Shanghai, is the first stop for many travelers to explore China. It is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. In this city, the attractions worth visiting are enough for you to stay here for a holiday. You can even take the China High-speed Railway or other transportation to the surrounding Suzhou and Hangzhou.
This article mainly introduces the tourist attractions in Shanghai, which are enough to fill your trip. Since this article is a collection of guides, each attraction below will only be briefly introduced. We will also launch a detailed guide to the attraction in the future.
What you need to travel to Shanghai:
First time traveling to China? Here is a complete travel guide!
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Shanghai maglev train 上海磁悬浮列车
After arriving in Shanghai, it is recommended to take the Shanghai maglev train to downtown Shanghai. The Shanghai maglev train is a magnetic levitation train (maglev) line that operates in Shanghai, China. The line uses the German Transrapid technology. It is the world’s first commercial high-speed maglev and has a maximum cruising speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). The train line connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road station. where you can interchange with the Shanghai Metro to continue your trip to the city center.
After arriving at Longyang Road station, depending on the location of your hotel, you can interchange with the Shanghai Metro to continue your trip to the city center. Or transfer directly to a taxi at Longyang Road station.
The Bund 上海外滩
The Bund is a must-visit attraction in Shanghai. In my opinion, only Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong can compete with the scenery here. The scenery during the day, dusk, and night has its characteristics. Looking from the Bund, you can have a panoramic view of the high-rise buildings on the other side, that is Lujiazui area.
Located next to the Bund is the World Expo Building Complex. There are various styles of buildings. The famous Bank of China Building, Peace Hotel, Customs Building, and HSBC Bank Building recreate the style of the “Far East Wall Street” in the past. Although these buildings are not by the same designer or built in the same period, their architectural tones are the same. The overall contours are handled with amazing coordination.
You can also go to the observation deck on the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower to enjoy the view of Shanghai, or get a cruise ticket online and enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Huangpu River.
How to travel the Bund:
Shanghai Tower 118th Floor Observation Deck Tickets
Night Cruise on the Huangpu River
How to get there:
Metro Line 2 or Line 10 to East Nanjing Road Station. Then walk along East Nanjing Road for about 10 minutes.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street南京路步行街
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is undoubtedly the road that best embodies the feeling of old Shanghai. With a history of more than a hundred years, this commercial street symbolizes Shanghai’s prosperity. You can feel the elegance of Shanghai in the past but also experience the new vitality that trendy brands have brought to Shanghai! If you like shopping, you will spend at least half a day here.
How to get there:
To the middle of Nanjing Road: Metro Line 1, Line 2, or Line 8 and get off at People’s Square.
To East Nanjing Road: Metro Line 2, Line 10, and get off at East Nanjing Rd. Station.
To West Nanjing Road: Take Metro Line 2, Line 12, or Line 13 and get off at West Nanjing Rd. Station.
City God Temple 城隍庙
Explorers who are interested in Chinese temples must visit the Chenghuang Temple. It commemorates the elevation of Shanghai to municipal status and is the site of the veneration of three Chinese figures honored as the city gods of the town.
The main entrance of Shanghai City God Temple, called Shanmen, Shan in Shanmen means mountain, and men means the door, it was completed in the 14th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1535). Hanging in the archway is “保障海隅”, which means to protect the safety of the seaside.
The stone lions on both sides of Shanmen Middle Road are also relics from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Opposite the mountain gate is a green brick screen wall with a Qilin carved on it, which means that the Qilin is auspicious. There are three sheep engraved on the back of the screen wall, which means “三阳开泰”. 三 means three, 阳 means sun, in Chinese, it has the same pronunciation as sheep. And 开泰 to explain simply means fortune and good luck. The above are just some of the interesting stories. If you are interested in Chinese culture, you must come here to experience it.
City God Temple is also used as the name of the commercial district near the temple in Chinese culture. This is generally known in English as Yu Garden. Therefore, I will introduce Yu Garden and the surrounding Yu Garden Tourist Mart next.
Address: 650 Gongyuan Rd, Qingpu Qu, Shanghai, China
Opening hours: 08:30 – 16:30
How to get there: Metro Line 10 and get off at Yu Garden Station. Leave from exit 3. Walk south along South Henan Rd. for five minutes and then walk east along Middle Fangbang Rd. for another five minutes to the temple.
Yu Garden 豫园
Yu Garden was originally a private garden in the Ming Dynasty. Coming here is like going back to ancient China. It is located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai in Huangpu District, Shanghai. It abuts the Yu Garden Tourist Mart, the Huxinting Teahouse, and the Yu Garden Bazaar. Yu Garden is one of the five major gardens in Jiangnan, with unique artistic characteristics and research value.
You need to buy tickets to enter the Yu Garden. If you are not interested in visiting, you can walk on the zig-zag bridge outside. The entrance is off the forecourt at the end of the bridge. Yu Garden reflects the garden style of Jiangnan garden architecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties.It perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering ponds, zigzag bridges, archways, and exquisite rockeries.
How to travel the Yu Garden:
Yu Garden Tickets
Yu Garden Tourist Mart has many famous restaurants, including Nanxiang Steamed Bun (Xiao Long Bao/Soup Dumplings), Ningbo Dumplings, Lu Bo Lang Restaurant, and Shanghai Classical Hotel. In addition to the frequently recommended Shanghai delicacies such as Xiao Long Bao, Shanghai Fried Noodles, and Dongpo Pork, we particularly recommend the Pan-fried bun, which is fried on an iron plate until golden brown and filled with pork and soup. The more common pan-fried bun shop is “Xiao Yang Shengjian”, you can find nearby stores on the Baidu Map or Gaode Map.
Address: No. 137, Anren Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Opening hours: 09:00 – 16:30
How to get there: Metro Line 10 and get off at Yu Garden Station. Leave from exit 1.
Oriental Pearl Tower东方明珠塔
Oriental Pearl Tower is the most representative landmark in Shanghai and the third tallest TV tower in the world. It has a total height of 468 meters and is composed of 11 spheres of different sizes. It looks like a string of crystal-clear pearls. The tower has a total of 15 floors and is equipped with several sightseeing and tourism facilities, including a fully transparent observatory, space capsule, revolving restaurant, Shanghai History Museum, etc. Climbing onto the spheres of different heights, you can circle the entire Shanghai 360 degrees and enjoy the magnificent views of the international buildings on the Bund and the skyscrapers in Pudong.
How to travel the Oriental Pearl Tower:
Oriental Pearl Tower Sightseeing Tickets
Address: No. 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120 China
Opening hours: 09:00 –21:00 (Last Entry Time: 20:30)
How to get there: Metro Line 2 and get off at Lujiazui Station. Leave from exit 1.
Tian Zi Fang 田子坊
Tianzifang has become a favorite emerging art market for tourists. It also has the residential buildings of Shanghai’s old-fashioned lanes, but now it has been injected with new vitality of art and creativity. Artists Chen Yi Fei and Er Dong Qiang were the first to move in, which brought many artists to follow up, forming an art market.
This is a community composed of alleys, where the lives of residents and creative shops coexist peacefully. There are various specialty snacks and small products suitable for souvenirs. There is also Cat Cafe, which is popular in Asia. Particularly recommend a Coffee & Wine Restaurant called Cafe Dan, both the food and the restaurant environment are highly recommended.
Café Dan
No. 41, Lane 248 Taikang Road Luwan District, Shanghai China
Opening hours: 09:00 – 23:30
In addition, there are many specialty coffee shops and buildings on Sinan Road near Tianzifang, which is also a famous tourist hotspot. If you have time, you can also stop by after visiting Tianzifang.
Address: No.210 Taikang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai China
How to get there: Metro line 9 and get off at Dapuqiao Station. Leave from Exit 1
Wu Kang Road 武康路
Wukang Road is a historic road in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, China, located in the western part of the former French Concession area of the city. A green tunnel composed of sycamore trees on both sides. In autumn, it turns into yellow leaves all over the ground. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the urban area, the tranquility of Wukang Road makes people feel relaxed.
There is a small post office opposite the Wukang Building. This post office is very small. It issues exclusive postcards and can also stamp commemorative stamps!
There are many coffee shops on Wukang Road, which are a service area during your fulfilling journey.
How to get there: Metro line 10 or line 11, get off at Jiaotong University Station, Leave from exit 7.
Jing’an Temple 静安寺
City God Temple is the representative of Taoist temples in Shanghai, and Jing’an Temple is the representative of Buddhism. The appearance of Jing’an Temple imitates the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. Its carvings are exquisite, and the materials used are exquisite. The most important buildings are the ” Mahavira Hall “, ” Celestial Kings Hall ” and ” Three Saints Hall ” in order. If you have a strong interest in Buddhist temples, you can’t miss Jing’an Temple.
Address: 1686 West Nanjing Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China
Opening hours: 07:30 – 15:45
How to get there: Metro line 2 or line 7, get off at Jing’an Temple Station, Leave from exit 1.
1000 Trees 天安千树
1000 Trees is a new architectural landmark in Shanghai. It was designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio. It combines the concepts of “Huangshan” and “Hanging Gardens of Ancient Babylon”, using 1,000 columns, 400 terraces, and many split levels to create an Avatar-like world. This building is actually a shopping mall, and the interior space is equally surprising. The same column garden design as the exterior runs directly through the interior and the overall consistency is immediately fulfilled!
The interior design of the store is also very avant-garde, with trendy products and fashionable furniture, conflicting colors, and bold space design. The unusual space design has a sense of gradual ups and downs. Although many stores sell clothing, they all have their coffee shops, which is a very attitude shopping concept. If you like shopping and studying interior design, you will fall in love here. What’s even scarier is that Phase 2 is still under construction, which means you may be “trapped” here for more than a day.
Address: No. 600 Moganshan Road, Shanghai, China
How to get there: How to get there: Metro Line 13, get off at Jiangning Road Station, Leave from exit 13.
Shanghai Disneyland 上海迪士尼乐园
Finally, there is Shanghai Disneyland. Unlike other Disney parks, Shanghai Disneyland does not feature a steam railroad surrounding the park’s perimeter and has no earthen berm to obscure the outside world from guest view. It is composed of Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land, and Zootopia.
We will also produce a detailed entry guide later to introduce the features of Shanghai Disneyland. The only thing you need to pay attention to is of course to buy your tickets online in advance to avoid spending time queueing to enter.
How to travel the Shanghai Disneyland:
Shanghai Disneyland Ticket
Shanghai Disneyland Hotel
Address: Shanghai Disney Resort, Pudong, Shanghai, China
Opening hours: 08:30 – 22:00
How to get there: Metro Line 11 to Disney Station, Leave from exit 2 or 4, and follow the signs to walk for 5 to 10 minutes to reach Shanghai Disneyland.
There are many attractions in Shanghai, such as zoos, aquariums, large shopping malls, etc., but considering that we don’t have enough time to travel, we will not introduce them in detail. These attractions can’t fill your itinerary? Take a look at these surrounding areas!
More Attractions Near Shanghai
Xizha, Wuzhen
Wuxi, Jiangsu
West Lake, Hangzhou
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