Shanghai pairs the Bund's colonial buildings with Pudong's neon skyline, the French Concession's tree-lined streets, Yu Garden and water towns like Zhujiajiao. March to May and September to November are best.
Good to know
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay; cash and foreign cards are less accepted.
- Metro is fast and cheap; Didi works too.
- Try xiaolongbao at a local shop rather than a tourist trap.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Historic waterfront facing Pudong's skyline, glowing at night.
Ming dynasty garden with pavilions and a bustling bazaar.
Juicy steamed dumplings at Din Tai Fung or Jia Jia Tang Bao.
Famous pedestrian shopping street, lit up at night.
Second-tallest building in the world with the world's highest observation deck.
Ride at 431 km/h to the airport for the experience.
Plane-tree boulevards, cafes, boutiques and old villas.
Canals, stone bridges and old houses an hour from the city.
World-class collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy.
Maze of galleries, boutiques and cafes in old lilong houses.
Dazzling acrobatics show with contortion, balancing acts and the famous motorbike globe finale.
Active temple with two Buddha statues carved from jade.