Shanghai 上海
Shanghai is best experienced by neighborhood: start with the Bund and People’s Square, then wander the former French Concession and cross to Lujiazui for the skyline. Use the metro and walk a lot; English signage is good, but have Chinese addresses ready for taxis.
Sights in Shanghai
The Bund 外滩
Yu Garden 豫园
Shanghai Museum 上海博物馆
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street 南京路步行街
Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠广播电视塔
Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (Top of Shanghai) 上海中心大厦
Jing'an Temple 静安寺
Jade Buddha Temple 玉佛禅寺
Longhua Temple 龙华寺
Power Station of Art 上海当代艺术博物馆
Shanghai Natural History Museum 上海自然博物馆
Shanghai Disneyland 上海迪士尼乐园
People's Park 人民公园
Zhujiajiao Water Town 朱家角古镇
Qibao Ancient Town 七宝老街
Zhouzhuang Water Town 周庄古镇
Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou 拙政园
City God Temple of Shanghai 上海城隍庙
Tianzifang 田子坊
Xintiandi 新天地
Wukang Mansion (Normandie Apartments) 武康大楼
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
People's Square 人民广场
Central and walkable to the Bund and Nanjing Road, with Shanghai’s biggest metro interchange.
Good for: First-time sightseers and transit-heavy itineraries
Jing'an Temple 静安寺
Upscale central district with a famous temple, malls, and easy metro links.
Good for: Comfortable hotels, shopping, and dinner
Wukang Road & Anfu Road 武康路·安福路
Leafy former French Concession streets with cafes, boutiques, and historic villas.
Good for: Slow mornings, cafe culture, and photos
Getting there
Shanghai Pudong International Airport 上海浦东国际机场
Maglev to Longyang Road in about 8 min (¥50 one way, ¥80 return within 7 days; roughly 07:00–21:40 from the airport), then metro Line 2 into town; or metro Line 2 all the way (about 70 min). Taxi 45–60 min.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport 上海虹桥国际机场
Metro Line 2 or 10 to the centre in about 35–40 min; Hongqiao Railway Station (high-speed trains) is next door. Taxi 30–40 min.
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station 上海虹桥站
Main high-speed hub for Beijing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou; connected to Hongqiao Airport and Metro Lines 2/10/17; allow 30 min for security.
Shanghai Railway Station 上海站
Central-north station for conventional and some high-speed trains; Metro Lines 1/3/4; busy at rush hour.
Shanghai South Railway Station 上海南站
South station for slower and regional trains; Metro Lines 1/3/15; less useful for most tourists.
Getting around
Metro
Most city trips and airport/rail links
Use a transit QR code in Alipay/WeChat or a Shanghai Public Transport Card; every station X-rays bags.
Taxi / Didi
Late nights, luggage, and direct trips
Use Didi in English and match the plate; show the destination in Chinese.
Bike share
Short hops in the former French Concession and along the Bund
Use Meituan/HelloBike via Alipay; park only in marked bike zones.
Bus
Local routes and cheap scenic rides
Board at the front and tap a transit QR/card; stops are in Chinese, so use a map app.
Good to know
- Shanghai Metro gates accept contactless Visa cards on 21 lines and 517 stations (Visa tap-to-ride); Alipay/WeChat metro QR codes also work. Source
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- Metro stations X-ray every bag; at big interchanges allow 5-10 extra minutes and keep water bottles accessible.
- Alipay/WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card works almost everywhere; keep ¥100-200 cash for small shops and older taxis.
- E-bikes are silent and often use bike lanes; check both ways before stepping off a curb and don’t stand in the bike lane for photos.
- Book popular museums such as the Shanghai Museum online in advance with your passport; many close on Mondays.
- Carry tissue and use mall or hotel toilets; some public toilets lack paper and squat toilets are common.
What to eat in Shanghai
小笼包
xiǎo lóng bāo
Soup dumplings · Pork soup dumplings; lift with a spoon to avoid burning.
生煎包
shēng jiān bāo
Pan-fried pork buns · Crisp bottom, juicy pork filling.
红烧肉
hóng shāo ròu
Red-braised pork belly · Sweet soy-braised pork belly; rich and sticky.
葱油拌面
cōng yóu bàn miàn
Scallion oil noodles · Simple scallion-oil noodles; ask for no shrimp if vegetarian.
四喜烤麸
sì xǐ kǎo fū
Braised wheat gluten · Wheat gluten with mushrooms and peanuts; usually vegetarian.
素鸡
sù jī
Braised vegetarian chicken · Soybean roll braised in sweet soy; a vegetarian “chicken.”
白斩鸡
bái zhǎn jī
Poached chicken · Cold poached chicken with ginger-scallion dip.
腌笃鲜
yān dǔ xiān
Salted pork and bamboo shoot soup · Spring Shanghai soup with salted pork and fresh bamboo.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | 18 °C | 10 °C | Mild but rainy; bring layers and an umbrella. |
| Jun-Aug | 32 °C | 25 °C | Hot, humid, and typhoon season; wear breathable clothes. |
| Sep-Nov | 23 °C | 15 °C | Comfortable and drier; peak travel weather. |
| Dec-Feb | 8 °C | 1 °C | Cold and damp; bring a coat and windproof layer. |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Mar-May and Sep-Nov
Which sights in Shanghai should I book in advance?
Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (Top of Shanghai), Jing'an Temple, Longhua Temple, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Disneyland, Zhouzhuang Water Town, Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou.
How do I pay for the metro in Shanghai?
Shanghai Metro gates accept contactless Visa cards on 21 lines and 517 stations (Visa tap-to-ride); Alipay/WeChat metro QR codes also work.
Which airports serve Shanghai?
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG); Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
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