海天文馆): The world's largest planetarium, also in the Lingang area of Pudong — immersive space exhibits, worth pairing with the wild animal park.
Practical Tips
Best season: March–May and September–November bring mild weather and clearer skies. Avoid Chinese national holidays — Labor Day (May 1–5), National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7), and Chinese New Year — when every attraction is packed. Getting around: the Shanghai Metro reaches every sight listed here; foreigners can ride with Alipay or WeChat Pay transit codes. Booking: reserve Shanghai Tower, Disney tickets, and the Shanghai Museum online in advance — most major museums are closed on Mondays, and free-entry museums like the Shanghai Museum require real-name reservations. Money: cash is rarely needed; Alipay and WeChat Pay cover tickets, metro, and street food once linked to a foreign card.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Shanghai?
Three full days covers the Bund, Lujiazui, Yu Garden, the French Concession lanes, and one suburb day trip (Disney or Zhujiajiao). Add a fourth day for museums or a side trip to Suzhou (25 minutes by high-speed rail).
Is the Bund better in the daytime or at night?
Both. Daytime shows off the historic architecture and the Pudong skyline clearly; after dark (buildings light up around sunset) is the classic postcard view. Go twice if you can — morning for a quiet walk, evening for the lights.
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Travel in Shanghai: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-TravelinShanghai/index.html
- Shanghai Tourism — Things to Do in Shanghai: https://www.shanghaitourism.org/things-to-do-in-shanghai/
- Shanghai Tourism — Shanghai Travel Guide 2026: https://www.shanghaitourism.org/shanghai-travel-guide/