I came three times to the mainland China with the sole purpose of travelling. Fascinated by the Chinese cultural heritages, I decided to work in China and settled down in Suzhou (in 4th trip to China). So far I have travelled across so many Chinese cities. On Chinese new year 2018, I travelled to Shanghai city. When I was planning my Shanghai trip, I struggled to find the top things to do in Shanghai. It seemed to be rather challenging working out what to see in Shanghai. I humbly agree that Shanghai lacks the historical and cultural scene that you’d see in cities like Hangzhou. But that doesn’t mean you can’t spend a couple of days in Shanghai. Shanghai is a big city and quite a few touristy places are spread around the bund area. In this post I’d list down my favorite Shanghai points of interest. The list is not in any particular order. So you can consider visiting them as per your own convenience. 🙂
The art museums
For the travelers who love visiting museums and art galleries, the Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) is just the perfect place. In fact, this is a huge museum; you can probably spend one full day exploring the artifacts. The museum depicts a variety of Chinese arts, such as ceramics, calligraphy, etc.
The entrance queue to the museum is very long, so make sure you come a bit early. Entry is provided for free. Btw, eating at Shanghai museum’s cafeteria looked quite expensive, but there are quite many shopping options at a one or two minutes walking distance from the museum.
You could also consider visiting the China Art Museum (中华艺术宫, Zhōnghuá Yìshù Gōng). This is another impressive museum in Shanghai and its considered to be one of the finest museums in Asia. Check out more details on the official website of the China Art Museum. The site is in Chinese, and you can use a web browser’s translate function to translate the site to English. The museum is closed on Monday.
Wondering what to see in shanghai? Visit Temples
The Jade Buddha Temple (玉佛禅寺, Yùfó Chán Sì) – The temple built in 1882 contains two Buddha statues brought from Myanmar by the sea route.
Now the temple has so many statues. The whole ambience looks very serene and tranquil. Entry fee – RMB 20.
Jing’an Temple (静安寺, Jìng’ān Sì) – This is Shanghai’s another Buddhist temple. It’s located close to the West Nanjing Road. If you are coming here by subway, you could get down at the metro station of the same name (Jing’an Temple station). Entry RMB 50, payment is accepted only by cash.
The Longhua Temple (龙华寺, Lónghúa Sì) – If you want to visit a Maitreya Buddha temple in Shanghai city, then this is the place to stop by.
The temple is rather an ancient one. There is a beautiful pagoda located nearby. Entry fee – RMB 10.
Parks & Gardens to be included in Shanghai Points of Interest
Fuxing Park (复兴公园, Fùxīng Gōngyuán) – The beautiful park is located in Shanghai’s Luwan District. It contains a lake, fountain and pavilions. The park is designed in French style and you’d see lots of foreigners strolling around. I also saw so many cute kids playing around and recorded a few videos. There was also a group of seniors practicing couple’s dance. Free entry. Take subway Line 3 or 4 and get down at Jinshajiang Road Station.
Changfeng Park (长风公园, Chángfēng Gōngyuán) – This is a medium size park located in the western part of Shanghai.
There is a big lake in the park. The boating facilities are also available. If you visit on the weekend or on holidays, you may find some locals playing music or dancing. I saw many small groups dancing in the park. The entry is free.
Yuyuan Garden (豫園, Yù Yuán) – This is another interesting garden in Shanghai. The garden is located near the City God Temple. There is also a night market nearby, so stop by here if you want to eat authentic Chinese food. If you are using the subway, then you can take Line 10, and get down at the Yuyuan Garden Station.
Shanghai Night markets and shopping streets
Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) – This is the main shopping street of Shanghai, and one of the top things to do in Shanghai city. There are lots of food and shopping malls on each side of the street. The main shopping street is the pedestrianized Nanjing Road East.
Nanjing Lu is also known for scams and you’d need to be very careful about being deceived. Check out my detailed post on Nanjing Lu scam: China Love – Meet Asian Women & Lady From Shanghai | Nanjing Lu Scam & Dating in China For Foreigners.
Duolun Road (多伦路, Duōlún Lù) – This is another shopping street located only a few kilometers away from the Nanjing Lu. Its only 500m long street and you can cover in 5-7 minutes of slow walking. However, the charm of Duolun Road seems nothing as compared to Nanjing Lu. For example, the lightings are very poor on Duolun Road. In fact, Duolun Road can be skipped altogether if you have less time in Shanghai.
Yuyuan Garden night market – I really enjoyed being here. There is lots of food, and the market was in the New Year celebration mood. Despite the presence of too many people, the area is very safe. There were lots security arrangements.
Tianzifang (田子坊, Tiánzǐ Fāng) – If you are into bars, boutique shops, artifacts; welcome to Tianzifang. This is a perfect pace to buy artifacts and crafts. Lots of eating options around.
Visiting Pearl tower is one of the top things to do in Shanghai
If you are travelling in Shanghai, you just can’t skip the Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔, Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ). The 468 m tall TV tower is located very close to the Huangpu River.
Gradually, the tower has become an icon of Shanghai. The tower has 11 spheres, each of them is of varying size. I’d suggest you to come here in the nighttime as the tower’s LED lighting looks very beautiful in the night. Free entry to the base of the Pearl tower.
In summary, I think it’s worthwhile to spend a couple of days wandering in Shanghai. Rationalize your expectations, and you wouldn’t be disappointed.
That’s all in this post about the top things to do in Shanghai.
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Happy travelling in Shanghai China! If you have thoughts on what to see in Shanghai, let me know in comments.
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Last updated: Friday, February 16, 2018