Shanghai

Shanghai Overview

Shanghai is located on the eastern coast of China and is one of the country’s most international metropolises, often nicknamed the “Magic City” (“魔都”). The Huangpu River divides the city into Puxi and Pudong, with a classic skyline on both banks: on the Puxi side you’ll find the Bund International Architecture Complex on the Bund (外滩万国建筑群, The Bund), while Pudong is home to the Lujiazui Financial Center (陆家嘴金融中心) and the Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠).

Since modern times, Shanghai has gone through the era of foreign concessions, a boom in industry and commerce, and the period of Reform and Opening Up, forming a unique blend of Chinese and Western influences: on one side are traditional cultural landmarks such as Jing’an Temple (静安寺), City God Temple (城隍庙), and Yu Garden (豫园); on the other side are modern entertainment and financial icons like Shanghai Disney Resort (迪士尼乐园) and the skyscrapers of Lujiazui (陆家嘴).

The city moves at a fast pace but offers diverse lifestyle choices, from the dazzling night views of Nanjing Road (南京路) and North Bund (北外滩), to the artsy neighborhoods of Tianzifang (田子坊), Wukang Road (武康路), and Anfu Road (安福路), and even the natural “green lung” of Gongqing Forest Park (共青森林公园). It’s equally suitable for first-time visitors, in-depth slow travel, and longer stays.

Best Time to Visit & Climate

Shanghai has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Spring (March–May) sees temperatures of 15–25°C with moderate humidity, ideal for spring outings and flower viewing in Gongqing Forest Park (共青森林公园), or strolling and taking photos along Wukang Road (武康路) and Anfu Road (安福路). However, there can be occasional cold snaps, so bring a light jacket.

Autumn (September–November) is widely considered the best season, with more blue-sky days. It’s perfect for heading up the Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠) or the North Bund Viewing Platform (北外滩观景平台) for a bird’s-eye view of the city, or taking a night cruise or walk around the Bund (外滩, The Bund) and Lujiazui (陆家嘴) to enjoy the light shows.

Summer (June–September) is hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching 30–35°C. It’s better to plan indoor activities such as shopping malls and museums, or spend a full day enjoying water attractions at Shanghai Disney Resort (迪士尼乐园). Be sure to protect yourself from the sun and heat.

Winter (December–February) is damp and chilly, and feels colder than the actual temperature. It’s a good time to soak up the festive atmosphere at Jing’an Temple (静安寺), City God Temple (城隍庙), and the Yuyuan Lantern Festival (豫园灯会), and to warm up with steaming local Shanghainese dishes and snacks.

To avoid crowds, try not to visit during the National Day holiday, Labor Day (“May 1st”), Chinese New Year, or the summer school vacation peak.

Arriving in Shanghai

• By Air:

  • Pudong International Airport (PVG): Mainly international and some domestic flights. Take Metro Line 2 directly to the city center (about 60–70 minutes, around ¥7 ($1 USD)), or take the maglev train to Longyang Road (about 8 minutes, ¥50 ($7 USD) one way).
  • Hongqiao International Airport (SHA): Primarily domestic flights, located right next to Hongqiao Railway Station (虹桥火车站). Metro Lines 2 and 10 go directly to the city center and to places like Nanjing Road (南京路) and Lujiazui (陆家嘴).

• By Rail:

  • Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (上海虹桥站): A national high-speed rail hub, with travel times of about 2–6 hours from cities such as Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Nanjing. After exiting the station, transfer to Metro Line 2 to reach Lujiazui (陆家嘴), East Nanjing Road (南京东路), or Line 10 to reach Yuyuan Garden (豫园), Wujiaochang (五角场).
  • Shanghai Railway Station (上海站 / 火车站): One of the older main stations, where Metro Lines 1, 3, and 4 intersect. It’s convenient for getting to Jing’an Temple (静安寺), Xujiahui (徐家汇), the Bund (外滩 The Bund).

• By Road & Long-distance Bus:

  • Several expressways (Shanghai–Nanjing, Shanghai–Hangzhou, Shanghai–Jiaxing: 沪宁、沪杭、沪嘉) connect Shanghai with nearby cities. Long-distance bus stations such as Shanghai Long-distance Bus Terminal (上海长途汽车客运总站) and Shanghai South Long-distance Bus Station (上海南站) have frequent services to and from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, making them suitable for short trips into Shanghai from surrounding cities.

• By Water:

  • Some cities along the Yangtze River have passenger ships to Shanghai Port, but these are not commonly used by regular tourists and are mostly sightseeing cruises. They allow you to enjoy distant night views of the Bund (外滩 The Bund) and Lujiazui (陆家嘴) from the Huangpu River.

Getting Around the City

• Metro:
  Shanghai’s metro network is very dense (Lines 1–18), covering all major attractions:

  • Line 2: Connects Pudong and Puxi, passing East Nanjing Road (南京东路), Lujiazui (陆家嘴), Jing’an Temple (静安寺), with transfers available for Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠), The Bund (外滩) and more.
  • Line 10: Goes directly to Yuyuan Garden (豫园), East Nanjing Road (南京东路), Hongqiao Airport/ Railway Station (虹桥机场/火车站), very convenient for visitors.
  • Line 11: Takes you to Disney Resort Station (迪士尼乐园站), with the park right outside the station.

  Single-journey tickets cost ¥3–9 (~$0.40–$1.25 USD). You can pay with a transport card or mobile QR code (Alipay, WeChat, Shanghai Transportation Card App).

• Buses and Trams:
  City buses are extensive, with most fares at ¥2 (~$0.30 USD), ideal for short hops. Some sightseeing routes offer great river views of North Bund (北外滩) and The Bund (外滩) along the way. In Pudong, the Zhangjiang Tram (张江有轨电车) is a pleasant way to get around.

• Taxis and Ride-hailing:
  The base fare is about ¥14 (~$2 USD) for the first 3 km, slightly higher at night. You can book rides via Didi Chuxing (滴滴出行) or Gaode Taxi (高德打车). This is convenient for night visits to The Bund (外滩), North Bund (北外滩) or returning to your hotel from Wukang Road (武康路), Anfu Road (安福路).

• Walking and Cycling:

  • The The Bund (外滩) – Nanjing Road (南京路) – People’s Square (人民广场) area is perfect for exploring on foot.
  • Neighborhoods like Wukang Road (武康路), Anfu Road (安福路), Tianzifang (田子坊) are great for slow strolls and photos.
  • Shared bikes (Hello Bike 哈啰, Qingju 青桔, Meituan 美团) are everywhere; just scan to unlock. Rides start from ¥1–2 (~$0.15–$0.30 USD) per trip, ideal for cycling around Xujiahui (徐家汇) or Gongqing Forest Park (共青森林公园).

• Sightseeing Transport:

  • Huangpu River cruises departing from The Bund (外滩) or Shiliupu Wharf (十六铺码头) offer night views of the illuminated skyline on both banks.
  • The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (外滩观光隧道) links The Bund (外滩) with Pudong. It’s more of a novelty experience and relatively expensive, so consider it based on your interests.

Food & Culinary Culture

Shanghai cuisine is centered on local Benbang dishes and Shanghai-style fusion cuisine, with flavors that tend to be sweet and savory. Must-try dishes include:

• Hongshao pork, oil-braised shrimp, and steamed shad: You can try these at long-established restaurants such as Lao Jesse Restaurant (老吉士酒家) and Shanghai Classical Hotel (上海老饭店, near Yuyuan Garden 豫园), with an average spend of ¥150–300 (~$21–42 USD) per person.

• Xiaolongbao and pan-fried buns (shengjian):

  • Nanxiang Xiaolong (南翔小笼, in the City God Temple 城隍庙 / Yuyuan Garden 豫园 area): A basket of crab roe xiaolongbao costs about ¥40–60 (~$6–8 USD).
  • Fengyu Shengjian (丰裕生煎) and Yang’s Dumplings (Xiaoyang Shengjian 小杨生煎): Around ¥20–40 (~$3–6 USD) per person is enough for a filling meal.

• Street snacks:

  • City God Temple Snack Plaza (城隍庙小吃广场): Offers everything from sweet rice dumplings (tangyuan), pork chop with rice cakes, to “crab shell” pastries.
  • Around East Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street (南京东路步行街) there are many time-honored pastry and snack shops, perfect for snacking as you stroll.

• Artsy cafés and creative restaurants:

  • Tianzifang (田子坊) is packed with cafés, bars, and creative snack shops, ideal for afternoon tea or a late-night bite.
  • Along Wukang Road (武康路) and Anfu Road (安fu路) you’ll find numerous boutique cafés, French restaurants, and Japanese eateries, with an average spend of ¥80–300 (~$11–42 USD) per person. These areas are very popular with both foreign visitors and local young people.

• Nightlife and riverside dining:

  • Along The Bund (外滩, The Bund) and North Bund (北外滩) you’ll find upscale Western restaurants and bars where you can dine while enjoying night views of the Huangpu River, with an average spend of ¥300–800 (~$42–112 USD) per person.
  • Lujiazui (陆家嘴) sky-high restaurants (such as those in IFC Mall 国金中心 and Shanghai World Financial Center 环球金融中心) offer panoramic city views, making them ideal for anniversaries and romantic dates.

From authentic Benbang cuisine and refined afternoon tea to late-night street stalls, Shanghai offers food options almost 24 hours a day.

Recommended Areas to Stay

• Around the Bund (外滩 The Bund) & East Nanjing Road (南京东路) – Top choice for first-time visitors:
  Close to core attractions like the Bund (外滩 The Bund), Nanjing Road (南京路 Nanjing Road), Yuyuan Garden (豫园), and City God Temple (城隍庙), and you can walk to enjoy the night views along the river. Metro Lines 2 and 10 intersect here, making transportation excellent. Along the Bund you’ll find high-end hotels such as Fairmont Peace Hotel (和平饭店) and Hyatt on the Bund (外滩茂悦) (¥800–2000 per night, roughly ~$110–$280 USD). Around East Nanjing Road (南京东路), there are many chain business hotels and hostels (¥300–600 per night, roughly ~$40–$85 USD).

• Lujiazui Financial District (陆家嘴) – Business and skyscraper views:
  Ideal for travelers who want to experience modern Shanghai and its high-rise night skyline. You can walk to Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠), Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦), and Shanghai World Financial Center (环球金融中心), and at night you can look down over the Huangpu River and the Bund (外滩 The Bund). This area is packed with upscale hotels such as Shangri-La, Park Hyatt, and The Ritz-Carlton (¥900–2500 per night, roughly ~$125–$350 USD), plus some serviced apartment-style hotels with good value.

• Jing’an Temple (静安寺) & West Nanjing Road (南京西路) – Shopping and everyday convenience:
  Metro Line 2 runs directly to the airports and Hongqiao Railway Station, and it’s convenient to reach North Bund (北外滩), Wukang Road (武康路), and Anfu Road (安福路). The area is full of large malls, restaurants, and cafés, with a strong “liveable city” vibe. There are many upscale and design hotels, with an average budget of about ¥500–1500 per night (roughly ~$70–$210 USD), suitable for travelers who value both quality and convenience.

• Xujiahui (徐家汇) & Hengfu Historical and Cultural Area (衡复历史风貌区) – Artsy and good value:
  Xujiahui (徐家汇) is a major transport hub where Metro Lines 1, 9, and 11 intersect, making it convenient to reach Shanghai Disney Resort (迪士尼) via Line 11 and Gongqing Forest Park (共青森林公园) via transfer to Line 8. Nearby, you can walk or take a short taxi ride to artsy neighborhoods like Wukang Road (武康路), Anfu Road (安福路), and Tianzifang (田子坊). Accommodation ranges from budget chains (¥200–400 per night, roughly ~$30–$55 USD) to mid-range hotels (¥400–800 per night, roughly ~$55–$110 USD), offering excellent value for money.

• Pudong Expo Area & Zhangjiang (浦东世博 & 张江) – Quiet and family-friendly:
  Suitable for self-driving travelers or families with children. It’s close to Shanghai Disney Resort (迪士尼乐园) and the Expo area, with a relatively quiet environment and slightly lower hotel prices than Lujiazui. Around Disney there are official and partner hotels that offer shuttle buses, with an average of ¥500–1200 per night (roughly ~$70–$170 USD), making it a good choice for family trips.