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CITY GUIDE · CHINA

Shanghai

Where 1920s shikumen lanes share a wall with the tallest tower in mainland China — and somehow neither feels out of place.

Sights in Shanghai

Filter by what kind of trip this is for.

Landmark · Huangpu

The Bund

Sunset, not sunrise
FromFree
Skyline view · Pudong

Lujiazui Skyline

Viewed *from* the Bund, not from inside
FromFree
Classical garden · Huangpu

Yu Garden

The actual garden, NOT the bazaar around it
From¥40
Museum · Pudong

Shanghai Museum East

Shanghai's main museum for Chinese antiquities
FromFree
Heritage building · Xuhui

Wukang Mansion

Pair with Wukang Rd citywalk
FromFree
Heritage block · Huangpu

Sinan Mansions

Quieter than Xintiandi, more authentic
FromFree
Heritage block · Huangpu

Xintiandi

Shikumen restoration — touristy but iconic
FromFree
Temple · Jing'an

Jing'an Temple

15-min stop between others
From¥50
Museum · Pudong

Museum of Art Pudong (MAP)

For special exhibitions only
From¥80
Walking route · Xuhui

Anfu Rd Citywalk

Often paired with Wukang Rd as one route
FromFree
Pedestrian street · Huangpu

Nanjing Rd East

Walk through — better food a block off
FromFree
Water town · Qingpu

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Skip if going to Suzhou (25 min HSR)
FromFree
Theme park · Pudong

Shanghai Disneyland

Full day. Plan separately
From¥475

Experiences in Shanghai

Beyond sights — booked or DIY.

Citywalk · Xuhui

Wukang + Anfu Rd Citywalk

Shanghai's hottest IP right now
FromFree / ¥150 guided
Dance drama · Huangpu

Chinese dance drama

Long-running — Shanghai Song & Dance Ensemble
From¥280
Wet market · Huangpu

Mengxi Market

Where locals actually shop — Michelin noodles at the door
FromFree
Workshop · Songjiang

Guangfulin Rice Cake Workshop

Hands-on rice-cake making at Guangfulin
From¥280
Art route · Xuhui · West Bund

West Bund Art Route

Tank Shanghai → Long Museum → Start Museum
From¥80 / museum
River cruise · Huangpu

Huangpu River Cruise

Pick night cruise OR ¥2 commuter ferry — skip day
From¥2 / ¥150
Boat ride · Qingpu

Zhujiajiao Boat Ride

Only if doing the day trip already
From¥80
Craft workshop · FFC

Qipao Knot-Button / Velvet-Flower Workshop

Take home what you make
From¥350

What to eat in Shanghai

Dishes, sweets, seasonal-only, and the city's coffee culture.

Dim sum · Citywide

Xiaolongbao

Soup dumplings — SH's best-known export
Avg¥30–60 / basket
Snack · Citywide

Sheng Jian Bao

Pan-fried buns — crackling crust, scalding broth
Avg¥15–25
Noodles · Citywide

Scallion Oil Noodles

3 ingredients, all soul
Avg¥15–30
Main · Shanghainese restaurants

Red-Braised Pork

SH version is sweeter than other regions
Avg¥60–90
Main · Spring – early summer

Wok-Fried River Shrimp

Sweetest in spring — shell-on, eat with hands
Avg¥80–120
Breakfast combo · Citywide

Four Heavenly Kings (Breakfast)

Da bing + you tiao + ci fan + dou jiang
Avg¥10–15
Sweet soup · Old-name shops

Fermented Rice Ball Soup

Warm, wine-y, slightly sweet
Avg¥15
Glutinous cake · Old-name shops

Osmanthus Glutinous Cake

Sticky, floral, served warm
Avg¥20
Sweet rice · Old-name shops

Eight-Treasure Rice

Bean paste + 8 dried fruits — banquet finale
Avg¥30
Oct – Nov only

Hairy Crab

Steam + ginger vinegar — autumn ritual
Avg¥80+ / crab
Coffee culture · Citywide

Shanghai Coffee Map

More cafés than NYC + Tokyo combined — 1,500+ in FFC alone
Avg¥35 / cup

Where to stay — pick the zone first, hotel second

6 zones. Filter by who you are.

#1 · Huangpu

The Bund (core riverside)

Iconic riverside view — the first-timer's classic Shanghai
5★¥2,300–3,500
4★¥600–1,200
3★¥350–700
#2 · Huangpu

Xintiandi / Madang Rd

Couples · nightlife · design hotels
5★¥1,500–2,800
4★¥800–1,300
3★¥350–550
#3 · Huangpu

People's Square

Most central + biggest metro interchange (Lines 1·2·8)
5★¥1,200–2,000
4★¥450–800
3★¥190–350
#4 · Jing'an

West Nanjing Rd / Jing'an Temple

Premium shopping · business-friendly · walkable
5★¥1,800–3,500
4★¥600–1,100
3★¥300–550
#5 · Xuhui · SINOGO default

Wukang Rd area (FFC)

Repeat visitor · coffee + citywalk lovers · boutique stays
5★¥3,000–4,500
4★¥800–1,500
3★¥400–650
#6 · Chuansha (Pudong)

Near Disneyland

For families doing 2+ Disney days only
5★¥2,500–4,000
4★¥1,400–2,200
3★¥250–500
Image credits
  • Hero (Bund skyline), Bund stay (Huangpu Park), Xintiandi, People's Square, Jing'an Temple, Wukang Mansion — Wikimedia Commons, various authors, CC BY-SA.
  • Xiaolongbao, Sheng Jian Bao — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA.
  • Scallion Oil Noodles — Wikimedia Commons / HanWei's EXP, CC BY-SA 2.0.
  • Red-Braised Pork — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Wok-Fried River Shrimp (Stir-fried shrimp meat) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Four Heavenly Kings (Ci Fan Tuan) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • Tangyuan in Jiuniang (Fermented Rice Ball Soup) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Osmanthus Cake — Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain).
  • Eight-Treasure Rice — Wikimedia Commons / kawanet, CC BY 2.0.
  • Hairy Crab — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • Shanghai Coffee — Pexels / Jose Cruz, Pexels License.
  • Enchanted Storybook Castle — Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain).
  • Qipao Woman (Qipao Workshop) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA.
  • Tank Shanghai (West Bund Art) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Pudong area at night with tour boat (Huangpu Cruise) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA.
  • Zhujiajiao aerial (Zhujiajiao Boat) — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA.
  • Hotel price ranges — June 2026 off-peak weekday sticker prices from Trip.com, Kayak, Booking.com.
  • All other photos — SINOGO original.