Shanghai is the most populous city in China with total population of 24 million people and now there may be more. When you come to visit Shanghai, you need to know this is the city of World Finance so expect a a lot skyscrapers and crowded with people especially when you are in the train station during peak hour.
It is also a fusion of modern and ancient. Modern attractions would be The Bund, Iconic Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower. The Ancient would be Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple and City God Temple.
Things in Shanghai is not cheap at all, expect the things & food cost around similar price in Singapore. In fact, it is the most expensive city in China.
I have included the top attractions in Shanghai which you should not missed. In Shanghai it is best to use public transport such as metro train or even taxi. Taxi is quite safe and the meter works well and no scammed! As you know Shanghai is the international city and people who lives in Shanghai is very cultured.
Click on each link to get an in-depth on how to go about Shanghai.
Part 1- How to get around in Shanghai Free and Easy
- Where to stay : The Hongta Hotel a Luxury Collection Hotel, Shanghai, China
- The Hongta Hotel a Luxury Collection Hotel, Shanghai, China – Hotel Review
Activities :
- Taxi in Shanghai
- Circular Pedestrian Bridge in Lujiazui, Shanghai
- Disney store in Lujiazui
- Night View of Oriental Pearl Tower
- Night view from Lujiazui
- Shanghai Metro
- A must try cuisine in Shanghai – Xiaolongbao
- Huang Pu River
- China Pavilion in Expo
- Expo Axis -world’s largest membrane construction
- Shanghai Lupu Bridge
- Shanghai Ferry
Part 2 -Exploring the ancient and modern side of Shangai in a day
- Hutong/胡同 in Shanghai
- Yu yuan Garden
- Chenghuangmiao/城隍庙 – City God Temple of Shanghai
- Shanghai Old Street : what to buy
- Scarf
- Local Cosmetic – Xue Hua Gao
- QiPao
- Big Rabbit Candy
- Traditional Door Knob
- Gamble on Rocks
- Lujiazui – Modern Shanghai
- Shanghai World Financial Center
- Shanghai Tower
- Jin Mao Tower
- BASE Jumping from Jin Mao Tower
- Mobike – Rental bike system in Shanghai City
- Jinke Road Station/金科路站
Part 3 – Eat, Shop, See in Shanghai
- Bicycle Kingdom
- Haibao/海宝 – Shanghai expo 2010 Mascot
- People Square/人民 广场
- Good eighth company on Nanjing road
- Ode to the Eighth Company/八连颂 – by Mao Zedong
- Nanjing Walking Street – Food to try :
- Meat Skewers in Nanjing Walking street – Chuan /串儿
- Mountain hawthorn/ 山楂Shanzha
- Moon cake with meat
- Chinese Bacon/腊肉
- Old Shanghai Yogurt Drink
- People’s Park /人民公园
- Dinner – must try – steam sticky rice with salted duck
- Hotel Review for Hongta Hotel Shanghai
- Pudong Airport
Other places in China you may be interested :
- Summary Itinerary for Xi’an, Shaanxi province China
- Summary Itinerary for Guangxi For Nature Lover
- Summary Itinerary for Yunnan China
I have affiliate program with the following booking website, so please click at your preference booking website here to check the hotels or airbnb you like to stay for your China Shanghai trip.
Booking Resources :
Shanghai Travel Youtube
19 comments
Sounds fun! I really hope to visit Shanghai one day. I want more than four days but even that is enough to start with
Shanghai is one of those beautiful places you’ll never run out of options with. Whether it be good food, wonderful sights or just a nice and simple quality vacation time, it’s there.
You make Shanghai sound gorgeous! I can’t believe 24 million people live there, wow what a statistic. I like that you shared some free transport details too. Great job.
Shanghai sounds so amazing, I would love to visit Shanghai, it is so on top on my bucket list for Asia. The itinerary sounds great, love the pictures. The compilation of all the sights is so helpful, it looks like a lot for 4 days 🙂
I’d love to visit Shanghai one day! Thank you for this list of what to see and do – all while staying in budget.
I have always wanted to go to Shanghai! I’m so glad you put together your recommendations for a trip. Amazing this could all be done in less than a week. Such gorgeous sights!
Shanghai is definitely a destination in my bucket list (there are so many!) This is an excellent itinerary and I will be pinning it to have it in mind!
I consider visiting China a very high priority, it is absolutely a must see. Shanghai off course is one of the reasons for this. This just revitalizes my desire.
Shanghai is always a good place to start in China, you get to see the modern and the old side of China!
I wanna visit Shanghai someday! Lately I’ve been following an American-Chinese blogger and she is showing so much about Shanghai! Thank you for sharing this, will bookmark it for future reference! <3
It’s my dream to be able to travel to China (Shanghai and Beijing) one day for work aka filming over there! Having your itinerary give me a better idea of what’s going on there!
This is such a beautiful post. I’ve heard so many amazing things about Shanghai and you really helped me explore the city, the food and culture with this post. I love the pictures you added to all the different parts of this write up. Fantastic and mesmerising. Thanks so much for sharing x
I really hope to visit Shanghai one day. It’s been on my travel list for years, but the super long flight makes it difficult to plan. Although having seen this amazing list of things to do, I might need to start pushing that trip a bit harder.
Wowza! 24 million people in this little area and I can see it in four days? Thanks so much for the highlights as they will give me a place to start having never been. You are an amazing jet setter & I want to come! Xo, Evelyn, PathofPresence
Shanghai sounds like an amazing place to visit – thanks for sharing your recommendations of things to see and do – such a big city could easily become overwhelming without such tips 🙂
So many options here I may need a month to see it all . I would particularly be interested in the shopping and I love your tips to get around for free/ cheap
Wow this place looks amazing. So many things to see and do
Shanghai is such a beautiful city! I love you just made an itinerary for anyone visiting. It will definately come in handy.
Shanghhai is on my bucket list cant wait to visit this looks like such a visually pleasing city with heaps of fun