Shanghai is China’s most futuristic big city and, at the same time, a museum of 19th–20th century history in the open air. On one side of the river you have The Bund’s European-style banks and trading houses; on the other side, the sci-fi skyline of Lujiazui.
This guide is written for first-time visitors who want something practical: where to stay, how to get around, what to see in 2–4 days, and how to avoid the common hassles.
Meet Shanghai: Quick Snapshot
What Shanghai feels like
- Type: Mega-city + history + food.
- Vibe: Very urban, fast, polished; but with leafy backstreets and old lanes if you know where to look.
- Layout:
- Puxi (west of the river): Historic core – The Bund, People’s Square, Former French Concession, most classic neighborhoods.
- Pudong (east): Lujiazui financial district, towering skyline, Shanghai Disney further east.
Iconic experiences
- Sunset and night walk along The Bund, looking across to the neon skyline of Pudong.
- Old-meets-new at Yu Garden & Old Town – classical Ming-style garden plus busy bazaar streets.
- Wandering the Former French Concession under plane trees, with cafés, boutiques, and old villas.
- Heading up a skydeck (Shanghai Tower / SWFC / Oriental Pearl) for city-wide views.
When to Visit Shanghai
Shanghai has four clear seasons: cold, damp winters and hot, humid summers. The sweet spots are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are mild and skies are clearer.
Best seasons
- March–May (spring)
- ~15–25°C, flowers and new leaves.
- Occasional rain; bring a light jacket and umbrella.
- September–November (autumn)
- Often considered the best time: dryer air, comfortable 15–22°C, great for walking The Bund and French Concession.
Times to be careful with
- June–August (summer)
- Very hot and humid; recent summers have seen heatwaves with >35°C for long stretches.
- Expect heavy rain in the June “plum rain” season and possible typhoons later in summer.
- Make plans that include a lot of indoor time: malls, museums, cafés.
- December–February (winter)
- 0–8°C is common, but the damp air makes it feel colder.
- Good for lower prices (except Chinese New Year) and fewer crowds.
Chinese holiday warning
Try to avoid major mainland holidays if you can, especially:
- Chinese New Year (late Jan / Feb)
- Golden Week around Oct 1
Transport, hotels, and big attractions (Yu Garden, Disney, The Bund) are all extremely crowded and prices spike.
Where to Stay (Best Areas)
Shanghai is huge, but you’ll probably choose between 4–5 central areas. Here’s a simple cheat sheet.
1. The Bund / People’s Square / Nanjing Road (Huangpu)
Best for: First-timers who want to be in the middle of everything.
- Pros
- Walkable to The Bund, Nanjing Road pedestrian street, and People’s Square.
- Superb metro connections in and around People’s Square.
- Tons of food, shopping, and big-name hotels.
- Cons
- Very busy and touristy.
- Rooms are often smaller and pricier for the same budget.
If it’s your very first time, this is a very safe bet: you can step out of your hotel and instantly “feel” Shanghai.
2. Jing’an & Nanjing West Road
Best for: Modern, central, but a bit more local and less touristy.
- Mix of skyscraper offices, big malls, and neighborhoods.
- Easy metro links across the city, and slightly calmer than The Bund at night.
Why choose it:
- Great if you like modern malls + nice restaurants.
- Still convenient for sightseeing, but with a more “normal city” feel.
3. Former French Concession (FFC: Xuhui / parts of Huangpu)
Best for: Street life, cafés, and “I want to feel like I live here for a few days.”
What it’s like:
- Low-rise apartments, old villas, narrow leafy streets, lots of cafés and boutiques. Popular with expats.
Pros:
- Fantastic for walking, street photography, and lazy afternoons.
- Endless food and coffee options.
Cons:
- Fewer single “big” sights; it’s more about atmosphere.
- Some lanes are quiet at night; still safe overall, but it feels more residential than The Bund.
If you love cafés and slower travel, seriously consider staying here.
4. Lujiazui (Pudong Financial District)
Best for: Futuristic skyline views and business-style comfort.
- Packed with skyscrapers including Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao, and Oriental Pearl TV Tower, plus large malls.
- High-end hotels often have direct river or skyline views.
Pros:
- Probably the best hotel room views in the city.
- Easy access to Line 2 (straight to both airports).
Cons:
- Feels more like a business district; quieter at street level at night.
- For older lanes and classic atmosphere you’ll ride the metro over to Puxi anyway.
5. Near Shanghai Disney (Chuansha / Resort area)
Best for: Families focusing on Disney.
- Disney-area hotels and Chuansha are convenient if you want to rope-drop the park and crash right after fireworks.
Cons:
- 40–60 minutes by metro or car from central Shanghai; not ideal as your only base.
Simple rule of thumb
- Short city break, want “classic” Shanghai: Bund / People’s Square.
- City + cafés + boutiques: Former French Concession or Jing’an.
- Skyline views and easy airport metro: Lujiazui.
- Disney-centric trip with kids: A night or two near Disney plus some nights in town.
Getting Around & Paying for Things
Metro & public transport
Shanghai’s metro is one of the world’s largest systems, with 20 lines and 500+ stations, covering nearly every major attraction.
Why you should use it:
- English signage and announcements on trains.
- Reliable, affordable, frequent.
- Usually the fastest way to cross the city, especially at rush hour.
Tickets & cards
You can ride the metro in several ways:
- Single-journey paper tickets from machines (good backup).
- Shanghai Public Transportation Card / Shanghai Pass – reloadable contactless card usable on metro, buses, ferries, maglev, many taxis, and even in other cities.
- Mobile QR codes in Alipay / WeChat or the official metro app (if you’ve set up Chinese mobile payments).
You can buy a card at many metro stations and convenience stores; there’s usually a small refundable deposit.
Taxis & ride-hailing
- Taxis are plentiful and regulated; always insist on using the meter.
- At airports and big stations, follow signs to the official taxi queue and ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
- Apps like Didi offer English interfaces in some versions and are very handy if you’re comfortable with apps and mobile payments.
Getting from the airports into town
1. Pudong International Airport (PVG)
- Metro Line 2: Cheap and straightforward; roughly 60–70 minutes to central areas with a possible train change.
- Maglev + Metro: Maglev to Longyang Road (around 8 minutes, fun but pricey) then Line 2 onward.
- Taxi / ride-hailing: Around 45–60 minutes to central Shanghai in normal traffic.
2. Hongqiao Airport / Hongqiao Railway Station
- Directly connected to Metro Lines 2 & 10, making it very easy to reach central districts like Jing’an, People’s Square, Lujiazui, and the French Concession.
Paying for things (very important!)
China is now heavily cashless. In Shanghai, locals pay for almost everything with Alipay or WeChat Pay. The good news: both platforms are increasingly friendly to foreign visitors.
Recent updates from the city and major payment providers confirm that:
- Many ticket machines and shops accept foreign Visa / Mastercard / etc. for buying metro tickets or binding into mobile wallets.
- You can often link a supported foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay after passport verification and basic registration.
Practical advice
- Before you fly, download Alipay and WeChat, create accounts, and attempt card linking (interface language can be switched to English).
- Still bring some cash in CNY for small stalls, older taxis, or when an app fails.
- High-end hotels, malls, and many restaurants still take physical credit cards — but small noodle shops may not.
Classic 2–4 Day Itineraries
Use these as plug-and-play skeletons. Adjust for your pace and interests.
If you have 2 days: “Greatest Hits”
Day 1 – Old City, People’s Square & The Bund
- Morning: Yu Garden & Old Town (plan 2–3 hours; go early to avoid tour groups).
- Lunch: Street snacks around the bazaar or a sit-down restaurant nearby.
- Afternoon: People’s Square & Shanghai Museum or Urban Planning Exhibition (if open).
- Evening: Walk Nanjing Road pedestrian street → The Bund; stay for night views and maybe a short Huangpu River cruise.
Day 2 – Pudong Skyline + French Concession
- Morning: Head to Lujiazui; choose one skydeck (Shanghai Tower, SWFC, or Oriental Pearl).
- Lunch: In a Lujiazui mall.
- Afternoon: Metro / taxi to the Former French Concession – Anfu Road, Wukang Road, Tianzifang or Xintiandi. Wander cafés, boutiques, and leafy lanes.
- Evening: Dinner and drinks in the area, then back to your hotel.
If you have 3 days: Add museums or more slow wandering
Follow the 2-day plan, plus:
Day 3 – Your choice of “theme”
Pick one:
- Museum & culture day
- Shanghai Museum, nearby art museums, or the new natural history museum.
- Combine with a stroll in Jing’an or along the Suzhou Creek riverfront.
- Water town taster
- Half-day or day trip to a nearby water town like Zhujiajiao or Qibao for bridges, canals, and old houses.
- Food-focused day
- Build your day around soup dumplings, street snacks, cafés, and a nice dinner (see food section).
If you have 4 days: Include Disney or another “big extra”
For 4 days, many people do:
- 3 days of city exploring (like above), plus
- 1 full day at Shanghai Disney or a longer water-town/side-trip day.
Try not to cram both Disney and a long side trip into the same short visit – the city itself already has a lot to enjoy.
Key Areas & What to Do There
1. The Bund & Huangpu Riverfront
The Bund is Shanghai’s historic waterfront: a 1.5 km stretch lined with early-20th-century banks and trading houses, facing the glass skyscrapers of Lujiazui across the water.
Best ways to experience it
- Walk at sunset into night along the promenade.
- Come early morning to see locals jogging and doing tai chi with almost empty streets.
- Take a Huangpu River cruise at night for skyline photos.
Nearby you’ll also find:
- Old HSBC Building, Custom House, and other famous facades (mostly offices and banks now).
2. Lujiazui (Pudong’s financial district)
This is the cluster of futuristic towers you see from The Bund.
Top things to do:
- Go up Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, or Jin Mao Tower for sweeping views (you don’t need all three).
- Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (observation decks and small museum).
- Wander through mega-malls like IFC or Super Brand Mall for dining and air-con.
Tip: Time your skydeck visit for late afternoon → sunset → night, if the air is clear.
3. Old City & Yu Garden
Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden) is a classical Ming-style garden with pavilions, ponds, bridges, and rockeries, right next to the City God Temple and a bustling bazaar.
What to do:
- Buy timed tickets (if required) and enter early.
- Spend 1–2 hours exploring the garden.
- Then walk the surrounding Old Town streets for snacks and souvenirs.
It does get very crowded, so try to arrive close to opening.
4. Former French Concession
This area is more about wandering than ticking off landmarks.
Good mini-routes:
- Anfu Road → Wukang Road → Ferguson Lane for cafés, boutiques, and villas.
- Tianzifang (touristy but fun) for narrow alleys full of small shops and cafés.
Plan half a day to a full day if you like slow travel, coffee, and photography.
5. Jing’an
Centered on Jing’an Temple and West Nanjing Road:
- Temple surrounded by skyscrapers and malls – classic Shanghai contrast.
- Great base for shopping, eating, and easily hopping on the metro.
Shanghai Disney (and New Legoland)
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disney Resort in Pudong includes Shanghai Disneyland, two hotels, and Disneytown. It’s extremely popular and keeps expanding.
Should you go?
- Yes if you love theme parks, Disney, or are traveling with kids.
- Plan a full day (rope-drop to fireworks) – it’s big and lines can be long.
Key tips:
- Buy tickets in advance via the official website or app.
- Download the Shanghai Disney app for wait times, maps, and Premier Access (paid line-skipping for popular rides).
- Weekdays outside Chinese school holidays are far more pleasant.
Transport:
- Metro Line 11 goes directly to Disney Resort station.
New: Legoland Shanghai Resort
In 2025, China’s first Legoland resort opened in Shanghai’s Jinshan District, and it’s currently the largest Legoland in the world, with 75+ interactive rides and shows across eight themed lands.
- It’s another excellent option for families, especially Lego-fans.
- As it’s farther out, treat it as a separate day trip if you decide to go.
- Check the latest opening hours, ticket prices, and transport details before planning — it’s new, and things may change.
What to Eat in Shanghai
Shanghai is a food city. You’ll find local dishes, cuisine from all over China, and international restaurants.
Must-try local classics
You don’t need to remember the Chinese names, but it helps:
- Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) – thin-skinned steamed dumplings filled with pork (often crab roe too) and hot broth. Originated near Shanghai and now a city symbol.
- Shengjian bao / shengjian mantou – pan-fried soup buns with a crispy bottom and juicy filling; common breakfast item.
- Scallion oil noodles (cong you ban mian) – simple but addictive noodles tossed in fragrant scallion oil and soy-based sauce.
- Yanduxian – soup of cured & fresh pork with winter bamboo shoots; very Shanghainese.
For dumpling nerds, you can go deep into xiaolongbao culture – there are entire guides to the best dumpling shops.
Broader Shanghai food culture
Shanghai also has its own type of “western food” that evolved during the concession era: things like local Russian-style soups and fusion pork chops. This “Haipai” (Shanghai-style) cuisine mixes Chinese techniques with Western dishes and is part of the city’s identity.
You’ll also find:
- Excellent regional Chinese cuisines (Sichuan, Cantonese, Yunnan, etc.).
- Trendy coffee shops and bars, especially in the French Concession.
- International restaurants (Japanese, Korean, Italian, etc.) in business districts and malls.
Practical Tips & Safety
Safety basics
Shanghai is generally considered a safe big city with low violent crime. The main issues visitors face are petty theft, scams, and occasional transport overcharging.
Common-sense advice:
- Keep phones and wallets in front pockets or zipped bags in crowded metro stations and shopping streets.
- Ignore strangers who insist on taking you to a “special” tea ceremony, massage, or bar; these can turn into overpriced bills.
- Use official taxi queues and ride-hailing rather than accepting random offers at stations and airports.
Health & weather
- Summers can now be very hot, with extended heat waves; schedule indoor activities in the early afternoon and stay hydrated.
- Winter is wet and chilly; layering and a warm outer jacket help.
- Air quality fluctuates but is usually manageable; if you’re sensitive, check forecasts and carry a mask for bad days.
Internet & SIM
- Popular Western services (Google, many social media sites) are blocked in mainland China. You’ll need a VPN if you rely on them.
- You can buy local SIM cards at the airport or city shops (passport needed), or use an international eSIM that works in China.
- Domestic apps like Baidu Maps or Amap (Gaode) are the gold standard for navigation; some have English options.
Language
- Official language is Mandarin, but many locals also speak Shanghainese.
- Metro, major sights, and many restaurants have English signage; smaller shops may not.
Tips:
- Keep your hotel name and address written in Chinese on your phone or on a card.
- Use translation apps; they work surprisingly well for menus and short chats.
Pre-Trip Checklist
Before you board your flight:
- ✅ Decide which area to stay in (Bund / People’s Square, Jing’an, FFC, Lujiazui, Disney).
- ✅ Download Alipay & WeChat, and attempt to link your card.
- ✅ Download offline maps and a translation app.
- ✅ Check weather for your dates (watch for heat warnings in summer or typhoon forecasts).
- ✅ Pre-book:
- Accommodation.
- Disney tickets (and app) if going.
- Any must-do restaurants or shows if you’re visiting on a holiday or weekend.
- ✅ Bring:
- A small amount of cash in CNY.
- A power adapter (China uses 220V, plugs often Type A/C/I).
- Comfortable walking shoes – you’ll walk a lot.
If you give yourself two to four days, pick an area that matches your style, and build your days around just a few key neighborhoods instead of trying to see everything, Shanghai becomes a very easy and rewarding city to explore.