There is a long list of must see locations in Shanghai, but in this article I will give a short summary of my favorite places. The first place I would bring any tourist in Shanghai would be the Bund on Huangpu River. I would go just before night time so that you can see the various architectural styles that are shown from building to building along the bund. There is truly an amazing array of architectural designs on the Bund. Next, I would pick a nice restaurant along the bund with rooftop seating. There is a long list of restaurants to choose from (http://www.shanghai-eats.com/portal/common/NeighborhoodSearch_251_0.aspx), but from reviews and friends I hear that M on the Bund is one of the best. Having a nice dinner on the rooftop is the perfect way to watch the night fall. That is when all the lights turn on for the buildings on the Pudong side. This is one of the most spectacular views I have personally ever witnessed. Then after a nice dinner, there are many places along the Bund to grab a drink. Some popular locations are Bar Rouge and M1NT. These locations are extremely popular and contain spectacular views as well.
The following morning I would look to my favorite place in Shanghai, Tianzifang for a nice breakfast. This place is a small neighborhood of labyrinthine alleyways. It is the perfect place to spend a morning wandering around and having breakfast. It contains many delicious restaurants and lots of arts and craft boutiques. This will give you the opposite experience of the lights and glamour of the Bund.
Next I believe a visit to Yuyuan Garden is perfect. This is an area that comprises of two parts, the Yu Garden itself and the Shanghai Old Street surrounding it. The Yu Garden is in the center of the Old City and considered one of the finest and most lavish Chinese gardens. This garden contains many small bridges, ponds, and beautiful architecture. It is a beautiful and relaxing place in the bustling and busy city of Shanghai. After touring and getting lots of the Yu Garden, you can come out to the Shanghai Old Street and shop around. You will see surrounding the Garden that there is a maze of shops and food. Walking around the garden there is many opportunities to buy small souvenirs to bring home for friends and family. However, remember to bargain down all the items, especially since once they see a foreigner they will raise the starting price. Then relax and have a nice lunch in one of the restaurants in the area. Thankfully you don’t have to bargain for food.
Night time would be the perfect time to stop by the popular Xintiandi. This destination has been turned into a foreigner hotspot. It is a street with a narrow alleyway and surrounding the street is stores, restaurants and cafes. It is also surrounded by a few large shopping malls. The popularity of Xintiandi rests in the restaurants, bars and cafes that line the small pedestrian street. Most of the restaurants have outdoor seating and it is a perfect destination to grab dinner and drinks outdoors. There are also places to listen to live music, dance, and go clubbing.
Some of the other popular and must see locations include the Pudong side (Oriental TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, and World Financial Center). These are the tall buildings that line the Pudong side and they all have viewing floors on the top with restaurants and bars. These locations are extremely popular amongst tourists that want to see the top of Shanghai and have that experience. However, make sure to go on a clear day because then there isn’t much of a view from the top. Also another must see location is People’s Square. This is a park in the middle of Shanghai that contains a lot of grassy area in the center of the city. It also houses the Shanghai Museum which is another popular location. Across the street there is also the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. This place is a personal recommendation because it has some spectacular exhibits including the miniature size replica of the entire city.
Finally some popular shopping places in Shanghai. Close to People’s Square there is Nanjing Dong Lu. This is a pedestrian street that is almost always filled with people. It contains shops and restaurants on both sides. Also include many large shopping malls and designer stores. This is one of the most popular locations to go shopping in Shanghai. Another popular shopping street is on Huaihai ZhongLu where there are many luxury designer stores that line up both sides of the street. There are also many popular restaurants close to this area around Shangxi Lu. Next I would recommend a stop at the “Fake Market” near Science and Technology Museum. However, make sure you are an experienced bargainer at this point or have someone with experience along with you. This is important because unless you know how to bargain or know the prices you should be receiving, you will most definitely be overpaying. Next if you are staying for around a week, you should stop by the Fabric Market near Napu Bridge. This is a place where you can receive tailored suits, shirts, jackets, and almost anything else you can think of. On average it usually takes a week for these items to be made, but if you are in a rush you can ask and see if they can make it quicker.
Some locations that weren’t mentioned include the Former French Concession which has a lot of restaurants and is interesting to walk around. The Expo Village which was created for the Shanghai Expo. It still contains some of the popular buildings and most famously the Chinese Pavilion. Finally if you are willing to take a bus for a short ride to Zhujiajiao Water Town, you can see an old style town with water ways similar to Venice. In this town you can take a boat ride around the water ways, visit museums, have local food, and experience an old shanghai city.
I hope this short summary and suggestion of popular locations in Shanghai can be helpful in your next visit. Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated!
