📸 High-res photos | 📝 In-depth coverage of every attraction | 🗺Transport/tickets included | 🔄 2026 Edition
Foreword: Why Shanghai?
Shanghai is one of China’s four direct-controlled municipalities. The Huangpu River divides it into Puxi and Pudong. On one side, a century of colonial architecture; on the other, one of the most dense skylines on the planet —tradition meets modernity, and that contrast gives this city its magic.
The metro covers 21 main lines and over 500 stations, connecting every major attraction. Self-guided travel here is incredibly easy.
🗼 1. Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Why Visit?
The Oriental Pearl is Shanghai’s most iconic landmark. Eleven spheres of varying sizes linked together, inspired by the poem “large and small pearls falling on a jade plate.” It’s Asia’s tallest tower and the best place for a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai.
Three Observation Levels
| Level | Height | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Sphere | 263m | 360掳 panoramic view |
| Glass Skywalk | 259m | Fully transparent glass floor —you’re standing above Lujiazui traffic |
| Revolving Restaurant | 267m | Asia’s highest revolving restaurant, eat while you sightsee |
Tips
💡 Go in the afternoon: daytime city panorama →?sunset over the Huangpu →?the glittering night view
- 🎫 Ticket: about 楼199 (book online to skip queues)
- 🕘 Hours: 09:00-21:00
- 🚇 Metro: Line 2, Lujiazui Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 2-3 hours
🏛2. The Bund
Why Visit?
Shanghai’s most famous and historically rich street, about 1.5 km long. The east side faces the Huangpu River; the west side is the “Exposition of World Architecture” —52 buildings in Romanesque, Baroque, British, French, and Sino-Western fusion styles.
Featured Buildings
| Building | Highlight |
|---|---|
| No.3 Bund (Union Building) | Baroque style, now Michelin restaurants + boutiques |
| Peace Hotel | Nearly 100 years old, filmed in Tiny Times |
| No.12 Bund (SPD Bank) | Cost 8 million taels of silver to build —the Bund’s priciest |
| No.13 Bund (Customs House) | Asia’s largest clock, modeled on Big Ben |
Photo Tips
🌅 Golden hour: Arrive 17:00-18:00 →?watch sunset →?19:00 lights on →?shoot the night view 📸 Best spots: Waibaidu Bridge, in front of the Peace Hotel, Shiliupu Pier 🚢 Secret move: 楼2 ferry from Jinling Road Pier to the opposite bank’s riverside promenade
- 🎫 Free! Open 24 hours
- 🚇 Metro: Lines 2/10, East Nanjing Road Station
🏯 3. Yu Garden
Why Visit?
Built in the Ming Dynasty (1500s), a government official built it for his aging parents. The character “Yu” (璞? means “peace and well-being.” In the heart of Shanghai’s skyscraper forest, this is the most Chinese, most Jiangnan place you’ll find.
Six Scenic Areas
Three Sui Hall →?Ten Thousand Flower Tower →?Dianchun Hall →?Huijing Tower →?Yuhua Hall →?Inner Garden
⭐ The Great Rockery: the largest and oldest yellow-stone rockery in Jiangnan 🐉 Dragon Wall: separates the garden from the old town 💎 Exquisite Jade Rock: one of the three legendary Jiangnan rocks
Yu Garden Bazaar
Surrounded by traditional Chinese palace-style architecture, the Nine-Turn Bridge is an excellent photo spot. During the Lantern Festival, the entire area is hung with colorful lanterns —incredibly atmospheric.
🥟 Must-eat: Nanxiang Steamed Bun’s xiaolongbao by the Nine-Turn Bridge (楼50/steamer) 🛍Souvenirs: snow cream, paper-cutting, micro-carving
- 🎫 Yu Garden ticket: 楼40
- 🕗 Hours: 09:00-16:30 (closed Mondays)
- 🚇 Metro: Lines 10/14, Yuyuan Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 2-3 hours
🎨 4. Tianzifang
Why Visit?
Built from old shikumen alleyways over 50 years old, transformed in 2005 into one of Shanghai’s Top 10 Creative Industry Clusters. Mostly visited by backpackers and independent travelers —far fewer tour groups.
🌀 The alleyways are like a maze —every turn brings a surprise! 🎨 Studios of painters, artists, and handicraft makers 鈽?Vintage caf茅s →?transform into lively bar areas at night
- 🎫 Free!
- 🕙 Shop hours: 10:00-21:00 (bars later)
- 🚇 Metro: Line 9, Dapuqiao Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 2-3 hours
🏰 5. Shanghai Disneyland
Why Visit?
The newest and largest Disney park in Asia! Home to the world’s tallest Disney castle, the first-ever Zootopia land, and numerous Shanghai-exclusive rides.
8 Themed Lands
Mickey Avenue →?Tomorrowland →?Gardens of Imagination →?Adventure Isle →?Treasure Cove →?Toy Story Land →?Fantasyland →?Zootopia (world exclusive!)
Must-Ride Attractions
| Ride | Land | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|
| 🚀 TRON Lightcycle Power Run | Tomorrowland | 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸? |
| 🌍 Soaring Over the Horizon | Adventure Isle | 猸愨瓙猸? |
| 🏴☠Pirates of the Caribbean | Treasure Cove | 猸愨瓙猸? |
| 🎆 Nighttime Fireworks | Castle | 鉁∕ust-See鉁? |
| 🎭 Parade | Whole Park | 📸Must-Photo鉁? |
💡 Required: Download the official app →?check real-time queue times →?grab reservation passes →?double your efficiency! 馃イ Free water refills available inside —bring your own bottle
- 🎫 Tickets: 楼399 weekdays / 楼699 peak days
- 🕗 Hours: approx. 08:30-21:30 (check app for updates)
- 🚇 Metro: Line 11, Disneyland Station
- ⏱️ Allow: a full day!
🎢 6. Shanghai Happy Valley
Why Visit?
More thrilling than Disney and cheaper! Seven themed zones, over 100 rides, including high-tech attractions imported from the US and Switzerland.
Must-Ride Attractions
| Ride | Type | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|
| 🎢 Diving Coaster | Floorless drop coaster | 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸? |
| 🎢 Wooden Coaster | Classic wooden roller coaster | 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙 |
| 💦 Splash Battle | 30m drop watersplash | 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙 |
| 🎪 OCT Grand Theatre | Large-scale circus show | 猸愨瓙猸? |
- 🎫 Tickets: about 楼230 (cheaper online)
- 🚇 Metro: Line 9, Sheshan Station + shuttle bus
- ⏱️ Allow: a full day
🚢 7. Huangpu River Cruise
Why Visit?
Seeing the Huangpu River from the water —Puxi’s heritage buildings on one side + Pudong’s skyscrapers on the other —is even more breathtaking than from land. At night, with all the lights reflecting on the water and the river breeze, it’s the most romantic experience in Shanghai.
- 🎫 Tickets: from about 楼120
- 🚢 Frequency: every 20-30 minutes
- 🚇 Boarding: Shiliupu Pier (Metro South Huangpi Road Station)
- ⏱️ Duration: about 45-60 minutes
🏘8. Zhujiajiao Water Town
Why Visit?
A classic Jiangnan water town just an hour from downtown Shanghai. National 4A-rated scenic area. The Taiwanese drama Fated to Love You was filmed here. Small bridges, flowing water, wooden boats, ancient lanes —it feels like stepping back in time.
Must-Do
🛶 Ride a wooden boat: experience the poetry of water-town scenery 🌉 Fangsheng Bridge: built in the Ming Dynasty, Shanghai’s largest five-arch stone bridge 🍜 Food: Granny’s zongzi, traditional tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), braised pork trotters 👘 Costume photos: rent traditional Chinese clothing and stroll through the old town
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station + 20 min walk/taxi
- ⏱️ Allow: half a day
🏢 9. Jin Mao Tower Observatory
Why Visit?
420.5 meters tall with 93 floors —China’s largest high-rise observatory at the time it was built. A 45-second elevator ride to the 88th floor! The best angle for photographing the Oriental Pearl is from here.
🌇 At 340 meters, you get an unobstructed bird’s-eye view of the Bund and Yu Garden 📸 You can fit the entire Oriental Pearl in one frame
- 🎫 Tickets: about 楼120
- 🕗 Hours: 08:30-21:30
- 🚇 Metro: Line 2, Lujiazui Station
🏙10. Shanghai Tower
The World’s Second Tallest Building!
632 meters, 128 floors, second only to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Its twisting spiral form is extremely distinctive. The world’s fastest elevator —55 seconds to the 118th floor!
🔭 360掳 views of Shanghai from the sky —every other building below looks tiny 📮 Sky Post Office: the world’s highest post office —send a postcard from the clouds
- 🎫 Tickets: about 楼180
- 🕗 Hours: 08:30-21:30
- 🚇 Metro: Line 2, Lujiazui Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 1-2 hours
🐼 11. Shanghai Wild Animal Park
Why Visit?
About 200 hectares, home to over 200 species of rare animals from around the world. Divided into herbivore zones, predator zones, flamingo zones, and more.
🚌 Armored bus: drive into the predator zone and see tigers and leopards right outside your window! 🐼 National treasures: giant pandas, golden takin, golden monkeys 🎪 Animal shows: large-scale animal performances, sea lions balancing balls
- 🎫 Tickets: about 楼130
- 🚇 Metro: Line 16, Wild Animal Park Station
- ⏱️ Allow: half to full day
🛍12. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Why Visit?
Shanghai’s most famous commercial street, about 1 km long, vehicle-free. From international brands to century-old local shops, from luxury goods to affordable street food —it’s all here.
Must-Visit Shops
| Shop | Type | Must-Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 🍡 Shen Dacheng | Century-old pastries | Glutinous rice balls, green rice balls |
| 馃ギ Zhen Lao Da Fang | Famous queue shop | Pork-filled mooncakes |
| 🍫 M&M’s Flagship | Asia’s only | Chocolate + merch |
| 🏬 Wing On | Century-old dept store | Retro shopping experience |
- 🚇 Metro: Lines 1/2/8, People’s Square Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 2-4 hours
🏛13. Xintiandi
Shikumen architecture 脳 modern style = Shanghai’s new landmark
A dining, leisure, and shopping destination. The exterior of the old shikumen lane houses has been preserved while the interiors have been transformed into upscale restaurants, flagship stores, and designer boutiques. Explore the architecture by day, enjoy the international nightlife after dark.
- 🚇 Metro: Line 1, South Huangpi Road / Lines 10/13, Xintiandi Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 2-3 hours
🛕 14. Jing’an Temple
Millennium-old Temple, Peace in the Chaos
One of Shanghai’s earliest temples with over 1,000 years of history. Tang Dynasty-style architecture with exquisite carvings. It sits right in the bustling city center yet somehow retains a pocket of tranquility —the contrast of an ancient temple surrounded by skyscrapers is striking.
🏛 The Main Hall houses China’s largest jade Buddha statue (3.9m tall, 11 tons) 🎋 Annual temple fair on Buddha’s birthday in May
- 🎫 Tickets: 楼50
- 🚇 Metro: Lines 2/7, Jing’an Temple Station
- ⏱️ Allow: 1 hour
鉀?15. Yaoxue Ice & Snow World (🆕 Newly Opened)
🏆 Guinness World Record: World’s Largest Indoor Ski Resort!
Nearly 1,200 meters of ski trails, designed for all skill levels. A one-stop ice-and-snow resort —the perfect escape from Shanghai’s sweltering summer heat.
- 🚇 Transport: near Metro Line 11, Disneyland Station
- ⏱️ Allow: half to full day
📊 Suggested Itineraries
3-Day Highlights (First Visit)
| Day | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nanjing Road →?The Bund (day + night) |
| 2 | Yu Garden →?Xintiandi →?Tianzifang |
| 3 | Lujiazui (Oriental Pearl/Shanghai Tower) →?Huangpu River Cruise |
5-Day Deep Dive
| Day | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nanjing Road →?The Bund night view |
| 2 | Oriental Pearl →?Jin Mao/Shanghai Tower →?Riverside bike ride |
| 3 | Yu Garden →?Xintiandi →?Tianzifang |
| 4 | Disneyland (full day) |
| 5 | Zhujiajiao (half day) or Wukang Road City Walk |
🍜 Quick Food Reference
| Dish | Recommended | Avg Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pan-fried buns (shengjian) | Da Hu Chun | 楼25 |
| Soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) | Nanxiang Steamed Bun | 楼50/steamer |
| Pork chop rice cake | Xi膩n Del谩i | 楼30 |
| Pork mooncake | Zhen Lao Da Fang | 楼5 each |
| Shanghainese braised pork | Old Clarks | 楼80 |
| Curry beef soup | Da Hu Chun | 楼15 |
💡 Survival Kit
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 💰 Payment | Alipay/WeChat Pay everywhere —link your foreign card in advance |
| 🚇 Metro | Day pass 楼18, unlimited rides |
| 📱 Internet | Buy a VPN-compatible SIM or eSIM |
| 馃Л Navigation | Gaode Maps (Google Maps is inaccurate in China) |
| 鈿?Charging | Bring a power bank! Your phone handles payments, maps, everything |
| 🎫 Tickets | Book all tickets online for discounts |