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Shanghai 上海

Riverfront skylines, historic neighbourhoods and the flavours of everyday Shanghai.

Panorama of Lujiazui and the Huangpu River in Shanghai

City overview

Meet Shanghai

Shanghai brings together the historic buildings of the Bund and the towers of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River. Away from the waterfront, streets around Wukang Road and the lanes of Tianzifang reveal a more intimate side of the city.

Explore garden courtyards and local food in the old town, or make a separate outing to the canals of Zhujiajiao. Choose the places and experiences that interest you, and build your visit around them.

Places to Visit

Big city views, small streets, and a little room to wander.

The pavilion and pond at the Yuyuan bazaar in Shanghai

Yu Garden

4.5/ 5CTN score

A classical garden beside the lanes and pavilions of Yuyuan bazaar.

Ticket required
Shanghai Tower and the Lujiazui skyline at sunset

Shanghai Tower

4.5/ 5CTN score

A twisting landmark with far-reaching views across the city.

Reservation required
A canal and stone bridge in Zhujiajiao

Zhujiajiao

4.0/ 5CTN score

Canals, stone bridges and waterside streets beyond central Shanghai.

Ticket required
Wukang Mansion at a tree-lined Shanghai street corner

Wukang Road

4.0/ 5CTN score

Tree-lined streets and distinctive early twentieth-century architecture.

Free entry
Tianzifang lane entrance and its Chinese sign

Tianzifang

4.0/ 5CTN score

Old residential lanes home to small shops and creative studios.

Free entry
View all places to visit

Local Experiences

Discover Shanghai through its streets, traditions and everyday life.

Design illustration: People walking along a leafy street lined with cafés and historic buildings

City Walks

Explore leafy streets, historic lanes and the everyday rhythm of Shanghai.

Design illustration: View of the Shanghai skyline from a riverboat deck in warm evening light

River Cruises

See Shanghai from the water, with riverfront architecture and sweeping skyline views.

A visitor wearing a floral qipao on a historic Shanghai street.

Traditional Dress

Discover qipao and hanfu through dress, styling and photography.

Design illustration: A bright bathing pool surrounded by pale stone, warm timber and greenery

Bathhouses & Spas

Unwind with a bathhouse visit and discover a different side of local leisure.

Design illustration: People enjoying coffee at outdoor tables beside a welcoming neighborhood café

Coffee Culture

Find neighborhood cafés, local roasters and inviting places to pause.

Design illustration: A wooden boat on a quiet canal beneath a stone bridge in a Jiangnan-style water town

Water Town Experiences

Wander canalside lanes, cross stone bridges and slow down by the water.

View all local experiences

Food & Drink

Discover Shanghai through its local flavors.

Design illustration of soup dumplings on a white plate on pale marble

Soup dumplings

小笼包 · Xiaolongbao

Pork broth inside delicate wrappers.

Pork
Design illustration of scallion oil noodles on a white plate on pale marble

Scallion oil noodles

葱油拌面 · Congyou banmian

Springy noodles tossed in scallion oil.

Wheat & soy
A golden butterfly-shaped palmier pastry on a white plate

Butterfly pastries

蝴蝶酥 · Hudiesu

Buttery layers with caramelized sugar.

Wheat & dairy
Design illustration of pan-fried buns with sesame and scallions on a white plate

Pan-fried buns

生煎包 · Shengjianbao

Crisp bases with a juicy pork filling.

Pork
Design illustration of glossy red-braised pork belly on a white plate

Red-braised pork belly

红烧肉 · Hongshaorou

Pork belly in a rich, sweet-savory glaze.

Pork
Design illustration of steamed hairy crab with exposed golden roe on a white plate

Steamed hairy crab

大闸蟹 · Dazhaxie

Steamed crab with delicate meat and roe.

Shellfish
Green qingtuan rice cakes with red bean filling on a white plate.

Qingtuan

青团

Soft green rice cakes with sweet red bean filling.

Glutinous rice · Red bean paste
Crab roe noodles on a white plate, viewed from above.

Crab roe noodles

蟹黄拌面

Noodles tossed with rich crab roe and meat.

Wheat noodles · Crab roe · Crab meat

Ingredient highlights only. Recipes vary; check ingredients and allergens with the vendor.

Where to Eat

Find your next meal, from neighborhood favorites to a special evening out.

  • Dining room at Mr & Mrs Bund inside Bund 18.

    Mr & Mrs Bund

    French Seafood & steak house

    4.4/ 52,032 reviewsTripadvisor
    View details
  • AI design illustration: Adults enjoying drinks on a blue-hour terrace overlooking the Shanghai skyline

    Riverlight Dining

    江畔餐室 Fine DiningAvg.¥150/ person

    4.7/ 51,286 reviewsDianping
    View details
  • Image placeholderHotpot dining scene

    The Copper Pot

    铜锅小院 HotpotAvg.¥150/ person

    4.7/ 51,286 reviewsDianping
    View details

Design preview · Tags on sample restaurants are illustrative.

Explore all restaurants Design preview · more restaurant pages to come.

Nightlife

Find your kind of night in Shanghai.

  • User-approved AI illustration of the INSLAND 新乐园 building entrance and INS signs at night

    INSLAND

    新乐园 Nightlife complex Huangpu

    4.8/ 54,185 reviewsDianping
    View details
  • AI design illustration: A bartender pouring a cocktail at a warm wooden bar with adult guests in the background

    Amber Room

    琥珀酒吧 Cocktail Bars Xuhui

    View details
  • AI design illustration: Adults enjoying drinks on a blue-hour terrace overlooking the Shanghai skyline

    Skyline Terrace

    云际露台 Rooftop Bars The Bund

    View details
Explore all nightlife

Plan Your Visit

A few practical starting points, so you can spend more time exploring.

Getting Here

Flying in? Check whether you arrive at Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA), then plan your onward connection before you land.

Airport transport information

Getting Around

Plan journeys by metro, with walks between nearby sights. Check station exits and your final destination before setting out.

Shanghai transport guide

Where to Stay

Consider the Bund area for the historic waterfront, Xuhui around Wukang Road for neighbourhood walks, or Lujiazui for the towers. Compare each hotel’s exact location and metro connection.

When to Visit

Plan for warm, humid summers and colder winter days. Spring can bring rain; autumn is cooler. Check the forecast before packing.

Shanghai’s seasons

Itinerary Ideas

Build around a theme: a riverfront outing, a day exploring older neighbourhoods, or a separate trip to Zhujiajiao. Pick fewer stops and leave time between them.

Choose your places

China travel essentials ↗

The Bund opens a design-preview guide. Other detailed guides are in preparation.

Sources & editorial notes

City-page design preview · CTN scores and admission labels are design examples, not verified editorial ratings or visiting policies. Detailed guides are still being developed.

Food names, descriptions and ingredient highlights are supplied design-preview copy, not verified recipes or complete allergen lists. Food images include AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of restaurant dishes. The butterfly pastry photograph is a temporary local reference from Sweet Thea Bakery; publication rights have not been verified.

Design preview includes Mr & Mrs Bund and fictional sample restaurants. Images on sample cards are scene illustrations, not photographs of those restaurants.

INSLAND information was supplied by the user. Its Dianping rating and review count are a screenshot snapshot, not a live feed; admission and hours have not been independently verified. Its image is a user-approved AI-generated scene, not official photography. Amber Room and Skyline Terrace remain fictional design examples with scene illustrations.