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Things to Do in Shanghai, China
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Shanghai, China
Things to do in Shanghai, China include strolling along The Bund, where historic colonial architecture faces the modern skyline across the Huangpu River. Ascend Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China at 632 meters, for panoramic city views. Explore Yu Garden, a classical garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty, with its rockeries, pavilions, and koi ponds.
1. The Bund
Iconic waterfront with colonial facades and Shanghai skyline views. Stroll the promenade, photograph the skyline at sunrise or watch the Bund light up at night.
Quick facts: The river breeze carries the sound of boat whistles and the aroma of barbecue stalls. The approximately 1.5-kilometer-long stone slab walkway is lined with over 50 old buildings of diverse styles on both sides. Once the core area of the Far East's financial network, several clock towers and marble porches still attract photographers racing to capture the light at dawn.
Highlights: The air by the river mixes the scent of damp metal and camera shutters. Between 5 and 7 a.m., soon-to-be-wed couples and photography teams often use reflectors to create a warm, long light strip. The mechanical chimes on the clock tower ring every 15 minutes with three short knocks followed by one long tone, echoing in the night. Long-exposure photographers use this sound to create dynamic light trails.
2. Shanghai Tower
Ascend China's tallest tower for sweeping panoramic views from one of the world's highest observation decks. Ride a record-fast elevator to glass-floored viewpoints and skyline vistas.
Quick facts: Looking up at the spiraling shape feels like being swallowed by a giant glass vortex. The entire tower dominates the skyline at 632 meters tall. The ultra-fast elevator reaches speeds of about 20.5 meters per second, whisking you to observation decks above the hundredth floor in moments, with slight ear pressure.
Highlights: Entering the gap between the shell and the tower reveals continuous sky gardens. The most striking is the observation space on the 118th floor where visitors feel the high-altitude wind shear and subtle vibrations beneath the glass. At night, the facade reflects gradient silver-blue light, and the spiral seams create echo effects that make it seem you can hear the wind sliding down the spiral.
3. Oriental Pearl Tower
Futuristic skyline icon with sweeping city views. Ride to glass platforms, history exhibits, and a revolving restaurant.
Quick facts: Standing 468 meters tall, its unique silhouette is instantly recognizable on the skyline. The exterior comprises 11 spheres of various sizes connected in sequence, lighting up at night like a string of pearls dancing on the river.
Highlights: The transparent skywalk at about 260 meters height allows you to see both the street below and the distant river under your feet, thrilling the senses. Every evening, a light show uses over ten thousand LEDs synced to music, with color and rhythm changes that feel like entering a giant light and shadow dance.
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4. Yu Garden
Classic Ming-dynasty garden with ornate pavilions and winding rockeries. Wander tranquil courtyards, carved bridges and traditional teahouses in central Shanghai.
Quick facts: Entering the garden, winding corridors, small bridges with flowing water, and antique carved windows divide the limited space into quiet corners waiting to be explored. Light and shadow move across the stone paths like pages turning. Tea drinkers often chat quietly in old riverbank shops, with the crisp sound of porcelain cups and mist from lotus ponds blending into a unique city flavor.
Highlights: A secret to share: Pan Yunduan spent nearly 18 years creating the garden for his father. The famous rockery is stacked from hundreds of uniquely shaped stones, and close up you can smell the damp moss in the cracks. Tea patrons often line up ten or so deep at the waterside pavilion in the lake center, sipping hot tea by the wooden window. The grain scent rising from the hot tea divides the market noise into two layers.
5. Nanjing Road
Shanghai's bustling commercial spine mixes historic arcades and neon energy. Stroll flagship shops, street-food stalls, and lively evening lights.
Quick facts: A commercial pedestrian street over one kilometer long, with thousands of shops and restaurants gathered on both sides, always offering unexpected small stores tucked in corners. Crowds fill the streets, with peak numbers reaching several hundred thousand. At night, neon lights and street food aromas slow your steps to savor sights and smells.
Highlights: The grilled aromas and soup scents of street food draw people in. Nearby stalls often sell hundreds of portions daily, and you can hear the irregular rhythm of spatulas hitting pots while waiting in line. An old craftsman in a corner uses traditional tools to repair pocket watches, fixing about 5 to 10 each day. Customers watch his fine work under a magnifying glass. The sound is quiet and precise like a watch heartbeat.
6. Shanghai Museum
World-class collection of Chinese art spanning 5,000 years, housed in an elegant circular building. Expect galleries of bronzes, ceramics, jade, calligraphy and ornate costumes.
Quick facts: Entering the main hall feels like stepping into a bronze vessel classroom. The collection includes over a thousand bronzes with decorations detailed enough to reveal the tool marks from casting. Displays also feature jade and colored porcelain. These small objects sometimes reflect a warm milky white or jade green under the light, inviting a touch.
Highlights: There is an interactive area with replicas you can touch, allowing visitors to feel the rough texture and handcrafted grooves of ancient pottery with their fingers. This is one of the few exhibition sections permitting replica contact. Exhibit labels often show land numbers or excavation years. The most notable inscription has 12 lines. Audio guides read it sentence by sentence in Mandarin and English, letting you listen and follow each character closely.
7. Jade Buddha Temple
Serene temple with two luminous white jade Buddha statues, offering a calm glimpse into Shanghai's Buddhist life. Walk ornate halls, hear monks chant, and watch devotees give offerings.
Quick facts: Two jade Buddhas are carved from rare white jade with a delicate luster that often captivates visitors. Inside the temple, the scent of rich sandalwood and candle smoke fills the air. Chanting and incense create a ritualistic atmosphere with each step.
Highlights: The two white jade Buddhas in the main hall come from Myanmar. Under light, the white jade shows a cold jade-green glow, with stone veins as fine as hair visible up close. When nearly a hundred sandalwood sticks are lit simultaneously, smoke flows slowly through light beams. You can hear the low-frequency echo of wooden fish drums and the subtle rustling of monk robes, creating a quiet and profound scene.
8. Former French Concession
Elegant tree-lined avenues showcase Shanghai's colonial architecture and café culture. Wander leafy streets of villas, art deco façades, boutiques and cafés while sampling local snacks.
Quick facts: Walking along the tree-lined avenue, thick plane trees filter sunlight into dappled spots. The stone path and rich coffee aroma slow your pace unconsciously. Between alleys, flower-windowed Western buildings and modern design shops stand side by side. At night, soft jazz sometimes drifts from small bars, creating an atmosphere like a faded, old postcard.
Highlights: At night, old cafes play vinyl records looping La Vie en Rose. The needle's crackle and the bitter aroma of espresso weave together in the air, stretching time into a warm colored ribbon. Writer Eileen Chang once lived here. At street corner reading sessions and secondhand bookstores, you often find old journals and photocopied manuscripts about her. When leafing through, the paper slightly yellows. The tea scent mingled with ink makes you instantly enter the scenes of her novels.
9. Xintiandi
Where preserved shikumen courtyards meet lively restaurants and boutiques. Stroll cobbled lanes, dine riverside, and watch Shanghai nightlife light up.
Quick facts: Cobblestone alleys with Shikumen buildings hide cafes, fashion shops, and upscale restaurants. The area is perfect for slow strolls and cultural observation during the day. The pedestrian street gathers cuisine and brands from over 30 countries. On weekends, crowds and street performances make the atmosphere livelier.
Highlights: Red brick walls gleam warmly under soft yellow lighting. The air is filled with coffee, grilled meat, and freshly baked pastries aromas. About 10 to 15 street performers play on the main pedestrian street. The sanxian, harmonica, and bass jazz intertwine, creating an unexpectedly rich live atmosphere.
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Tangyuan
Glutinous rice balls often filled with black sesame or sweet red bean are a staple in Shanghai for Lantern Festival and family celebrations, symbolizing reunion and togetherness.
Eight-Treasure Rice
Known as ba bao fan, this colorful sticky rice pudding made with candied fruits and nuts is traditionally served at Chinese New Year and weddings, and reflects Shanghai's Jiangnan festive cuisine.
Sachima
A crunchy, sweet fried pastry made from strands of fried dough bound with syrup, sachima is widely enjoyed in Shanghai bakeries and markets, showing the city's embrace of regional snacks.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Xiaolongbao
These delicate soup dumplings filled with savory broth and pork originated near Shanghai and are internationally famous as a must-try local specialty, especially from Nanxiang in the old city.
Shengjianbao
Pan-fried pork buns with a crisp bottom and juicy interior are a beloved Shanghai street food, traditionally served for breakfast and still sold fresh from large steel pans in markets.
Red Braised Pork
Hong shao rou, a melt-in-your-mouth pork belly braised in soy sauce and sugar, epitomizes Shanghai's preference for richly flavored, slightly sweet dishes that come from Jiangnan culinary traditions.
Traditional Beverages
Soy Milk
Fresh soy milk is a common Shanghai breakfast beverage, often enjoyed hot with fried dough sticks, and reflects the everyday comfort foods of the city.
Huangjiu
This traditional fermented yellow rice wine, sometimes served warm, is used for cooking and celebrations in Shanghai, linking the city's cuisine to wider east China wine-making traditions.
Osmanthus Tea
Osmanthus-scented tea and sweet osmanthus confections are popular in Shanghai, with the floral aroma celebrated across Jiangnan for both everyday enjoyment and festive treats.
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Most popular day trips
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Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Beijing-Shanghai HSR, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou high-speed lines
Conventional and some high-speed services to northern and western China
From Pudong take the Maglev or airport express to the city; from Hongqiao use metro Line 2 or a taxi.
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Comments (8)
Avoid restaurants on the Bund, walk two blocks inland for real prices and better food, locals queue late at night for gems.
Not as friendly as I hoped, scammers on the tourist strip and cold winters made it less fun for me.
Buy a Shanghai Public Transport card at the airport, reloadable and saves time, much cheaper than single tickets for multiple days.
Three days felt rushed, four to five is ideal if you want museums, day trips and some late nights.
Shanghai blew me away, neon skyline at night is unreal, food is incredible but expect crowds and humid summers.