China's largest city sits on the Yangtze estuary and is split by the Huangpu River: Puxi on the west bank holds the old walled town, the Bund and the former foreign concessions with their plane-tree lanes and shikumen lane houses, while Pudong on the east bank holds the Lujiazui towers. Residents ride one of the world's longest metro networks (21 lines, over 900 km) and pay for almost everything by scanning QR codes with Alipay or WeChat. The local language is Shanghainese, spoken alongside standard Mandarin.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01The Bund
- 02Yu Garden (Yuyuan)
- 03Nanjing Road East (pedestrian street)
- 04Oriental Pearl TV Tower
- 05Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
- 06Shanghai Tower (Top of Shanghai Observatory)
- 07Huangpu River cruise (Shiliupu Wharf)
- 08Tianzifang
- 09Xintiandi Shikumen Block
- 10Wukang Road
History & museums 66
- Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial
- Jade Buddha Temple
- Longhua Temple and Pagoda
- Shanghai History Museum (former Race Club)
- Shanghai Museum East
- Suzhou Creek Waterfront
- The Bund
- Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
- Aurora Museum
- Fairmont Peace Hotel (Sassoon House)
- Gongqing National Forest Park
- Jin Mao Tower 88th-floor Observation Deck
- Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery
- Lu Xun Park
- Museum of Art Pudong (MAP)
- Nanjing Road East (pedestrian street)
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower
- Propaganda Poster Art Centre
- Shanghai Astronomy Museum
- Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum (Ohel Moishe Synagogue)
- Shanghai Natural History Museum
- Shanghai Tower (Top of Shanghai Observatory)
- Waibaidu Bridge (Garden Bridge)
- West Bund Museum (Centre Pompidou x West Bund)
- Xintiandi Shikumen Block
- Fuxing Park
- HSBC Building (Pudong Development Bank)
- Huangpu River cruise (Shiliupu Wharf)
- Jing'an Temple
- Shanghai Exhibition Centre
- Shanghai Museum of Glass
- Shanghai Postal Museum (General Post Office Building)
- St Ignatius Cathedral (Xujiahui Cathedral)
- Yu Garden (Yuyuan)
- Century Park
- China Art Museum (former Expo China Pavilion)
- Former Residence of Ba Jin
- People's Park and the marriage market
- Power Station of Art (PSA)
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
- Wukang Mansion (Normandie Apartments)
- Zhujiajiao Water Town
- 1933 Laoyangfang (Old Millfun)
- Dajing Pavilion and Old City Wall
- Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen
- Long Museum West Bund
- Moller Villa
- Park Hotel
- Rockbund Art Museum
- Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
- Tianzifang
- Huangpu River public ferry (Jinling East Road pier)
- Memorial of the First National Congress of the CPC
- Qibao Ancient Town
- Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
- Wukang Road
- Chenxiang Pavilion (Chenxiangge Nunnery)
- City God Temple (Chenghuangmiao)
- Custom House
- Duolun Road Cultural Street
- Liu Haisu Art Museum
- Shanghai Literature Museum
- Shanghai Lu Xun Museum
- Soong Ching Ling Memorial Residence
- The Stage Observation Deck (Sinar Mas Plaza)
- Yuz Museum Shanghai (Panlong)
Where to eat 138
- Lei Garden (iapm)
- Liu Tang Men (Sichuan noodles)
- Pan Guoxian Erguang Wonton
- Xiao Tao Mian Guan
- Cejerdary
- Coquille
- Fu He Hui
- Hao Sheng
- Huxi Lao Longtang Noodle Shop
- Café del Volcán (Yongkang Road)
- Dip In Gelato (Fumin Road)
- Fumai Baozi (Yanping Road)
- Sapar Uyghur Restaurant
- Fu 1039
- O'Mills (Yongjia Road)
- Ren He Guan
- Baker & Spice (Anfu Road)
- Cong's Kitchen
- Da Vittorio Shanghai
- Ding Te Le
- Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine
- Jianguo 328
- Kong Yi Ji
- Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire
- Legend Taste
- Mercado 505
- Mi Thai
- Mr & Mrs Bund
- Shan Shan Xiao Long
- Xibo (Changshu Road)
- Cheng Long Hang
- Di Shui Dong
- Fu 1088
- Hakkasan Shanghai
- Lai Lai Xiao Long
- Metal Hands (Nanchang Road)
- Park Hotel Deli
- Polux
- Rong Cuisine
- Rongjia Noodle Soup with Yellow Croaker
- Sunya Cantonese Restaurant (dim sum breakfast)
- 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
- Cuivre
- Guang Ming Cun
- T'ang Court
- Taian Table
- Wan Shou Zhai
- Yang's Fry-Dumpling (Huanghe Road)
- Canton Table
- Dong Tai Xiang
- Pasha Turkish Restaurant
- Wang Bao He
- Wang Jia Sha
- Wei Xiang Zhai
- Canton 8
- Chunfeng Songyue Lou (vegetarian snacks)
- Jin Xuan
- Lan Xin
- Nepali Kitchen
- Shanghai Lao Fan Dian (Old Restaurant)
- The House of Rong
- Xing Hua Lou (Fuzhou Road)
- Yangzhou Fan Dian
- Yong Xing
- YongFoo Elite
- Yongfu Mini
- A Niang's Noodle Shop
- Gelato Dal Cuore (Shaanxi North Road)
- Lao Zheng Xing
- Lu Bo Lang
- Meilongzhen
- Xin Rong Ji (West Nanjing Road)
- Yu Du Lao Wei Mian
- Chun
- Xian De Lai (pork chop and rice cakes)
- De Xing Guan (Guangdong Road)
- Gong De Lin
- Nanxiang Mantou Dian (Yu Garden)
- Shen Da Cheng (Nanjing East Road flagship)
- Old Jesse
- 1929 by Guillaume Galliot
- A Da Scallion Pancakes
- A Yong Mian Guan (goat noodle soup)
- A'Wen 24-hour Soy Milk and Youtiao
- Amazing Chinese Cuisine
- Aster by Joshua Paris
- Azabuya (Wulumuqi Road)
- Bao Li Xuan
- Blacksheep Espresso (South Maoming Road)
- Blossom
- Da Chang Mian (pork intestine noodles)
- Da Dong (iapm)
- Da Hu Chun (Sichuan Middle Road)
- Dining Room (Park Hyatt)
- Fu 1015
- Fuchun Xiao Long
- Hong Yu Fang
- Il Ristorante - Niko Romito
- Jean Georges
- Jia Jia Tang Bao
- Jing Mei Wuxi Noodle Shop (Yanping Road)
- Kanpai Classic (Bund 5)
- Lai Lai Lai (Changle Road)
- Lao Di Fang Mian Guan
- Lin Long Fang
- Ling Long
- Luneurs (Rockbund flagship)
- Maison Lameloise
- Man Man Tang Bao
- Manner Coffee (Century Park lakeside)
- Meet the Bund
- Mimilato (Changle Road)
- Moose (Lujiazui)
- Moose (Xinhua Road)
- Nabi
- Nan Xing Yuan
- Obscura
- Pancake House (Xiangyang South Road jianbing)
- Scarpetta
- Seventh Son
- Sheng Yong Xing
- Shu Cai Ji
- Silom Road Thai Boat Noodles
- Sloppy Gin (donuts and bakes)
- Sole
- TAN Sichuan Cuisine
- Tou Zao
- Verdant
- Vivant by Johnny Pham
- Yi Gui He Noodle Shop
- Yixiang Dunhuang Lou (Lanzhou noodles)
- Yong Feng Noodle Shop (halal lamb noodles)
- Yong Fu (Jin Jiang Hotel)
- Yong Fu (North Bund)
- Yong Jiang Zhen
- Yong Yi Ting
- Yunhe Noodle
- Zhong Yao Tang (TCM gelato)
Night out 57
- Avenue Joffre
- Bar No. 3
- Heyday Jazz Bar
- Shanghai Symphony Hall
- Sober Company
- Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
- Speak Low
- The Captain (Captain Bar)
- Shanghai Culture Square
- Shanghai Grand Theatre
- Chair Club
- Senator Saloon
- Shanghai Oriental Art Center
- Sir Elly's Terrace (The Peninsula)
- Bar Constellation (Xinle Road)
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai
- The Pearl
- Candor (Lyceum Theatre)
- 233 Shop (Bar 233)
- Abyss
- Alma Luna
- BackDrop Vinyl
- Bar Leone Shanghai
- Barbarossa
- C's
- Cedar Land
- COA Shanghai
- Dirty House (INS)
- Gallows Humor
- Good Good Beer House
- Heim
- Horse & Cow
- House of Blues and Jazz
- HUSH (INS)
- Illum
- INS (Into Nothing Serious)
- J. Boroski
- Jazz Bar at the Fairmont Peace Hotel
- JZ Club
- KZ Shanghai (INS)
- Long Bar (The PuLi Hotel)
- Pony Up
- Potent
- Reactor
- RIINK
- Root Down
- Shanghai Circus World (ERA2, Spirit of Shanghai)
- Shanghai Grand Opera House
- Skyline Dome
- Specters
- The Hai
- The Refinery
- The Union Trading Company
- VICE
- Wigwam
- Yuyintang (Yuyintown, C-Park)
- YY's (Yin Yang)
Locals only 65
- Yangpu Library (former Shanghai Municipal Library)
- Cathay Theatre
- Shanghai Expo Culture Park
- Shanghai Writers' Association (Garden of Love) and Author Bookstore
- Zhenru Temple
- Changshou Park
- Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park
- Shanghai Botanical Garden
- Wuzhong Market (wet market)
- Huaihai Fang
- Xujiahui Park
- Jing'an Sculpture Park
- People's Park Marriage Market
- Shanghai Concert Hall
- Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore
- Tianshan Park
- Zhongshan Park
- M50 Creative Park
- Majestic Theatre
- Shanghai Film Museum
- Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts
- Siming Cun
- Shanghai Museum of Public Security
- Guilin Park
- Jiashan Market (Jiashan Laoshi)
- Shanghai Railway Museum
- Wanyi Fang and Zou Taofen Memorial
- Anfu Road
- Bugaoli (Cité Bourgogne)
- Chang Jiang Theater (comic monologue)
- Changfeng Park
- Columbia Circle
- Daning Park (Daning Lingshi Park)
- Duoyun Books (Shanghai Tower)
- Embankment Building
- Fangta Garden (Square Pagoda)
- Green House (D.V. Woo residence)
- Guangqi Park (Xu Guangqi's tomb)
- Hengshan Park
- Hengshan Road architecture walk
- Heping Library (24-hour park library)
- Huang Daopo Memorial Park
- Jing'an Villa
- Longchang Apartments
- Lu Xun's Former Residence (Dalu Xincun)
- Lyceum Theatre
- Mengqing Garden (Suzhou Creek)
- Mingfu Library
- Museum of Oriental Musical Instruments
- Nanchang Road
- North Bund riverside path
- Ramos Apartments (Beichuan Apartment)
- Shanghai Book City (Fuzhou Road)
- Shanghai Children's Library
- Shanghai Film Art Center
- Shanghai Yuan Dynasty Water Gate Museum
- Sinan Books Poetry Store (St. Nicholas Church)
- Tianchan Yifu Theatre
- Wanhangdu Road and Husizhan
- Xinhua Road garden villas
- Xuhui Riverside (West Bund promenade)
- Yongjia Road
- Yuanmingyuan Road
- Yuyuan Road
- Zhongshuge Thames Town
Walking routes 10
- 01The Bund to the North Bund over Garden BridgeWalk north along the Bund past the 1927 Custom House and the Peace Hotel, through the Rockbund lanes of Waitanyuan and Huangpu Park, then cross the 1908 Garden Bridge (Waibaidu) into Hongkou and follow the quieter North Bund riverside to the cruise terminal. Built from the official Shanghai routes that link Waitanyuan, Broadway Mansions and the North Bund riverside.
- 02Old City: Yu Garden to the Confucian Temple and Dajing PavilionA loop through the old walled city (Nanshi) following the official Huangpu old-town citywalk: Yu Garden and the City God Temple, then west along Fangbang Middle Road (Shanghai Old Street) into the lanes to the Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, the Confucian Temple and the Dajing Pavilion on the line of the old city wall.
- 03Former French Concession: Wukang Road to Anfu RoadThe classic plane-tree citywalk of the former French Concession, as in the city's official citywalk guide: from Jiaotong University station to Soong Ching-ling's house and Hudec's 1924 Wukang Building, up Wukang Road past Ba Jin's house, then along the cafe and boutique strip of Anfu Road to Changshu Road station.
- 04Xintiandi, Sinan Road and Fuxing ParkShikumen lanes and plane-tree villas, following the official Huangpu citywalk (Madang Road - Middle Huaihai Road - Sinan Road - Middle Jianguo Road - Taikang Road): the rebuilt stone-gate houses of Xintiandi and the Site of the First CPC Congress, French-designed Fuxing Park, Sun Yat-sen's house and Sinan Mansions, ending in the alleys of Tianzifang.
- 05Hongkou Jewish quarter: TilanqiaoA short walk in the Tilanqiao Historic Area, the heart of the wartime Shanghai Ghetto where about 18,000-23,000 Jewish refugees were confined in 1943-1945: the museum in the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue, the neighbourhood park beside it and the old lanes towards Xiahai Temple.
- 06Lujiazui riverside loop with the Huangpu ferryCross the Huangpu like a commuter on the public ferry from Jinling Road (the route the city's own citywalk guide uses), walk the Pudong riverside under the towers to the Museum of Art Pudong and the Oriental Pearl Tower, cut through Lujiazui Green to the Shanghai Tower, then ferry back to the Bund.
- 07West Bund riverside art walkThe Xuhui riverside, an old industrial waterfront, along the official Longhua - West Bund route: the Long Museum West Bund, the West Bund Museum and the West Bund Dream Center, with the Huangpu promenade, skate park and runners all the way.
- 08Yuyuan Road to Columbia CircleA Changning lane walk on the official Zhongshan Park - Yuyuan Road - Jiangsu Road - Huashan Road and Hongqiao-airport routes: kite fliers in Zhongshan Park, the lane houses and small shops of Yuyuan Road, the Ding Xiang Garden villa on Huashan Road, and Columbia Circle with its Hudec architecture, ending on the garden houses of Xinhua Road.
- 09Suzhou Creek: M50 to the Garden BridgeFollow Suzhou Creek's connected 42 km waterfront from the M50 art warehouses past Jiuzi Park and the Sihang Warehouse of the 1937 battle, then along the south bank (the city's 'most beautiful 3 km' of the creek) under Zhapu Road Bridge to Waibaidu Bridge at the Bund.
- 10Yangpu Riverside industrial heritageThe official Yangpu riverside route from the Yangshupu Water Plant to Green Hill and on to the WorldSkills Museum: a promenade along Yangpu's industrial-heritage waterfront, ending under the 1993 Yangpu Bridge.