Shanghai Old City

The original city core and the sole part of Shanghai to pre-date the 1850s, the Old City (上海老城厢; Shànghăi Lăo Chéngxiāng) is a favourite with visitors hoping to glimpse ‘traditional’ China. Many of the older buildings have been replaced with modern apartment blocks, but there are still more temples here than in the rest of the city combined, and pockets are impregnated with atmosphere and shabby charm.

Explore Shanghai Old City

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Shanghai Old City.

  • Gardens

    Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar

    With its shaded alcoves, glittering pools churning with fish, plus pavilions, pines sprouting wistfully from rockeries, and roving packs of Japanese…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Chenxiangge Monastery

    Sheltering a community of dark-brown-clothed monks from the Chenhai (Sea of Dust) – what Buddhists call the mortal world, but which could equally refer to…

  • Taoist Temple

    Temple of the Town God

    Chinese towns traditionally had a Taoist temple of the town god, but many fell victim to periodic upheaval. Originally dating from the early 15th century,…

  • Museum

    World Expo Museum

    Located at the former site of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, this museum showcases the history of world expositions. Using old video footage, interactive…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Fazangjiang Temple

    This simple but very active temple is curiously accessed from the west, rather than the south, where the entrance to Buddhist temples usually lies. The…

  • Confucian Temple

    Confucius Temple

    A modest and charming retreat, this well-tended temple to Confucius is cultivated with maples, pines, magnolias and birdsong. The layout is typically…

  • Architecture

    Cool Docks

    The riverside Cool Docks consist of several shíkùmén (石库门, stone-gate houses) surrounded by red-brick warehouses, near (but not quite on) the waterfront…

  • Historic Site

    Dajing Pavilion

    Dating from 1815, this pavilion contains the only preserved section of the 5km-long city walls. Also within the pavilion is a small Guandi temple, which…

  • Church

    Dongjiadu Cathedral

    Just outside Shanghai Old City and once known as St Francis Xavier Church, this magnificent whitewashed cathedral is Shanghai’s oldest church, built by…

  • Beach

    Sunny Beach

    Life’s a beach, even in the middle of Shanghai. If the sun comes out, pop down to this small but amusing artificial strip of sand right by the river and…

  • Taoist Temple

    Baiyun Temple

    The port-red and relatively new Taoist Baiyun (White Cloud) Temple is fronted by an entrance with twin eaves and separated from Dajing Pavilion, a…

  • Gallery

    Power Station of Art

    The vast Power Station of Art in the disused Nanshi Power Plant holds modern large-scale installations, design shows and other temporary exhibitions, some…

  • Mosque

    Peach Garden Mosque

    Originally dating to 1917, this famous mosque is the main place of worship for Shanghai’s Muslims.

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Shanghai Old City.

  • Activities