Things to see and do in Shanghai?

Shanghai, like Hong Kong or Beijing, is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, in the business areas, such as the Pudong district, we find the most modern skyscrapers in the whole country. The modernity of the city rivals that of other large metropolises such as New York, with the difference that Shanghai is much more densely populated. On the other hand, however, you can still lose yourself in more traditional neighbourhoods that transport you to a more authentic China. Whatever your preferences, you’re sure to be surprised by all there is to see in Shanghai.

Everyone who visits Shanghai is impressed by the hustle and bustle and the constant transformation of the city, which never seems the same. You won’t have hours in your trip to take it all in, but we’ve put together this post with the main points of interest. And not only that, we also give you recommendations on where to eat and where to stay, the best way to get to the city and many other travel tips that will surely be useful since the culture in China is very different from the Western one. Get your pen and paper ready and let’s get started!

What are the best places to see in Shanghai?

1. French Concession

Between 1849 and 1946 this area was French-owned, hence the name Paris of the East. Today it still retains a European feel, with more western restaurants and plenty of shops for shopping. The neighbourhood is also very nice and pleasant to walk around, an oasis among so many modern skyscrapers. In this residential neighbourhood you can visit Fuixing Park and the building where the Communist Party of China was founded, which is now a museum.

2. Pudong, the skyline to see in Shanghai

Pudong is the city’s newest and most impressive business district. In just 20 years a number of spectacular skyscrapers have been built and can be seen from Bund, a neighbourhood across the river from where the views are breathtaking. There you can see the world’s tallest skyscraper, Shanghai Tower, at 632 metres high. You can also get close to them and even climb to their highest floors, as is the case of Pearl Tower or the Shanghai World Financial Center. Tickets to the top cost about €16, but it’s worth it for the views of the city, especially when the sun goes down and everything is lit up.

On the riverbank itself you’ll also find several historic colonial-style buildings and the Monument to the People’s Heroes, three 24-metre-high concrete towers. Another great place to visit with children in the area is the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.

3. Gardens to see in Shanghai

There are numerous parks and gardens to see in Shanghai, but by far the most beautiful are Fuixing Park and Yuyuan Gardens. Fuixing is a large park with numerous fountains and sports facilities, as is Century Park, which costs €1 to enter. The parks are full of life and people playing various sports or strolling around. There are also badminton facilities in Fuixing Park.

While the above parks are a meeting place where city dwellers go to socialise, Yuyuan Garden is a more touristy corner. It was built during the Ming dynasty in the 16th century and resembles the imperial gardens. The park is open from 8:45am to 4:45pm daily and admission costs 30 yuan. It usually takes about 2 hours to see.

4. Shanghai Museum

Founded in 1952 and with five floors of exhibitions, the Shanghai Museum is a must-see on our travel itinerary. It is located in the People’s Square and has a collection of more than 120,000 pieces of writing, sculpture, ceramics, bronzes, paintings, seals, jade, coins and furniture from the Ming and Quing dynasties, as well as other Chinese minorities. The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm and admission is free. If there is one museum to see in Shanghai it is this one, as you will learn about the history and culture of the country.

5. Jade Buddha Temple, a must-see in Shanghai

Built in 1882, this temple is named for the two jade-carved Buddha statues inside. One of them, the Seated Buddha, is 2 metres tall and weighs almost 3 tons. If it is still intact today, it is thanks to the reconstruction that took place after the revolution of the Quing dynasty, when it was completely destroyed. The temple is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and the entrance fee is 20 yuan plus 10 yuan to visit the statues. The average visiting time is 1h.

1. Suzhou

Suzhou is a beautiful town just 100km from Shanghai. It is characterised by beautiful gardens and canals that add charm to the whole town, which can easily be visited in a day. Of the many gardens built in the past by wealthy families, 9 are considered World Heritage Sites, and the two most beautiful are Lingering Graden and Humble Administrator Garden.

Another must-do activity is to take a boat trip along the canals and enjoy the local architecture, stone bridges and temples along the way. At night the views are even more spectacular. Of all the museums to see in the city, the most recommended is Suzhou, which houses more than 15,000 pieces of Chinese art.

2. Zhujiajiao

Just a 40-minute drive away, Zhujiajiao is the most accessible town from Shanghai, perfect for a day trip. You can get there by metro, the problem is that it tends to be quite crowded with tourists on weekends. The most famous activity in the town is the boat trips along the canals, which pass under 36 picturesque wooden, stone and marble bridges. However, there are also many other tourist attractions such as temples, museums, tea houses, art galleries and beautiful gardens.

3. Zhouzhuang, the water city

Built of stone and lined with canals, this water city was named a World Heritage Site for its historical and cultural heritage. Best of all, it’s only 80km from Shanghai and 40km from Suzhou. In Zhouzhuang you can’t miss the Shen and Zhang mansions with their beautiful gardens, the twin Shuangqiao bridges, the Taoist temple Chengxu and the Milou tower. It can be reached by bus from Shanghai for 29 yuan or you can also book an organised tour.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see in 1 day in Shanghai?

Is it possible to see Shanghai in one day? Well, no, but neither is it possible to see the world’s major cities. The city has so much to offer that one day is too short. But if you happen to be short on time or are on a stopover, here are the must-see sights in Shanghai.

We recommend wandering around the Old City and the French Concession, where you’ll find other sights such as Fuixing Park and museums. Another must is Bund, preferably at night to see the illuminated buildings, but if it is not possible, you can always go during the day. We also recommend a stop at the Jade Buddha Temple, and try Chinese food in a traditional restaurant.

How to get to Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the main gateways to Shanghai from Europe, along with Beijing. In fact, the most common way to enter the country is through one and return from the other. There are no direct flights from Spain in particular, so keep in mind that you’ll have to make a stopover in another country. Once at Shanghai airport there are several ways to get to the city centre.

• Taxi: is the most comfortable option if there is not much traffic. At the airport you can take official taxis (beware of unofficial ones), which cost around 160 yuan. It’s best if you have the hotel’s address in writing.
• Maglev Train: This train will get you to the city centre in no time at all, as it reaches 430km/h. The ticket costs 50 yuan and the timetable is from 7:00h to 21:40h. The frequency is about 15 minutes and it is very well connected to the main metro and bus lines.
• Metro: this is the cheapest option, costing just 6 yuan. If you’re carrying a lot of luggage, avoid rush hour as it gets very crowded. The journey takes 75 minutes.
• Bus: is the more complex option as it is more difficult to find your way around and communicate with staff. It costs between 15 and 30 yuan and takes about 1h.

Where and what to eat in Shanghai?

As with any other city of this size, Shanghai offers a wide range of cuisine from all over the world. However, if you want to avoid spending a lot of money and enjoy Chinese cuisine in its purest form, it’s best to steer clear of the more Western-style establishments and head into the small alleyways where the most authentic restaurants are to be found. Here’s a selection of some restaurants worth trying.

• Chongqing Noodles: the name says it all. Here you can eat wonderful noodles with different ingredients and for only 3€. But be careful with the spiciness. The restaurant is 2 minutes from the Town Square.
• Dong Ji H.K. Style Restaurant: a quaint Hong Kong-style restaurant where you can try exotic dishes such as turtle, but the best is the duck. It’s next to the Dapuqiao underground station.
• Din Tai Fung: this is a chain specialising in dim sum and dumplings. It’s not the cheapest, but the quality of the food is very good. A good option to try this typical Chinese dish.

Where to stay in Shanghai?

Shanghai is the largest city in China, so it is very important to look for accommodation in an area where transfers to the tourist areas are easy. Puxi is the historic centre, and the area most tourists choose to stay in. Other good places to stay are the neighbourhoods of Pudong, where the most luxurious hotels are located, the French Concession, a trendy neighbourhood, or the Bund. Hotel prices are slightly higher than in other Chinese cities, but no more than in major European cities. Here are some suggestions for accommodation.

• Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel: is a nice and clean hostel where they have shared, family and private rooms. It has its own bar and laundry service. Shared rooms cost around €22 and private rooms around €70.
• Hanting Youjia Hotel: This modern hotel in Henglong Square is an affordable and comfortable option for accommodation. It has basic amenities but rooms cost between €50 and €70.
• Mercure Shanghai Hongqiao Soho: this is one of the city’s top hotels. With four stars, this hotel has a bar, fitness room and room service. Breakfast can also be booked for 11€. The price per night is around 100€.

What to consider before travelling to Shanghai?

• The official currency is the yuan.
• The best time to travel to Shanghai is in autumn and spring, when the days are still long and it doesn’t rain as much.
• It’s best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
• Mandarin is spoken in Shanghai.
• You don’t need a visa to go to Shanghai from Spain, just your passport.
• Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured
• Look both ways before crossing, cars don’t respect traffic lights.
• Wear the names of the hotel in writing.
• Bargain at street stalls and craft shops.
• Carry cash, some shops don’t accept cards.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Shanghai

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post).
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Shanghai.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently Asked Questions about a trip to Shanghai