I have been living in Shanghai for almost a year now. And so many people have asked me what to see and do when visiting China’s biggest city.
Here is a list of some of my favorite places in Shanghai. Don’t forget to check out the google map with all locations
Feel free to drop me a message when you visit Shanghai, I am always happy to show around fellow travelers.
Climb Shanghai Tower for the best views
If you love rooftops and skylines just like me then make sure to go up the Shanghai Tower. I was lucky to witness this amazing sunset.
$ – 180 CNY for adults, 90 CNY for children.
Tip: Skip the lines and get your ticket online.
Feel like a hipster in the 1933 Slaughter house
This old slaughter house is now transformed in to a hipster maze. If you like art, architecture and creative spaces then this is for you.
$ – Free
To know more about the history and architecture of this funky building you can read my blog post about the 1933 Slaughter house
Check out The Propaganda Museum
Hidden in a random building, the propaganda poster museum is a slightly unusual but nevertheless cool item for your Shanghai checklist.
$ – 20 CNY
Stroll around the French Concession
My favorite place to go for a walk in Shanghai is the French Concession. The streets are narrow, cozy, protected by a row of trees on each side. It’s a nice area to get lost in the cocktail of old and new. It’s a maze of of little streets with hole in the wall restaurants, fruit vendors, trendy coffee bars and parks where Shanghainese are playing Mahjong or practicing Tai Chi.
$ – Free
Sip a coffee in world’s biggest Starbucks
Add the biggest Starbucks in the world to your list. To be honest, I a not a Starbucks fan. I prefer local coffee bars where you can try all types of the black gold in a creative setting. So why would you even go to this Starbucks? Well this is not your typical Starbucks. It’s more like a factory / museum / tasting hub. You can choose from many different ways to brew your coffee and there is also quite some variety of beans.
$ – Free
Capture magical sunsets from The Peninsula Hotel Rooftop bar
To relax after a long day of sightseeing head to The Peninsula Hotel for an expensive cocktail (which is worth it for the view rather then the taste).
$ – Free (drinks are around 200 CNY
Wander in Yuyuan garden, very touristi but worth a visit
A garden, temple and bazaar close to The Bund. You will see many tourists here and even a Starbucks in Chinese style building but it’s one of those things everyone wants to see.
$ – Temple free, entrance to the garden: 40 RMB
Print a picture on your coffee
If you go to coffee bars to feed your Instagram instead of your brains then you might prefer this place. At Cafe Fay you can print a picture on your coffee. No wonder everyone knows this place as “Selfie Coffee”.
Check my video about the whole coffee printing experience
$ – 53 CN
Indulge in Amazing food
Shanghai is a foodies paradise. You can find any type of cuisine but no need to say that you should try Chinese food. If you are not a food daredevil then there are more than enough dishes that should be just fine for you.
Your best chance to find good restaurants anywhere in Shanghai is using food apps.
Dianping is in Chinese but it’s your best option to find the best local restaurants.
Bon App is in English and targeted towards foreigners, it’s better to find good international cuisine but still has quite some good Chinese restaurants.
A few of my recommendations for people who are new to Chinese cuisine. These are all high quality chains with many branches allover Shanghai.
Discover M50 Industrial Art & Architecture
M50 is a contemporary art district in an industrial setting. A perfect spot for the creative minds.
$ – free
Head to the West Bund, the part tourists don’t know about
Everybody knows The Bund in Shanghai (elevated area by the river with epic views of Shanghai’s skyline). What many people don’t know is that there is the West part of The Bund with industrial art scene.
$ – Free
Hop on the Bullet Train to Suzhou
Taking the train in Shanghai is an experience! If you arrive in Pudong International airport you can enjoy the Maglev train cruising at a speed of 431 km/h!
If you want to visit places nearby Shanghai then you can take one of the many bullet trains! Suzhou is 100 km from Shanghai but it’s only 22 minutes by high speed rail. There are over 175 pairs of high speed trains running between Shanghai and Suzhou with a speed of up to 300 km/h. Mind blown! And it’s very cheap (6 usd one way
Wander in bamboo forest and water towns in Suzhou
If you want to see some more greenery then just hop on the bullet train to Suzhou and explore Tiger Hill and Tongli
$ – 80 CNY
Learn about Buddhism for a day in Wuxi
Another fun and different day trip from Shanghai is the Buddhist theme park in Wuxi. It’s definitely very unique and different from any theme park you have ever seen.
$ – 210 CNY
Grab sunset in Zhujiajiao
There are many little water towns around Shanghai. I prefer to go there around sunset when the crowds are less and the views more stunning.
$ – 30 CNY (4 scenic spots) – 60 CNY (8 scenic spots)
If exploring all these places by yourself is a bit too overwhelming then you can consider an organized tour.
It’s easy to reach Zhujiajiao water town by metro line 17 (an extension of line 2). You can also read my special blog post with more info about Zhujiajiao and how to get there.
Sip a fascinating coffee in a creative bar
Shanghai is heaven for coffee lovers. There are so many little and create spots to sip a hot cup off the good stuff.
In the French Concession you will bump into many bars like FUMI but if you want a whole street of them then head to Yongkang road. I still remember trying wasabi coffee at Tea funny!
Explore a bit of Japan in J Town
J Town is a mall with a lot of Japanese stores and restaurants. Malls are normally not my thing but I sometimes go here you can to get some cool souvenirs (in Daiso for example) or just enjoy some great Japanese food.
$ – Free
Get close to the Pearl Oriental tower in Ritz Carlton Flair rooftop bar
Drinks are expensive and totally not worth it but the views from Flair on the 58th floor of the Ritz Carlton are pretty cool!
$ – Free, cocktails are around 165 CNY
Try chicken feet and other snacks
Visit 7/11 or any other convenience store allover Shanghai and buy some local snacks! What about chicken feet, duck head or maybe a new chips flavor?
Avoid East Nanjing Road
Here is a place you should not visit. Trust me some good advise that will save you a lot of money and trouble.
Avoid East Nanjing road. It’s one massive tourist trap and scammers heaven. On this street all the super friendly locals with good English skills you meet are scumbags.
If you don’t look Chinese you will be asked a million times if you want tea, sneakers, watches, a massage with or without happy ending. It’s just annoying to walk to this street and many lost 1000’s of dollars by trusting the wrong people.
All other locals in Shanghai are totally cool by the way! It’s just like in any other city around the world, you have to avoid certain areas.
Meet up with locals in Shanghai!
I do encourage you to meet up with locals. I met many wonderful people in China. If you use dating apps to meet up for the first time then use common sense. if your date suggests to go to a restaurant, then ask which one and look it up on Bon App or Dianping. Some people have been taken to very casual local restaurants where the bill suddenly ends up to be surprisingly astronomical. Bills of 400 to 1000 dollars are not unusual. And there is nothing you can do but pay as they are part of a scam network.
Again I never encountered this so don’t let the stories discourage you! Just use common sense and gut feeling. My best experiences around the world have always been those with locals.
Here are some groups and apps to connect with locals and expats.
Facebook groups: Shanghai expats, Expats in Shanghai
Dating apps: Tinder, Ok Cupid, Tan Tan
Chat apps: Wechat (everyone in China uses this
Are there any guided tours in Shanghai?
If visiting all these places by yourself is not your thing then there are organized tours in Shanghai with airport pick up, hotel and private guide etc so that you don’t have to worry about anything. I prefer the adventure of figuring everything out in a country where no one understands me and visa versa but I understand that’s not for every one 🙂
Enjoyed these tips? Questions? Leave a comment!
I have shared some of my favorite places in Shanghai but there many more cool things to do. So if you are visiting Shanghai and have any questions or if you enjoyed my tips then just leave a comment!
You can also get in touch on Instagram or Facebook.
I think, technically, Shanghai is not the biggest city in China, if we are talking about size.
Thought I have visited enough places in Shanghai, but after reading your post, I think I might need another trip there.
Great suggestions! I always struggle thinking of places to take visitors when they come! This is the best suggested places to visit I’ve come across! Thanks, going to try some of the new to me suggestions over October break when my cousin comes to town!
@Dawn, thanks for your feedback mate! Let me know if you discover some new hidden spots in Shanghai as well 🙂