Shanghai, China’s largest and most affluent city, exudes confidence and vitality. For these reasons alone, it’s worth the trip. Unlike places with ancient, royal or scenic attractions, Shanghai
has its own unique and spectacular array of more modern highlights.
Shanghai, China’s largest and most prosperous metropolis, emanates self-assurance and vigor. It’s worth a visit only for those reasons. In contrast to locales with ancient, imperial, or picturesque features, Shanghai has its own distinct and magnificent array of more modern highlights. The following are the top things to do in Shanghai.
The Best 15 must-visited attractions of Shanghai
- The Bund
- Yu Garden & Bazaar
- Nanjing Road (Nanjing Lu).
- Venice of Shanghai
- Shanghai Museum
- Jade Buddha Temple (Yu Fo Si)
- The Global Financial Center
- Shanghai Disneyland
- Oriental Pearl Tower
- Shanghai Xintiandi
- Tianzifang
- Shanghai Circus World
- Shanghai French Concession
- Huangpu River Cruise
- The Urban Planning Exhibition Center
Shanghai’s past and present can be seen in the Bund
The Bund, the “Gallery of International Architecture”, is a Shanghai highlight. This has always been the best place to see Shanghai. Stroll along the banks of the Huangpu River, and all kinds of architectural styles ranging from Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque to Classicism and Renaissance are in your camera. The modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui, across the Huangpu River in the Pudong New Area, provide another backdrop.
Type: Historic Walking Areas, Attractions and Landmarks and Attractions and Landmarks
Open: All Day
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry
Location: On the bank of Huangpu River, Shanghai, Huangpu District
Shanghai’s Yu Garden & Bazaar is a traditional Chinese garden
Dating back to the 16th century, Yu Garden is Shanghai’s most revered green space. Known as the “mountain forest in the city”, it is crowded with people every day. However, he manages to maintain a certain calm. Here you will find ornate architecture as well as private enclaves separated by “dragon walls”. Highlights include Baochun Hall, Yuhua Hall, and Lotus Pond.
Outside the Yu Garden is the Yu Garden Market, where you can experience the exquisiteness and kindness of traditional Chinese handicrafts and enjoy local snacks.
Type: Gardens, Nature & Parks, Bazaar
Open: 09:00-16:30, No entry after 16:00, closed on Monday
Prices of Tickets: CNY 40 – Peak Season (Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov); CNY 30 – (Jul to Aug, Dec to Mar)
Location: No. 168 Fuyou Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Shanghai’s busiest pedestrian street is Nanjing Road (Nanjing Lu)
Located west of the Bund, Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s main shopping street and one of the busiest in the world. Shanghai’s equivalent of New York’s Fifth Avenue, Nanjing Road, is home to retailers from around the world. During the day, you will admire the elegant architecture of the surrounding buildings. At night, marvel at the neon signs and signs that line the boulevard.
Type: Shopping, Street, Points of Interest & Landmarks
Open: All Day
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry
Location: Nanjing East Road & Nanjing West Road, Huangpu District & Jing’an district
“Venice of Shanghai” is the ancient town of Zhujiajiao
Known because of the “Venice in Shanghai”, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town has a history of 700 years and is a properly-preserved waterside ancient metropolis. In Zhjiajiao Water Town, you may want to take the traditional boat to cruise along the canals and see the antique residences, stores and bridges that are filled with traditional architectural tones of the Qing and Ming Dynasties (1368 – 1911).
Type: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, also known as the “Venice in Shanghai,” has been around for seven hundred years and is a well-preserved waterside historic city. You can get a traditional boat ride through Zhjiajiao Water Town to see the old homes along the canals, stores and bridges that are full of conventional architectural tones in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 – 1911).
Open: All Day
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry
Location: Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum isn’t the most effective cultural landmark of Shanghai but the biggest museum in China, with numerous exceptional Chinese artifacts. It contains over one hundred twenty 000 gadgets rated valuable relics cultural. Unlike many Chinese museums, it arranges its exhibits by subject matter rather than dynasty.
The series consists of 21 classes, having its highlights bronze wares from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, pottery and porcelain spanning 8,000 years, and a massive kind of calligraphy works and artwork.
Type: Comprehensive Museum, historical & Cultural site
Open: 9:00-17:00, no entering after 16:00, closed on Monday (except national holidays)
Prices of Tickets: Free Ticket (ID card or passport is needed)
Location: No. 201, Peoples Avenue, Huangpu District
Two Jade Buddha Statues are housed in the Jade Buddha Temple (Yu Fo Si)
Unlike many other temples buried in mountains and forests, the Jade Buddha Temple may be found in the heart of Shanghai.
It is well-known both at home and internationally for housing an outstanding jade Buddha, thus the temple’s name.
It’s unusual to see so many pilgrims in such a contemporary metropolis, let alone in Tibet, under the clouds of incense smoke.
Type: Architectural Structures, Sacred and Religious Sites, and Buddhist Temples
Open: (Except for Major Festivals, No entry after 16:00)
Prices of Tickets: CNY 20
Location: No. 170 Anyuan Road, Putuo District, S
The Shanghai Global Financial Center is one of Shanghai’s tallest skyscrapers
Shanghai Global Financial Center is a new and important landmark in the city’s central business district.
SWFC, the world’s fifth tallest building with a total height of 492 meters, offers visitors the world’s highest observatory at 474 meters high, which is the best deck for taking in the view of both old and new Shanghai, including the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, and Huangpu River, among others.
Type: Observation Decks & Towers, Modern Buildings & Landmarks
Open: 11:00~21:00 (No entry after 20:00, except for major festivals)
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry (Sky Walk: CNY 135 per person, CNY 200 for two)
Location: 88 Century Avenue, Pudong New region
The sixth Disneyland in the world, Shanghai Disney Resort
The Shanghai Disney Resort is the first in mainland China and the sixth in the world.
Explore Mickey Boulevard, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Island, and Tomorrowland with their many themes, characters, and activities at Disneyland Park.
It is located around 18 kilometres from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and approximately 27 kilometres from the Huangpu River region.
Disney World is a fantasy paradise for both youngsters and adults.
Type: Theme Parks, Water & Amusement Parks
Open: 09:00~21:00
Prices of Tickets: CNY 261 – CNY 1250
Location: No. 310 Huangshan Road, Chuansha Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai
Oriental Pearl Tower – See the Whole of Shanghai & Seek a Thrill
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which stands at the mouth of the Huangpu River, rises 468 meters and defines the nature of the new metropolitan region as well as its cityscape.
A 360-degree panorama view of Shanghai from the tallest TV tower in Asia and the third tallest in the world may be breathtaking; strolling on the glass floor and feeling your adrenaline surge is equally thrilling.
Type: Observation Decks & Towers, Modern Buildings & Landmarks
Open: 8:00-21:30
Prices of Tickets: CNY 35 – CNY 458
Location: No. 1, Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Shanghai Xintiandi – Representative of Traditional and Fashionable Shanghai
Shanghai Xintiandi, located in Shanghai City’s downtown district, is both a historical landmark and a trendy hub filled with entertainment, restaurants, and retail complexes.
You might admire the ancient and reconstructed Shikumen structure, which is a testament to the contact between western and Chinese construction styles.
Despite its age, the inner life is tailored to individuals in current society, with international art galleries, fashion boutiques, coffee houses, themed restaurants, and so on.
Type: Neighborhoods, Focal points and Milestones, Shopping and Amusement
Opening Hours: All Day
Tickets: Free all-day
Address: Xintiandi, District Huangpu, Shanghai 200021
Tianzifang – Mix of Shanghai Common Life and Worldwide Appeal
Tianzifang on Taikang Road in Shanghai’s Old French Concession is one of the most interesting spots to visit. Many celebrity and young creatives’ artistic and cultural studios, housed in traditional Shikumen residences in both Shanghai and western styles, fill the maze of alleyways with artistic culture. Strolling around the old walkways to view the everyday lives of the inhabitants here to get a sense of the old Shanghai character, seeing people speaking and laughing in restaurants and bars from all over the world, and discovering many sorts of unique things and Chinese crafts are extremely amusing!
Type: Artisan Shops, Cultural and Historical Lanes, and International Restaurants
Open: All Day
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry
Location: No. 210, Taikang Road, Huangpu District
Shanghai Circus World offers the best acrobatics in China
Shanghai Circus World, known as China’s No. 1 Circus World, is a world-renowned complete leisure facility with a distinctively constructed building and acrobatic performance. It has superb hardware, such as comprehensive facilities, innovative equipment, fully-equipped features, and outstanding acrobats. The Shanghai Circus World hosts two fantastic shows. The first is ERA – Crossroads of Time, where fans may see the most stunning sceneries and astonishing acrobatics.
Type: Architectural Buildings, Theatre, Shows & Performance
Open: 09:00 ~ 19:30
Prices of Tickets: 130 RMB ~ 880 RMB
Location: No. 2266, Gonghexin Road, Zhabei District,
The Shanghai French Concession offers exotic flavors in authentic old Shanghai.
The Shanghai French Concession in Huangpu and Xuhui Districts is Modern China’s oldest, largest, and most successful French Concession. From its founding in 1849, Shanghai has drawn large numbers of foreigners from all over the world. As the Wang Jingwei Regime reclaimed this strategic sector, the Shanghai French Concession ended its almost 100-year tenure as leased property.
Type: Historic & Cultural Sites, Walking Streets, Old Exotic Buildings
Open: All Day
Prices of Tickets: Free Entry
Location: 22 Jianguo Middle Road, Huangpu District
Wonderful West-East View on a Huangpu River Cruise at the Riverside
The Huangpu River, also known as the Mother River of Shanghai and the main river in Shanghai, is a 113-kilometre-long river that flows through Shanghai and is the final tributary of the Yangtze River before it empties into the East China Sea.
It separates Pudong (East Bank) and Puxi (West Bank), establishing the world-famous Bund, the Lujiazui financial zone, and other significant monuments. “An Exhibition of International Buildings” is located in Puxi’s western outskirts. The eastern side of Pudong is a new construction from the previous few decades, and it is a new commercial and financial area, with many magnificent glass and steel structures.
Type: River Cruise; Bodies of Water
Open: 11:00~21:30
Prices of Tickets: CNY 120 per person (without dining and snacks onboard)
Location: Huangpu River, Pudong New Area
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center lets you see how Shanghai has changed over time
Do you want to know what made Shanghai into the supercity it is today? If you want to understand how Shanghai developed into a global metropolis from a rundown fishing village, you must visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Its subject is “Cities, Man, Environment, and Development,” and it serves as a venue for exhibitions, research, communication, consultancy, education, and sightseeing.
Type: Museum, Exhibition Hall, Points of Interest
Open: 9:00-17:00; Tuesday to Sunday
Prices of Tickets: CNY 30
Location: No. 100, Peoples Avenue, Huangpu District
