Welcome to Shànghǎi

Shànghǎi: few cities in the world evoke so much history, excess, glamour, mystique and exotic promise in name alone.

Read More

Architecture

Shànghǎi is home to the world's second-tallest tower and a host of other neck-craning colossi. But it's not all sky-scraping razzmatazz. Beyond the crisply cool veneer of the modern city typified by Pǔdōng, you can lift the lid to a treasure chest of architectural styles. The city's period of greatest cosmopolitan excess – the 1920s and 1930s – left the city with pristine examples of art deco buildings, most of which survived the 20th-century vicissitudes assailing Shànghǎi. And there's more: from Jesuit cathedrals, Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples to home-grown lòngtáng (laneway) and shíkùmén (stone gate) housing, Shànghǎi’s architectural heritage is like none other.

Cuisine

Thirty years ago Shànghǎi's dour restaurant scene was all tin trays and scowling waiting staff, with international food confined to the dining rooms of 'exclusive' hotels. Today the mouth-watering restaurant scene is varied, exciting and up to the minute – and Shànghǎi has its own Michelin dining guide in 2017, proving just how far the city has come. Food is the hub of Chinese social life. It’s over a meal that people catch up with friends, celebrate and clinch business deals, and spend hard-earned cash. Some of your best memories of the city could be culinary, so do as the Shanghainese do and make a meal of it.

Shopping

Bearing in mind that Chinese shoppers constitute up to 47% of the global luxury-goods market, shopping is rarely done in half-measures in Shànghǎi. Retail therapy is one way of spending new money and the Shanghainese aren't called 小资 (xiǎozī – 'little capitalists') by the rest of China for nothing, especially at the luxury end of things. But it's not all Prada, Gucci and Burberry. There are pop-up boutiques, bustling markets, cool vintage shops and young designer outlets. Beyond clothing you're also spoiled for choice, whether you're in the market for antiques, ceramics, art, Tibetan jewellery…whatever is on your shopping list.

Entertainment & the Arts

Běijīng often hogs the limelight as China’s cultural nexus but, for what is essentially a town of wheelers and dealers, Shànghǎi is surprisingly creative. Many art galleries are exciting, offering a window onto contemporary Chinese concerns, while nightlife options have exploded. Acrobatics shows are always a favourite and you might grab the chance to catch some Chinese opera. Shànghǎi’s music and club scene is vibrant: from unpretentious jazz and indie venues to all-night hip-hop and electro dance parties, the city swings with the best of them.

Read Less

Top experiences in Shànghǎi

Amazing hotels and hostels

We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

Skip this step and see all hotels & hostels
Or explore the collection of Best Places to stay in Shànghǎi

Recent articles

Travel guides

Starting at $18.19

Image for Image for

Shànghǎi activities

$28 Kid Friendly

Shanghai Circus World: ‘ERA Intersection of Time’ Show

Your evening 'ERA Intersection of Time' show takes place at Shanghai Circus World. This stunning acrobatic show combines traditional Chinese marital arts with special effects, lighting and original live music, transporting you through time with every scene. As you marvel at the performers’ amazing skills and creativity, the story of China's evolution unfolds. You’ll gain insight into China's ancient culture and civilization, dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). One scene in particular uses porcelain jars to show how this important commodity has played a role in Chinese culture over the centuries. Taking you to present-day China, you’ll be exposed to real-life modern achievements such as the Shanghai Donghai Cross-Sea Bridge, Maglev Train and Shenzhou 5, China's first manned space mission. You’ll leave this eye-opening show with a deeper understanding and appreciation for China’s past, present and future. Choose from five seating categories; for the best views, choose the Section A. Please click on View Additional Info below for a seating map of the theater.
$134.99 Day Trips & Excursions

Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai

Founded in around 600 B.C., Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze basin and is known for its beautiful gardens. With its interconnected waterways and beautiful environment, the city is often referred to as the Venice of the East. Suzhou was one of the few cities in China to escape the ravages of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and its famous gardens survived almost intact. Upon arrival in Suzhou, your first stop is the Net Master Garden, the town's best example of a model Ming Dynasty garden. The gardens embody the harmonious principles of Chinese garden construction, which dictate that gardens should re-create a microcosm of the universe in a confined space. After enjoying Suzhou's gardens, you'll view the town's ancient city wall and Grand Canal. You'll also take a tour of a silk-spinning factory to see how Chinese silk has been produced since the 14th century. After lunch, it's time to visit the water village of Zhouzhuang and board a Chinese-style gondola to cruise the town's beautiful waterways. Zhouzhuang's simple, well-preserved architecture dates back more than 900 years. The majority of residences were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and nearly 100 classic courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are still in use. In this water village, locals live their life on the waterways, continuing to carry out everyday activities on the water, from washing clothes to shopping from vendors in boats.
$78.99 Tours & Sightseeing

Shanghai Day Tour with Jade Buddha Temple, The Bund, Lunch

Your tour begins with Jade Buddha Temple. Built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1875-1909), it contains a priceless collection of jade statues from Burma. The temple is constructed in the magnificent architectural style of the Song Dynasty. Currently the temple houses the Shanghai Buddhist Institute.Next stop is Fresh Water Pearl Gallery. You'll see the process of pearl cultivation and you may be the lucky participant to be presented with a single pearl. People Square, in the heart of the city is a vast green area surrounded by great buildings on all sides. Here you have the opportunity to feed the doves to pray for the world peace.Shanghai Museum is a highlight of the tour. The museum design is in keeping with Feng Shui principles. It houses a great permanent collection and hosts various exhibitions with over 120,000 pieces thst showcase the 5000 years of China's history. We recommend you rent an audio phone (USD 5) to make the most of your 1.5 hours' visit.After lunch, visit the enchanting Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Old Street. The garden includes many halls, springs and other buildings of interest. The visit brings you back to Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).Continue to the Bund on Shanghai's waterfront. The Bund is Shanghai's most famous landmark and a symbol of old and new Shanghai. Four kilometers long, it has long been one of the most important areas of Shanghai. In the 1930s, the Bund was host to the city's financial and commercial centers. At the silk factory, see how Chinese silk has been produced since the 14th century. There is also the option to to purchase the silk at low prices. After a drive along the former French Concession District, characterized by beautiful, tree-lined streets wander through Shanghai's hottest new entertainment district, Xin Tian Di. The brick buildings on these two-square blocks have been preserved and transformed into trendy clubs, restaurants and boutiques.
$68 Food, Wine & Nightlife

Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

Meet your guide at the Huangpi Nan Road metro station and depart on foot for the Xintiandi area of Shanghai. Start with a taste of notable soup dumplings and learn from your guide about their construction, including the savory meat filling and flavorful broth. Afterward, its a 15-minute walk to Yunnan Road, where you'll sit down alongside local residents catching up with their friends at three traditional restaurants and one dessert shop. On the way, notice French lane apartments of the French Concession give way to Chinese stone houses, called shikumen, and observe daily life among the street vendors, office workers, and mahjong players.Sample authentic Shanghainese dishes, such as parched chicken, red-braised pork, scallion oil noodles, roasted duck, candied lotus rice, and spring rolls. Between food stops, you're offered green or black tea while your guide shares insights and anecdotes about Shanghai.
$96 Day Trips & Excursions

Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai City Highlights Private Tour

Meet your knowledgeable guide at your hotel lobby. After one hour driving, you will start your exciting sightseeing tour from Zhujiajiao water town. It's the best-preserved water town in the area with history over 1700 years. There are old bridges, antiquated architecture and bubbling streams. You can wander along the canal, stroll around the old lanes, visit few houses with gardens. Later, enjoy a relaxing boat riding on the canal to see beautiful surrounding. Don't miss out the opportunity to take some fabulous pictures. Revitalize yourself with a delicious lunch in a local restaurant where you can have some local delicious dishes. In the afternoon, you will go back to Shanghai city, and visit Yuyuan garden, a very ancient and well-preserved garden with the history of 400years old. You will see the stylish Chinese pavilion and authentic old architectures. Then, countinue to the Bund where you will see amazing city skyline, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Tower and colonial buildings along the Huangpu River. It surely lights up your whole trip in Shanghai. From the Bund, you will visit Shanghai Tower (632 meters), the highest building of China. You will have a panoramic view of the whole city with a 360 degrees dimension from the observatory.If you have already visit some of those places above before, and want to do something different this time. Please feel free to pick below attraction or activities base on your interests. Jade Buddha temple TV Tower/World financial center/Jinmao Tower Shanghai museum After the tour, your guide will take you back to the hotel.
$71.80 Food, Wine & Nightlife

Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise and Dinner

Your tour guide and private driver will meet you at your hotel lobby in the evening, and take you directly to the Oriental Pearl Cruise Terminal where you will enjoy a relaxing river cruise ride on the mother river of Shanghai - Huangpu River. Standing on the top deck of the cruise, and have a glimpse of Shanghai’s past and look into the bright future of the city. Your cruise offers a great view of the grand colonial buildings along west side of the Bund, such as the famous Peace hotel, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and etc.. Turn towards east side, you will see the skyscrapers of shanghai, like Oriental Pearl TV Tower, World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower (the tallest building in China). After your lovely cruise ride, follow your tour guide to a local popular Xinjiang restaurant to enjoy a halal dinner on Nanjing Road. Xinjiang cuisine is famous in China, and you must try Dapanji (big plate chicken), lamb kebabs, Xinjiang yogurt, and naan(a kind of Xinjiang pancake). Dapanji is the most famous dish, and it's nicely flavored in spices as well as the chopped potato and green paper. It is usually served with hand stretched noodles. The kebabs are tasty. If you don't like lamb, you can choose chicken wings or other skewers. The yogurt here is quite unique, and it's surely a good match when you have spicy food. The restaurant offers evening entertainment from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, and there is cultural dancing and belly dancing you can watch. If you are lucky, the dancers will ask you to dance together with them. After your dinner, your guide will send you back to your hotel. If you wish to be dropped-off in other places in the city, such as Xintiandi, your guide will take you there.
See More Activities
Shànghǎi photo credits