Top things to do in Shanghai
Attractions, tours, and activities in Shanghai
Recommended museums in Shanghai
Where to find art and culture in Shanghai
Shanghai: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Shanghai
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The Bund
0.9 miles from downtown
Best enjoyed from the ground up. Start at street level for some grade-A people-watching on the boardwalk. Get above the crowds and soar to the clouds – M on the Bund serves classic martinis on the roof terrace, with the Shanghai skyline delivering a breathtaking backdrop. Recline on the daybeds at Vue Bar and cool off in the terrace whirlpool.
Places to stay from $20 a night
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Jing'an
1.6 miles from downtown
Loud, crowded and a dream destination for tourists and expats. The trio of malls forms a golden triangle where you can burn through your holiday spends. Expats queue at City Supermarket for their fix of imported western food. Shop till you drop and then stroll through Jing’an Park. Hit the Sauna Room at the Equatorial Hotel for a quick detox.
Places to stay from $11 a night
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Huangpu
0.4 miles from downtown
Xiaolongbao is a dish that’s not to miss. Tuck into these delicate pork-filled dumplings at Nanxiag Xiaolongbao Restaurant in City God Temple. Once you’ve had your fill, work it all off with a stroll through Dongtai Road Antiques Market for retro homeware and kitsch souvenirs.
Places to stay from $20 a night
About Shanghai
Including tips for the best time to visit Shanghai
While Shanghai’s skyline may portray a futuristic outlook, the Chinese city remains one of the oldest in the world. Situated on the famous Yangtze River, Shanghai is home to dynasty-era temples, waterways and a proud heritage that combines both Asian and Western cultures.
Dating back over 6,000 years, Shanghai has grown to become one of the world’s most populous and important financial cities. As a vital trading point between Europe and the Far East during the Song dynasty, the city experienced a golden age that continued throughout the 19th-century, through the Japanese occupation of WWll and into the present day, where the influences of such events can still be felt.
The futurist architecture of the Jin Mao and Oriental Pearl Tower offer breathtaking views of the city and nearby historical districts, while Shanghai’s heritage can be found at the Jade Buddha Temple. Take a boat tour along the Yangtze River to the Zhujiajiao Watertown to find traditional cuisine and markets or humour the children with a once in a lifetime trip to Shanghai Disneyland.
The diverse blend of eastern and western culture is present across Shanghai’s food scene, with many restaurants serving European staples. Head to popular chain restaurants like Din Tai Fung for hot soup dumplings and steamed crab or the Wujiang and Zaphu Road for market stalls selling Peking duck, rice bowls and pork.
Tonight
From $58 per night
This weekend
From $115 per night
Next weekend
From $115 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | CNY 10 = $1.37 |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Average weekend price | $109 per night |
| Average weekday price | $116 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Shanghai
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Shanghai
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Pedestrian Street of East Nanjing Rd.
0.4 miles from downtown
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Jin Mao Tower
1.7 miles from downtown
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Oriental Pearl Tower
1.6 miles from downtown
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People's Square
In downtown
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Shanghai Stadium
3.9 miles from downtown
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Yu Garden
0.9 miles from downtown
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Jing'an Temple
1.9 miles from downtown
Latest articles featuring Shanghai
Inspiration and insider tips for things to do in Shanghai
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A booming city where past, present and future are woven intricately together.
Shanghai reviews
What other travelers say about Shanghai
It was difficult to access the Shanghai Museum, in fact it...
September 22, 2023
It was difficult to access the Shanghai Museum, in fact it was impossible. Wechat login but would not accept our phone number. So no go. Shame because it should have been a highlight. It's easy to get around Shanghai, great metro easy to work.
Very clean advance busy city.
September 16, 2023
Very clean advance busy city.. Convenient to go around the city. However some still not so friendly, especially towards tourist. Most smaller restaurant do not have English Menus and unable to communicate in English. Overall a beautiful clean advance city ..
Vibrant City full of life, entertainment and good food.
September 10, 2023
Vibrant City full of life, entertainment and good food. It feels also very safe and it’s easy to travel around. It captures the seamless harmony of the glorious past and the high-speed present of China.
Shanghai is a very interesting city to visit, with many...
August 5, 2023
Shanghai is a very interesting city to visit, with many authentic parts as well as modern sites to enjoy. It is a bit inaccessible for foreigners, especially because many food places don’t speak English. But we loved the friendliness and the authenticity of the many places we visited.
I loved the city.
July 5, 2023
I loved the city. A great place to be introduced to China. I thought it was a fascinating place and I was struct by the cleanliness of the whole place. The night lights of the city bring the whole place to come alive, everyone visiting the Bund and the pier to admire the lights of the other side of Shanghai beyond the Huangpu River, what an amazing site to have every night! So much to do, to see and to experience, I didn't have enough time to do it all! I wish I can go back soon!
Shanghai is a fantastic, enormous, sprawling urban...
July 1, 2023
Shanghai is a fantastic, enormous, sprawling urban playground. The underground metro is really easy to use and safer than taxis. The metro is also , incredibly cheap and very fast. The bund is a must see area in the city center with a beautiful skyline of modern skyscrapers and space shaped buildings. The view is stunning. it’s fantastic for photos really breathtaking. Depending on what you like to see and do five days to a week maximum is plenty of time for Shanghai. You should be able to see Disneyland, the city center and a few highlights like the Buddhist Jade temple and watery village zhujiajiao and of course the incredible nightlife for food and partying.
Popular places to stay in Shanghai
Stay in some of the best accommodations Shanghai has to offer
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Green Court Place Jingqiao Middle Ring Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai
From $185 per night
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MGM Shanghai West Bund Xuhui, Shanghai
From $271 per night
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iFamily Apart Hotel Waigaoqiao Branch Pudong, Shanghai
From $64 per night
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Tulu Apartmemt Xuhui, Shanghai
From $59 per night
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