Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

We had such a great time visiting Shanghai so we couldn’t be more excited to present our Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide.

Shanghai is one of the most influential financial and economic centres in China. It is also the most populous city in China and the 3rd largest city in the world, after Tokyo and Delhi! It’s the city where EVERYTHING is happening!

To be honest, it’s exactly what we try to avoid. We could almost taste the pollution and congestion just thinking about it. But Shanghai was everything we expected a major Chinese city NOT to be!!

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Jen enjoying the warm sun and fresh air.

In short, Shanghai is not polluted (as far as cities go), it’s actually beautiful! There’s an old world meets new world vibe in the streets, there’s birds in the trees, everyone is friendly and the transport was easy enough to figure out.

Just another wake up call for us to never judge an area before actually visiting!!

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Skyline views from Gucheng Park next to Yuyuan Gardens

Shanghai is a cultural hotspot of glamorous architecture. A complete mix of Western skyscrapers, Colonial ‘Big Ben’ look-a-likes and oriental Shikumen homes. It’s the ultimate architectural journey!

We stayed in a cheapish hotel near all the main attractions and decided to walk our way to as many interesting places as possible. These walks ended up being our favourite part. One moment you’re in a futuristic first world city and two seconds later you’re in 1920s China!!

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Outside the Xaihai Temple


Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Try to get a local tourist map or the Maps.Me App and visit our below favourite spots:

1) Bund 2) Pudong 3) Nanjing Rd 4) Huaihai Rd 5) Old City 6) Xaihai

The Bund

This promenade looks over the Huangpu River and onto the best of Shanghai’s skyline – Pudong Park. The Bund is such a vibe! Travelers, business men and locals from all across the world meet here to enjoy the views, the dumplings and the nightlife.

*Walk down the popular Nanjing Road towards the river and you will arrive at The Bund.
*Metro: Line 2 or Line 1 to East Nanjing Rd Station. Walk 10 min toward the Huangpu River.

shanghai attractions

shanghai attractions

You may have to wait to get your shot 😉

Pudong Park

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower

This incredible pink jewel is as beautiful in the day as it is mesmerising when lit-up at night. Make your way over to the Pudong Park in Lujiazui and ride in the double decker elevators to the rotating restaurants, the futuristic ‘Space City’ and the Municipal History Museum.

*Metro: Line 2 – get off at Lujiazui Station from Exit 1

The Shanghai Tower

This 632m tower is the tallest skyscraper in Asia and the 2nd tallest in the entire world. If you’re feeling brave, take the express elevator to the sightseeing deck on the 118th floor (and 119th on weekends). It’s 116 RMB between 9am and 9pm.

*Metro: Line 2 – get off at Lujiazui Station from Exit 4

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

The view of Pudong Park from the Bund

Shanghai’s Nanjing Road

This is China’s premier shopping street. It starts at the Jing’an Temple and continues West all the way until you reach the Bund.

We must have walked this street every night – shopping around, eating moon cakes and dodging the miniature trams that weave their way through the crowds. In the evenings the endless strip of billboards light up the street with flashing neon colour.

shanghai attractions travel guide

Jen’s favourite shop called ‘Miniso’

“Made in China” dreams were made here in Nanjing Street. For example: there’s an 8 story shopping mall just for M&Ms!!

shanghai attractions travel guide

‘The Great Wall of Chocolate’

Shanghai’s Huaihai Road

Another great shopping street is Huaihai Road. Here you can also find the Xiangyang Park, Xu You Tea House and Huaihai Park. 

At South Huangpi Road you will find the area of Xintiandi. A great spot for bar hopping  in the evenings or ordering a Starbucks coffee ;). Here is where you can view the old traditional Shikumen houses.

*Metro Line 1 to South Huangpi Road Station – Exit 3 – walk to South Huangpi Road. 

Shanghai’s Ancient Area

Shanghai Old Street

This street can be found alongside the Huangpu River (South of the Bund).

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Yuyuan Garden

The Yuyuan Garden displays two hectares of classical Chinese gardening architecture as well as some of Shanghai’s most treasured cultural relics. Unfortunately we didn’t end up going in. The overwhelming crowd outside the entrance gate frightened us off! Or was it the very distracting, well architectured waffles right next door. 

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

But we can definitely recommend coming to the Yuyuan Bizaar outside the Garden. This is a super vibrant market with some really interesting and quirky stores and food vendors.

*Metro: Line 10 and get off at Yuyuan Station
* Bus route: No. 932 (get off at the City God Temple)

The Mid-Lake Pavilion Tea House

Here you can enjoy a high tea with a tempting array of mouth watering snacks such as preserved plums and glutinous rice dumplings. The tea house overlooks an artificial lake filled with Koi fish and excited tourists. 

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

The Shanghai City God Temple

Just around the corner from Yuyuan Garden is the largest Taoist Temple in Shanghai. Although you’ll find yourself in and out within a few minutes, it is worth the small entrance fee.

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Xaihai Temple

North East of the Bund area, continuing along the Huangpu River, you can find the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum (Changyang Road) and the Xiahai Temple (Kunming Road) just a street or two above. 

Shanghai Attractions Travel Guide

Entrance to the Xaihai Temple


How Expensive is Shanghai

We visited Shanghai in April 2017, so keep this is mind.

8 Small pork dumplings in a local restaurant: 15 RMB/ 2.20 USD
KFC chicken wrap meal: 15 RMB/ 2.20USD (just for perspective)
Bottled water 1 litre: 4 RMB/ 0.60 USD

Dumplings for 5 RMB each


Navigating your way around Shanghai

Arriving at Shanghai Airport

The best tip for Shanghai, is to ensure you land in Pudong International Airport before 11pm. The train subway runs straight from the airport to central Shanghai and costs roughly 3 to 7 RMB. We arrived after 11pm when the train was closed and had to catch a Taxi for 216 RMB/ 31 USD. A major price difference.

On that note, the subway is great. There are stations at all major attractions and the maps provided are both in Mandarin and English. Shanghai also has the famous Red Bus Tours (like those in Paris and London). These are great if you have limited time and a large bucketlist.

If you have more time we recommend walking as much as possible. We walked to every attraction mentioned above from our hotel which was a great way to see the city.

Comfy walking shoes


Shanghai Accommodation

We traveled China during our 8 month backpacking trip, so our budget was MINIMAL. We actually almost scrapped the whole Shanghai idea after searching for accommodation options. It’s FAR more expensive then most other places in China, other than Beijing. 

With that in mind, we ended up finding a hotel that was basic and central – the Xinlong River Hotel Shanghai. *If there’s only one nice but affordable room in an entire city, Rudi will find it. 

It was a one bedroom with non-English TV, air-con, a kettle and an ensuite bathroom with a hot water shower. No cupboards.

Location is everything, but if you have extra money try look to see if there’s a slightly cleaner (better maintained) hotel available.

Search here for more Shanghai Accommodation options:


If you enjoyed our Shanghai attractions travel guide then visit our China Page for more on our favourite places, attractions and experiences.