Top places to visit in Shanghai

• Shanghai Tower

  skyscraper · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ¥180 (≈ ₹2,560)

  China's tallest building at 632 m, its twisting glass spire holding one of the world's highest observation decks (118F) reached by a super-fast lift.

• Jing'an Temple

  buddhist · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ¥50 (≈ ₹710)

  A gilded Buddhist temple with a striking golden hall rising incongruously amid downtown skyscrapers on West Nanjing Road.

• Xintiandi

  entertainment quarter · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An upscale dining and nightlife quarter of restored Shikumen houses, also home to the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party.

• Jade Buddha Temple

  buddhist · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry ¥20 (≈ ₹280)

  An active Buddhist temple famous for two Buddha statues carved from Burmese white jade, brought to Shanghai in the 1880s.

• People's Square & Park

  civic park · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The green civic heart of Shanghai, ringed by museums and the theatre, and known for its weekend 'marriage market'.

• Oriental Pearl Tower

  tv tower · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ¥160 (≈ ₹2,270)

  The 468 m spheres-on-a-column TV tower that defines the Pudong skyline, with glass-floor observation levels and a history museum in the base.

• The Bund (Waitan)

  waterfront promenade · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Shanghai's iconic riverfront promenade lined with grand 1920s colonial banks and trading houses, facing the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. Magical after dark.

• Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

  classical garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ¥40 (≈ ₹570)

  An exquisite Ming-dynasty scholar's garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a lively bazaar and the Huxinting teahouse.

• Zhujiajiao Water Town

  water town · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 1,700-year-old canal town on Shanghai's western edge, with humpback stone bridges, old lanes and boat rides — an easy escape from the city.

• Shanghai Museum

  art museum · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A superb collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade on People's Square, housed in a building shaped like an ancient ding vessel. Free entry.

• Wukang Road (French Concession)

  historic street · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most beautiful stretch of the plane-tree-shaded French Concession, lined with 1920s villas, the landmark Wukang Mansion and independent cafés.

• Nanjing Road

  shopping street · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  China's busiest shopping street, a neon-lit pedestrian mile running from People's Square to the Bund.

Things to do

• Huangpu River Evening Cruise Cruise · 1 h · from CNY 150 per person
• Shanghai City Highlights Day Tour Tour · 8 h · from CNY 500 per person
• Zhujiajiao Water Town Half-Day Tour Tour · 5 h · from CNY 350 per person
• French Concession Walking & Coffee Tour Cultural · 3 h · from CNY 250 per person
• Shanghai Acrobatics Show Show · 1.5 h · from CNY 280 per person
• Shanghai Tower Observation Deck Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from CNY 180 per person

Day trips and tours

• Shanghai Highlights & Zhujiajiao Day Tour 9 h · from CNY 560

Where to stay in Shanghai

• The Bund (Huangpu) about CNY 1,400 per night

  Riverfront heart of Shanghai with heritage hotels and the classic Pudong skyline view.

• Former French Concession about CNY 1,100 per night

  Leafy plane-tree lanes, boutique hotels, cafés and Shikumen lane houses — Shanghai's most atmospheric stay.

• Lujiazui (Pudong) about CNY 1,300 per night

  Modern high-rise district with skyscraper hotels beside the Oriental Pearl and Shanghai Tower.

Hotels

• The Peninsula Shanghai 5-star · CNY 3,500 to CNY 7,500 per night
• Les Suites Orient 4-star · CNY 900 to CNY 1,600 per night
• Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel 2-star · CNY 90 to CNY 300 per night
• Fairmont Peace Hotel 5-star · CNY 2,400 to CNY 5,500 per night
• Jinjiang Inn (People's Square) 3-star · CNY 320 to CNY 480 per night

Where to eat

• Jia Jia Tang Bao Chinese, Shanghainese, Dim Sum · about CNY 50 per person
• Nanxiang Steamed Bun (Yuyuan) Chinese, Shanghainese, Dim Sum · about CNY 90 per person
• Din Tai Fung (Xintiandi) Chinese, Taiwanese, Dim Sum · about CNY 160 per person
• Fu 1088 Chinese, Shanghainese, Fine Dining · about CNY 600 per person
• Lost Heaven (Bund) Chinese, Yunnan · about CNY 220 per person
• Yang's Fry Dumplings Chinese, Shanghainese, Street Food · about CNY 40 per person

Getting to Shanghai

Airport: Shanghai (SHA), Shanghai (PVG)

How visitors arrive in Shanghai

• Flight to Pudong International By air from Overseas · common

  Pudong is the usual entry for overseas flights; Hongqiao is mainly domestic. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• High-speed train to Hongqiao By train from Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing · common

  Most high-speed trains stop at Hongqiao Railway Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus or drive By road from Jiangsu and Zhejiang · possible

  Buses and highways link nearby cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Maglev from Pudong Airport

  The Maglev runs from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road station, where you change to metro lines 2, 7, 16 or 18. Metro line 2 also serves the airport directly. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Metro lines 2 and 10 from Hongqiao Airport

  Metro line 2 serves Terminal 2 and runs to People's Square; line 10 serves both terminals. Check your terminal first, as signage can be confusing. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Airport bus lines from Pudong

  Several airport bus lines run from Pudong Airport into downtown. Many hotels also run their own shuttles. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi drivers often speak little English, so show your hotel address written in Chinese. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Metro from Shanghai Railway Station

  Shanghai Railway Station in Zhabei is served by metro lines 1, 3 and 4. Hongqiao Railway Station, for most high-speed trains, sits beside Hongqiao Airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi drivers often speak little English, so show your hotel address written in Chinese. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Public buses, including airport bus lines to both Pudong and Hongqiao, run alongside the metro and cover areas it does not.

• Metro

  Shanghai Metro is a large multi-line network serving most of the city's districts, with lines running to both Pudong and Hongqiao airports.

• Ride Hail

  DiDi, the ride-hailing app used across mainland China, can be used in Shanghai to book a car when a taxi is hard to find.

• Taxi

  Taxis are plentiful, and since many drivers speak limited English it helps to have your destination or hotel address written in Chinese.

• Walking

Paying

• International cards and mobile payment apps can tap through the metro but not on buses or most taxis; a Shanghai transport card works on all three. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Tea House / Bar Bill Scam

  The Bund, Nanjing Road

  A charming stranger (often a young woman) befriends a solo male traveller and suggests a drink at a teahouse or bar; the bill arrives massively inflated with intimidation to pay.

  How to avoid it: Be wary of strangers who quickly steer you to a specific venue. Check drink prices first and never hand over your card to be taken away.

• Unlicensed Airport Taxi Touts

  Pudong & Hongqiao airport arrivals

  Touts inside the terminal offer 'taxi' rides at several times the metered fare, sometimes with a rigged meter.

  How to avoid it: Ignore touts and join the official taxi queue outside, or use the metro/Maglev. Insist on the meter or use DiDi.

Best time to visit Shanghai

• Jan 9°C
• Feb 11°C
• Mar 15°C
• Apr 21°C
• May 26°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 33°C
• Aug 33°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 18°C
• Dec 11°C

More in China

• Beijing
• Guangzhou
• Hangzhou
• Xi'an
• Chengdu
• Suzhou

Frequently asked questions about Shanghai

How many days do you need in Shanghai?

A typical trip to Shanghai is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Shanghai?

The highest-rated places in our Shanghai guide are Jade Buddha Temple, The Bund (Waitan), Shanghai Tower, Xintiandi, Oriental Pearl Tower.

Where should I stay in Shanghai?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Shanghai: The Bund (Huangpu), Former French Concession, Lujiazui (Pudong).

How do I get around Shanghai?

Ways to get around Shanghai covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Shanghai?

Scams reported to us for Shanghai include Tea House / Bar Bill Scam; Unlicensed Airport Taxi Touts. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Shanghai?

Average daytime highs in Shanghai run from 9°C in Jan to 33°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Shanghai?

The nearest airport to Shanghai has the code SHA.