Everonia
Design my tripTalk to a specialist
The Shanghai skyline at dusk, the Bund and Pudong towers reflected in the Huangpu
Destination · China

Shanghai

modern China, with the Concession era underfoot

Shanghai is China at the water's edge. A mile of 1920s stone façades faces the towers of Pudong across the river. A block inland, the French Concession slows under plane trees. You walk one street and step into a different century.

Design my tripSee the signature moments
Signature moments

Why people
come to Shanghai.

01

What to see

The Pudong skyline viewed across the Huangpu from the Bund promenade at night, the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center lit and reflected in the river

The Bund & Huangpu River(the treaty-port riverfront)

Lining the western bank of the Huangpu River, The Bund is Shanghai's most iconic waterfront, where grand colonial architecture meets the city's glittering skyline.

From historic landmarks to breathtaking river views, it perfectly captures Shanghai's remarkable journey from past to present. As the city lights begin to sparkle, The Bund becomes even more magical. A relaxing river cruise offers the perfect vantage point to admire the dazzling skyline and unforgettable atmosphere.

We time the walk for dusk, when both banks light up at once, with a city-history specialist who places each building into the decade it belongs to. The crossing back uses the working Pujiang ferry the residents take, not the sightseeing boat with its constant commentary, so the river itself stays the moment you remember.

Dramatic Ming-dynasty upturned eaves at night in Yu Garden's old-town enclosure, layered tier over tier and warmly lit against a deep blue sky

Yu Garden & Old Town(Ming-dynasty classical garden)

Hidden within Shanghai's bustling heart, Yu Garden is a masterpiece of classical Chinese design, featuring tranquil ponds, elegant pavilions, winding pathways and beautifully crafted rockeries.

Dating back over 450 years, it offers a peaceful escape into the city's rich cultural heritage.

We book tickets against your passport ahead of the day and time entry for the opening window, when the rockeries and bridges still belong to the early walkers. Tea at the Mid-Lake Pavilion afterwards reads as a continuation of the morning rather than the first stop in a crowded lane. The route then peels off into the Nanshi back-streets where the old town still keeps its working rhythm.

The Oriental Pearl Tower at 468 metres rising from the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, its strings of spheres lit at dusk

Oriental Pearl Tower(the 1990s icon of the Shanghai skyline)

Standing proudly along the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl Tower is one of Shanghai's most recognisable landmarks.

Its distinctive design and panoramic observation decks offer spectacular views across the city's ever-changing skyline. Whether you admire it from below or step onto its famous glass-floored skywalk, the experience is unforgettable. We recommend visiting before sunset to enjoy both the daytime scenery and Shanghai's dazzling evening lights.

We book the timed-entry slot for the dusk window, when the Bund switches on across the water and the ferry traffic crosses at eye level below the deck. Express-tier lift access skips the foyer queue so the ascent runs to the timing. Dinner is held Bund-side after, so the tower you photographed becomes the skyline you eat against.

The Lujiazui pedestrian skybridge at night, blue LED runners on the escalator leading up to Pudong's supertall glass towers above the Huangpu

Lujiazui(the Pudong supertall cluster)

Home to Shanghai's soaring skyscrapers, Lujiazui is the city's modern financial district and a symbol of China's remarkable growth.

Towering landmarks, luxury shopping and world-class dining create one of Asia's most impressive cityscapes. From breathtaking observation decks to riverside promenades, every corner showcases Shanghai's vibrant energy. We recommend visiting in the late afternoon to witness the skyline transform as the city lights come alive.

We walk the skybridge counter-clockwise so the Oriental Pearl rises into the camera first and the Shanghai Tower closes the loop. The timing is late afternoon, when western light hits the glass and the towers stay legible against the sky. A drink is held at the Park Hyatt's 87th-floor bar, the height the city reads at best.

The 1924 Wukang Mansion at the Wukang and Huaihai corner, the French Renaissance Revival wedge building seen from across the junction

French Concession(1849-1943)

Shaded by tree-lined avenues and filled with elegant villas, the French Concession offers a charming glimpse into Shanghai's cosmopolitan past.

Boutique cafés, stylish galleries and hidden courtyards create a relaxed atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the city. Perfect for leisurely strolls, every street reveals something unique. We recommend taking your time here, discovering local cafés and boutique shops at your own pace.

We open the walk at the Mansion balcony in late-afternoon light, when the French Renaissance Revival wedge catches the western sun, then close in a shikumen courtyard café before dinner shifts to the Bund. The pace is set for the architecture, not the boutique stops, so the buildings get to be the foreground.

Anfu Road in Shanghai's former French Concession, plane trees in autumn colour arching over the street and pedestrians passing a colonnaded 1920s apartment block in warm afternoon light

Anfu Road(the Concession's contemporary café and boutique street)

One of Shanghai's trendiest streets, Anfu Road blends historic architecture with contemporary culture.

Independent boutiques, artisan cafés and creative spaces line the leafy avenue, making it a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Its relaxed atmosphere invites you to slow down and enjoy the city's modern lifestyle. We recommend spending an afternoon here, where every stop offers something new to discover.

We walk the street between three and six, when the late-afternoon light hits the western side first and the cafés are still under half-full. The route stops at one bakery for a mid-walk pastry, one boutique for what the season has put in the window, and one indie coffee bar for the final pour. Dinner is held a block off Anfu, so the afternoon's pace runs straight into the evening.

Pudong's evening skyline reflected in the Huangpu, the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower lit against deep blue dusk, on the east bank where Shanghai Museum East now stands

Shanghai Museum(Chinese antiquities, People's Square and Pudong)

Home to one of China's finest collections of ancient art, the Shanghai Museum showcases thousands of years of Chinese civilisation.

Exquisite bronzes, ceramics, jade, calligraphy and paintings reveal the country's extraordinary artistic heritage. Each gallery tells a fascinating story of craftsmanship and culture. We recommend exploring with a guide to fully appreciate the history behind these remarkable treasures.

We book the timed-entry slot against your passport as soon as the booking window opens, since both branches release their best slots in the first hour. The route starts in the bronze gallery, where your guide names the dynasty and ritual function of each vessel. The rest of the museum then reads as a chronology, not a series of objects.

Aerial view of Jing'an Temple's gold-tiled rooflines and courtyard pagoda on Nanjing West Road, with the glass office towers of the shopping district rising directly behind

Jing'an Temple(an active Buddhist temple in the middle of the shopping district)

Rising among Shanghai's modern skyline, Jing'an Temple is a striking symbol of peace, spirituality and tradition.

With its magnificent golden roofs, intricate carvings and centuries of history, it remains one of the city's most treasured Buddhist temples. Step inside to experience a calm retreat from the bustling streets beyond. We recommend visiting in the morning when the temple is at its most peaceful.

We arrange entry against your passport before the mid-morning crowds arrive, timed so the sutra chanting in the main hall is still in progress when you walk in. The walk back leaves through the east gate onto Nanjing West Road, where the temple frames best against the glass tower behind. Lunch is held nearby on the Réel mall's top floor.

Layered Ming-style upturned eaves at night in Shanghai's Nanshi old town, warmly lit and stacked tier over tier around the City God Temple

City God Temple(active Taoist temple, Ming-dynasty old town)

Nestled within Shanghai's historic Old Town, City God Temple has been an important place of worship for centuries.

Surrounded by bustling markets and traditional architecture, it offers a fascinating blend of spiritual heritage and local culture. The vibrant atmosphere, delicious street food and lively shops make it one of Shanghai's most memorable destinations. We recommend allowing plenty of time to explore both the temple and its surrounding streets.

We enter at the morning opening window, when the joss-stick smoke is heaviest and the local worshippers are still in the courtyard. Yu Garden tickets are booked against your passport for the same morning, so the temple and the garden land as one continuous old-town arc rather than two separate visits.

02

What to eat

Ten pleated xiaolongbao in a bamboo steamer, one bitten open at the front to reveal the amber broth inside, dipping bowls of Zhenjiang vinegar and shredded ginger alongside

Shanghai xiaolongbao(pleated soup dumplings, eaten broth-first)

Few dishes belong to a city the way xiaolongbao belongs to Shanghai.

Eight or nine pleated soup dumplings come to a bamboo steamer, pork wrapped around a knot of jellied stock that turns to hot broth at first heat. You sip the broth from the top edge, sweet with pork and warm with ginger; then the wrapper and the meat go down together, ending with a splash of black Zhenjiang vinegar. From October to early December the regulars' order is crab-and-pork, when Yangcheng Lake roe stains the filling orange-gold.

We time the visit for late morning, before the line triples by midday, with a window seat where each basket comes straight off the steamer. The order goes in as crab-and-pork in season, plain pork otherwise, landing at the moment the skin is thinnest and the broth at its hottest. Shredded ginger in Zhenjiang vinegar is on the table from the start so the bite ritual runs unbroken from first basket to last.

A bowl of crab roe noodles, golden hairy-crab roe stirred in scallion oil and lard coating thin white noodles, the autumn dish of the Jiangnan kitchen that Suzhou and Shanghai share

Hairy crab roe noodles(October to early December, Yangcheng Lake's roe at its peak)

Of all the ways Shanghai cooks its autumn crab, the simplest is the most distilled.

The roe is picked by hand from a steamed female crab, then stirred in scallion oil and a touch of lard with ginger and Shaoxing wine. It goes over a small bowl of plain noodles, slick and gold. The flavour is concentrated crab, faintly sweet, deepened by the wine and softened by the lard. A Shanghainese saves October to early December for this one dish.

For the autumn window we book a table at one of the old Jiangnan houses three to four weeks ahead, against your passport, since peak slots fill the day they open and the kitchen caps bowls per service. The order goes in as female-crab so the roe is hand-picked that morning rather than thinned with off-season frozen stock. The bowl arrives within minutes of the noodle going in, so the gold coat sets while the strands are still hot.

Six Shanghai shengjianbao on a white enamel plate at a city counter, sesame and scallion dusted across the soft tops, the crisp golden bases just visible at the edges

Shanghai shengjianbao(the street-side pan-fried bun)

If xiaolongbao is Shanghai's lunch counter, shengjianbao is its street corner.

Yeast-leavened buns sit flat-bottomed in a heavy iron pan, dough side down, oil rising halfway up the side. Steam softens the tops while the bases brown to crisp dark gold. They come out four to a bowl, sesame and scallion dusted across the tops. The first bite is loud: the base crunches, then the dough gives, then the broth runs hot down the side.

We time the visit for late morning, before the counter fills, so each bowl comes straight off the pan rather than from a tray. The order goes in as the classic Shanghai style first, four buns at a time, eaten hot while the dough is steam-soft and the base still crisp. A second small bowl follows if the first lands well. Tea is ordered with them, not coffee, since hot tea cuts the oil at the speed the dish needs.

03

Shows and experiences

Night aerial view down onto Lujiazui from the Shanghai Tower observation deck, lit twin office towers and the roundabout traffic circle below, the city stretching out in deep dark

Shanghai Tower observation deck(the modern bookend)

The Shanghai Tower's observation deck shows the city from above, all at once.

China's tallest building rises 632 metres above Pudong, and the 118th-floor deck wraps 360 degrees around the bend of the Huangpu. The Bund reads as a line of stamps along the western bank, the other Pudong skyscrapers sit below your feet, and the river curves out toward the East China Sea.

We pre-arrange a timed-entry slot during the hour the light turns and hold the express lift for your companions so the queue doesn't break the timing. The deck specialist names which Pudong tower belongs to which decade of Shanghai's expansion, so the city below reads as one story you can follow with your eyes.

Two Pujiang ferries crossing the Huangpu at sunset, the Pudong skyline of Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao, Shanghai World Financial Center and the Oriental Pearl glowing against an orange sky

The Pujiang ferry crossing(the Bund-Pudong line residents use)

The Pujiang ferry is the most Shanghai way to cross the Huangpu.

The trip takes five minutes from the Bund to Pudong, and the fare runs about the price of a coffee. The deck sits at water level, low enough to hear the wake against the hull and the horns of cargo ships passing. The Bund's 1920s fronts on one bank, the post-1990 glass towers on the other, both at the same eye-line.

We pre-load the ferry fare onto your transit card so boarding is a single swipe, and time the dusk crossing to land on the Pudong side as the Bund's lights come up behind you. The pre-ferry stop is chosen so the camera works in both directions, the Pudong skyline lit ahead and the Bund lit behind, with the river moving between them.

A long communal dining table set for fine dining, plated courses arranged along its centre, the entire table surface and back wall layered with a high-resolution sea projection, the projected waves rolling onto the table itself, a Shanghai holographic dinner

An immersive holographic dinner(projection-mapped fine dining, one shared table)

The table becomes the screen, and the meal becomes the story.

Shanghai's holographic dining rooms layer projection across a long shared table, then pace a tasting menu to the visuals on it. A seafood course may arrive as the sea rolls onto the table itself, the plate sitting on what reads as a wet shoreline. A meat course may sit inside a moving Tang palace garden. The show runs about ninety minutes, with the room holding one shared sitting.

We book your sitting and choose the seats where the projection lands at full saturation, not at the table's edges. The running menu and the projection theme are shared with you in writing before the night. Any dietary need is pre-cleared with the kitchen so the courses still hit the visual beats they are timed for. The evening keeps to the show's own pace, so the last projection fades into a quiet ride back, not a queue at the next door.

How long to stay

Recommended
5 to 7 days.

  1. The Bund

    Day 1: The Bund and Historic Shanghai

    Begin on the Bund, walking the riverfront promenade past the old trading houses with the towers of Pudong rising across the water. In the afternoon, follow Nanjing Road's pedestrian stretch to People's Square, the open green centre of the city. Come back to the Bund after dark, when the skyline lights up and the river fills with lit cruise boats and barges.

    Morning

    1. Walk the Bund promenade

    Afternoon

    1. Follow Nanjing Road's pedestrian street

    2. Cross into People's Square

    Evening

    1. Return to the Bund for the night skyline

  2. Old town

    Day 2: Classical Gardens and the Old Town

    Spend the morning in Yu Garden, a Ming dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and zigzag bridges in the heart of the old town. The bazaar outside carries the afternoon: snack stalls, teahouses and the lanes of the old city around the City God Temple. As evening falls, cross to Xintiandi, where the old lane houses have been restored into restaurants and bars.

    Morning

    1. Explore Yu Garden

    Afternoon

    1. Graze the snack stalls of Yuyuan Bazaar

    2. Wander the old city lanes around the City God Temple

    Evening

    1. Walk Xintiandi after dark

  3. Pudong

    Day 3: Modern Shanghai

    Cross the river to Lujiazui and start high. From the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, the whole city spreads out below, with the Jin Mao Tower just across the street. Spend the afternoon at ground level among the towers, the elevated walkway and the riverside parks. In the evening, board a Huangpu River cruise and watch both skylines slide past, lit from end to end.

    Morning

    1. Ride up the Shanghai Tower

    2. See the Jin Mao Tower

    Afternoon

    1. Walk Lujiazui at street level

    Evening

    1. Cruise the Huangpu River after dark

  4. French Concession

    Day 4: Art and the French Concession

    Begin the day at M50 Creative Park, the gallery district in the old cotton mills along Suzhou Creek. In the afternoon, head south into the former French Concession, walking the plane-tree streets and browsing the narrow lanes of Tianzifang. As evening comes, settle on Anfu Road, where small cafes and wine bars fill with locals as the neighbourhood winds down.

    Morning

    1. Browse the galleries at M50 Creative Park

    Afternoon

    1. Walk the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession

    2. Explore the lanes of Tianzifang

    Evening

    1. Find a table on Anfu Road

  5. Disney Resort

    Day 5: Shanghai Disneyland

    Private car southeast, about forty minutes

    Give the whole day to Shanghai Disneyland. Your driver drops you at the gates for opening, and the park is yours at your own pace: the castle, the headline rides and the parades. We arrange tickets ahead of time so you walk straight in. Stay for the evening fireworks over the castle, then your car is waiting for the ride back into the city.

    Morning

    1. Arrive at Shanghai Disneyland for opening

    Afternoon

    1. Take the rides and parades at your own pace

    Evening

    1. Watch the fireworks, then ride back to the city

  6. Zhujiajiao

    Day 6: Zhujiajiao Water Town

    Private car west, about an hour

    Trade the skyline for the canals of Zhujiajiao, a water town on the city's western edge that has kept its Ming and Qing street plan. Spend the day wandering the stone lanes, crossing the humpback bridges and taking a boat along the main canal, with tea and river fish for lunch along the way. Return to Shanghai as the evening comes in.

    Morning

    1. Arrive in Zhujiajiao and walk the stone lanes

    Afternoon

    1. Take a boat along the main canal

    2. Cross the old humpback bridges

    Evening

    1. Return to Shanghai

  7. Jing'an

    Day 7: Local Shanghai and Farewell

    Begin the final day at Jing'an Temple, its gold roofs boxed in by the towers of West Nanjing Road. Shop or wander your way along West Nanjing Road, then take the afternoon slowly on Wukang Road, the most photographed street in the old concession quarter. For the last evening, return to the Bund for a final look at the skyline over dinner.

    Morning

    1. Visit Jing'an Temple

    Afternoon

    1. Walk West Nanjing Road

    2. Stroll Wukang Road

    Evening

    1. Return to the Bund for a final skyline view

When to go

When to visit,
and how it feels.

Daily max (°F)48°51°59°70°78°83°92°91°84°74°64°52°
Rainfall (mm)7265978491225163226132706150
CrowdsQuietCrowdedQuietSteadyBusySteadyBusyBusySteadyCrowdedQuietQuiet

April

Mild · Showery · Steady

Warm and comfortable, one of the best months. The Qingming holiday in early April brings one short peak.

Temperature and rainfall are China Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991 to 2020. Crowd levels follow the Chinese public-holiday calendar and school-holiday travel patterns.

The Shanghai skyline at dusk, the Bund and Pudong towers reflected in the Huangpu
Everonia
modern China, with the Concession era underfootShanghai

A seven-day itinerary, with practical notes for every day.

Download free
Shanghai travel guide

One email with the guide, plus occasional notes on planning a China trip. Unsubscribe any time.

Best time

March to May · September to November

Days needed

5 to 7 days

Where it sits

Often the entry or exit point of the trip

Before you enquire

Questions worth
answering early.

  • Three full days is the minimum I would plan for a first Shanghai stop. One day for the Bund, Nanjing Road and People's Square. One day for Yu Garden, the old town and Xintiandi after dark. One day for the Shanghai Tower and a Huangpu cruise. A full week adds the galleries and the former French Concession, a Disneyland day, and the Zhujiajiao canals. The seven-day plan on this page is the week we would run, ending slow from Jing'an Temple to a last Bund evening. Suzhou and Hangzhou are each worth an extra day by high-speed rail if you have one.

Designed around you and your companions

You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.

From your first enquiry to your last airport pickup, our specialists design your trip and stay in contact every step of the way. The guides, drivers and hotels you'll meet are part of our trusted network we've worked with for years, briefed to the same standards.

  • Dedicated specialists, start to finish
  • Guides briefed to our standards
  • Fully transparent, no hidden costs
  • No deposit until you confirm
How we look after your trip
Often combined with

Stretch the trip. Stitch in another.

Read further

Useful before
you enquire.

Portrait of Jack Guo

Jack Guo

Your travel specialist

Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.

Design your Shanghai trip

Tell us your preferences and we'll plan a private itinerary in Shanghai that fits how you like to travel.

Enquiring about

Shanghai

Step 1 of 5 · Where

Where in China do you want to go?

Pick as many as you like. If you're undecided, choose 'Not sure yet' and we'll suggest a route.