Destinations and inspiration · 10 min read
Shanghai in 2–4 days: what to see in China's biggest city
In short: Shanghai is China's biggest city (almost 25 million people) and its window on the world: the colonial Bund waterfront facing Pudong's futuristic skyline, the classical Yu Garden and the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession. 2 days cover the highlights; 4–5 days let you add a water town and slow down. The best seasons are spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November). From Pudong airport, the Maglev train gets you towards the centre in 8 minutes.
What surprised us most in China was how clean it is, and in Shanghai you see it everywhere: from the metro stations to the Bund waterfront, where older Shanghainese practise tai chi in the morning.
Correct as of 14 October 2026. Check ticket prices and opening hours before you travel. Amounts in yuan are converted at the National Bank of Poland rate into the currency you pick in the site menu.
What to see in Shanghai: 10 places
1. The Bund at night
The Huangpu riverfront lined with banks, hotels and company headquarters from the 1920s and 1930s, with the lit-up towers of Lujiazui across the water. It's most beautiful just after dark; the illuminations usually stay on until about 10 pm, so don't leave your walk too late. Entry is free. Early in the morning, around 7 am, the waterfront belongs to older Shanghainese doing tai chi, and at its northern end stands the steel Waibaidu Bridge from 1907.
2. Nanjing Road
China's most famous shopping street: neon and department stores from People's Square all the way to the Bund. Walk it in the evening towards the river – at the end the view opens onto the Bund and Pudong.
3. Lujiazui and Shanghai Tower
The skyscraper district across the river. The cheapest way over is the ferry from Jinling Dong Lu pier to Dongchang Lu (5 minutes, ¥2 (about 1 PLN)). Then walk the Binjiang promenade, with views of the Bund, and the circular footbridge below the Oriental Pearl Tower. The Top of Shanghai observation deck on the 118th floor of the 632-metre Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, costs about ¥180 (about 105 PLN). Come an hour before sunset to see the city by day and by night.
4. Yu Garden and the City God Temple
A classical 16th-century garden: pavilions, rockeries, koi ponds and walls topped with dragons. Tickets cost ¥30 (about 17 PLN)–¥40 (about 23 PLN) depending on the season, and you show your passport at the entrance. Arrive at opening time, before the tour groups. Next door are the Huxinting teahouse in the middle of a pond, reached by a zigzag bridge (evil spirits supposedly only walk in straight lines), and the bazaar around the City God Temple. The garden is sometimes closed on Mondays.
5. A Huangpu River cruise
An evening cruise between the Bund and Lujiazui takes about 50 minutes and costs about ¥120 (about 70 PLN)–¥150 (about 87 PLN). Boats leave from the pier below the Oriental Pearl and from Shiliupu. The ¥2 (about 1 PLN) version is the ferry from Jinling Dong Lu, and the free one is an evening walk along the promenade.
6. The former French Concession
Shanghai's most pleasant area for a stroll: streets lined with plane trees, villas and townhouses from the 1920s and 1930s. Start in the morning on Wukang Road at Wukang Mansion, a 1924 building shaped like a ship's bow. Continue to Anfu Road with its cafés and bakeries, and Fuxing Park, where older Shanghainese dance and play cards. Everything here is free.
7. Tianzifang and Xintiandi
Two restored districts of shikumen lane houses, typical of old Shanghai. Tianzifang is a maze of narrow alleys with studios, small shops and bars, and people still live in the side passages. Xintiandi is more upmarket: restaurants, bars and the museum at the site where the Chinese Communist Party was founded in 1921 (free with a reservation).
8. Jing'an and Jade Buddha temples
The golden roofs of the Buddhist Jing'an Temple among the glass towers of West Nanjing Road are one of Shanghai's most iconic views (ticket ¥50 (about 29 PLN)). The Jade Buddha Temple has two Burmese jade Buddhas brought over in the 19th century, one seated and one reclining (ticket about ¥20 (about 12 PLN)–¥30 (about 17 PLN)), and a vegetarian noodle canteen next door.
9. Shanghai Museum
One of the best collections of Chinese art: bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and furniture. The main building on People's Square is free and closed on Mondays; the new Shanghai Museum East in Pudong (open since 2024) is closed on Tuesdays. Allow about 2 hours.
10. Zhujiajiao water town
A Ming and Qing-era town about 45 km from the centre: canals, stone bridges and houses on the water. Metro lines 2 and 17 get you there in about 1 hour 15 minutes for about ¥9 (about 5 PLN). Entry to the town is free. Cross the five-arched Fangsheng Bridge from 1571, and take a rowing boat along the canals for about ¥200 (about 116 PLN) (per boat, up to 6 people). For dinner, try zongzi, sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Day trips from Shanghai
- Hangzhou and West Lake: 45–60 minutes by bullet train from Hongqiao (Shanghai to Hangzhou by train). Doable in a day, but the lake deserves a night.
- Suzhou: a city of classical gardens (UNESCO) and canals, about 30 minutes by bullet train.
- Ningbo: a major port with the oldest surviving private library in China, about 2 hours by train via Hangzhou (Shanghai to Ningbo by train).
- Other water towns: Zhouzhuang, Tongli and Wuzhen are bigger and better known than Zhujiajiao, but further from the city.
How many days in Shanghai
- 1 day: Yu Garden, the Bund, the ferry to Pudong, and in the evening Nanjing Road and the Bund at night.
- 2 days: add Shanghai Tower and the French Concession with Tianzifang and Xintiandi.
- 3 days: add the Shanghai Museum, Jing'an Temple and Zhujiajiao.
- 4–5 days: a gentle pace and a day trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou.
Our Shanghai in 5 Days itinerary is five days without changing hotels, staying in the centre the whole time.
What to eat in Shanghai
- Xiaolongbao (小笼包): steamed dumplings filled with hot broth. Bite carefully, sip the broth from your spoon, then eat the rest. Tried and tested: Jia Jia Tang Bao (佳家汤包), the Din Tai Fung chain (鼎泰丰) and Nanxiang Mantou Dian (南翔馒头店) by Yu Garden.
- Shengjian bao (生煎包): soup-filled buns fried crisp on the bottom – for breakfast at Xiaoyang Shengjian (小杨生煎) or Da Hu Chun (大壶春).
- Scallion oil noodles (葱油拌面): simple and delicious, for example at A Niang Mian (阿娘面).
- Benbang cuisine: Shanghai's sweetish home cooking with soy sauce and rice wine – red-braised pork (红烧肉) and “drunken” chicken, for example at Xin Jishi (新吉士) in Xintiandi.
- For breakfast: cifan tuan (粢饭团), a ball of sticky rice around a crispy youtiao doughnut, with warm soy milk.
In autumn, try hairy crab (大闸蟹). More on the region's food in There is no such thing as “Chinese food”.
Getting there and getting around
- From Pudong airport (PVG): the Maglev train runs to Longyang Road in 8 minutes (about ¥50 (about 29 PLN)), then take metro line 2. The cheaper option is metro line 2 all the way (about 1 hour, about ¥7 (about 4 PLN)). A taxi to the centre costs about ¥150 (about 87 PLN)–¥200 (about 116 PLN).
- From Hongqiao airport (SHA): metro line 2 or 10; the airport is connected to Hongqiao railway station.
- Metro: one of the largest networks in the world, with signs in English; you pay with a QR code in Alipay or WeChat (how to pay in China).
- Onward by train: most bullet trains leave from Hongqiao, some from Shanghai and Shanghai South stations – check the name on your ticket. Xi'an is 6–7 hours away (Xi'an to Shanghai by train, what to see in Xi'an).
Where to stay in Shanghai
The most convenient base is around People's Square and Nanjing Road: three metro lines, with the Bund and Yu Garden within walking distance. Hotels right on the Bund have the best views but are expensive. For old-Shanghai atmosphere, stay in the former French Concession (Jing'an, Xuhui); for river views from high floors, in Pudong. When booking, check that the hotel accepts foreign guests (common mistakes in China).
When to visit Shanghai
The best months are March to May and October to November. Summer is hot and humid (32–33°C by day in July and August), the meiyu rainy season runs from mid-June to early July, and typhoons can hit between July and September. Winter is cool and damp (about 5°C in January), but frost is rare. Avoid public holidays (1–7 October and early May), when the Bund and Yu Garden are packed. More: When is the best time to visit China?
Shanghai in our itineraries
| Itinerary | Days | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai in 5 Days | 5 | The Bund → Pudong → French Concession → Zhujiajiao |
| China's Golden Triangle+ | 11 | Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai → Ningbo |
| Along the Yangtze | 11 | Shanghai → Hangzhou → Wuxi → Nanjing → Wuhan |
In all three, Shanghai is planned hour by hour: from the Maglev at the airport, through Yu Garden, Pudong and the French Concession, to the Bund at night, with ticket prices, recommended restaurants and addresses in Chinese.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
Two days cover the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, Pudong with Shanghai Tower and the French Concession. With the museum, temples and a water town, plan 3–4 days, and 5 with a day trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou.
Where is the best view of Shanghai?
Of Pudong – from the Bund, just after dark. Of the Bund – from the Binjiang promenade in Pudong. Of the whole city – from the 118th-floor observation deck of Shanghai Tower, ideally an hour before sunset.
How do I get from Pudong airport to the city centre?
Fastest: the Maglev to Longyang Road (8 minutes, about ¥50 (about 29 PLN)), then metro line 2. Cheapest: metro line 2 all the way (about 1 hour, about ¥7 (about 4 PLN)). A taxi costs about ¥150 (about 87 PLN)–¥200 (about 116 PLN).
Shanghai or Beijing for a first trip?
Ideally both, as they're 4.5–6 hours apart by bullet train. Beijing is imperial history and the Great Wall; Shanghai is modern China, the colonial waterfront and great food. If you only have a few days, Shanghai is the easier start. More: First time in China: which route to choose?
Is Shanghai expensive?
It's China's most expensive city, but still affordable by Western European standards. The metro costs a few yuan, a bowl of noodles about ¥20 (about 12 PLN), and most sights are free or cost ¥30 (about 17 PLN)–¥50 (about 29 PLN). The biggest costs are central hotels and the Shanghai Tower observation deck. Full budgets: How much does a trip to China cost?
Do I need a visa for Shanghai?
Citizens of 50 countries, including most of the EU, the UK, Canada and Australia, can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under a scheme that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens can use the 240-hour visa-free transit or get a visa. Details: China visa-free.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Shanghai (2020 census population, climate)
- Wikipedia: Shanghai Tower, Shanghai maglev, Yu Garden and The Bund
- Wikipedia: Shanghai Museum (the East branch in Pudong since 2024)
- Wikipedia: Zhujiajiao
- Our “Shanghai in 5 Days” itinerary (as of October 2026) and our own photos from Shanghai
Shanghai in a ready-made itinerary
In our “Shanghai in 5 Days” itinerary every day is planned hour by hour, with a map of 15 stops near the metro, ticket prices, recommended dumpling shops and addresses in Chinese for the taxi driver. You stay in one central hotel the whole time. See Shanghai in 5 Days, or the China's Golden Triangle+ and Along the Yangtze routes, which combine Shanghai with other cities.
