5 Things to Do in Shanghai China
Shanghai is a young city in China compared to Beijing. Today Shanghai boasts of the tallest and shiniest super towers and buildings in Pudong and well-preserved historical western buildings at The Bund in Puxi. Puxi shows the past while Pudong is leading Shanghai into the future.
The metropolis city of Shanghai has over 20 million people, served by
two major airports (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport) and connected by high-speed trains to major cities of China.
Shanghai is very accessible and has one of the best public transportation systems in China. The high-speed trains reduce traveling time by half. Usually train rides are about
12 hours from Beijing to Shanghai but with high-speed trains, it is less than six hours.
From eating the famous Shanghai xiaolongbao to visiting the narrow alleys of Tianzifang, Shanghai has so much to offer. Here is a list of 5 things to do in Shanghai.
One: The Bund
The Bund shows the old and the new of Shanghai. On the Bund are historical buildings with Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance styles. Some of the notable buildings are the Shanghai Foreign Trade Commission Building (the old Jardine Matheson built in 1832), China Pacific Insurance Company (the old McBain Building built in 1916), Waldorf Astoria Hotel (the old Shanghai Club built in 1910), The Bangkok Bank (built in 1907) and The House of Roosevelt (with many dining options).
From the Huangpu Park along Huangpu River you can see Pudong’s skyscrapers and the Pearl of the Orient TV Tower with its pink retro disco ball on stilts. The view is especially electrifying at night.
Two: Pudong
Pudong was a farmland and a place for Shanghai’s warehouses until the early 1990s. Today 90 percent of Pudong is commercial buildings that houses luxury shops, offices, hotels and condos. The center of it all is Lujiazui- the financial center of Shanghai.
Shanghai World Financial Center, Jiamao Building, Shanghai Tower (under construction) and Pearl of the Orient TV Tower are among the many towers and skyscrapers of Pudong.
The streets in Pudong are cleaner and wider compared to Puxi Shanghai (the other side of the river). Visitors have many options for hotels, food courts and shopping. IFC Mall and Super Brand Mall are Shanghai’s most modern and luxurious shopping malls.
Pudong has a riverside promenade along Huangpu River just like The Bund. Visitors get to see The Bund from this promenade and the best time to walk along this promenade is after dark.
Three: Food Tour
You can either create your own food tour or join Untour for a behind-the -scenes look at Shanghai’s food scenes. Untour provides four types of tours. For example on Wednesdays and Saturdays the “Hands-on Dumpling Delights” introduces guests to the art of making dumplings with Chinese chefs.
More information:
Untour
Four: Shikumen Lanes tours
Two of the highly recommended places with shikumen lanes are Xintiandi and Tianzifang. Shikumen are residential homes in Shanghai built from the late 19th century to 1930s. They are terrace houses with narrow alleys with hundreds of homes in one area. These houses have western and eastern architecture elements and the most notable structure is the stone doorframe.
A walk in the trendy Xintiandi will give you a glimpse into the past. Check out Shikumen Open House Museum on 25, Lane 181 Taicang Road where you will see a representation of old shikumen houses. Today most of Xintiandi is restored and converted into stores, cafés and restaurants.
Not far from Xintiandi is Tianzifang. Tianzifang still houses a few families. It is a place for dining and souvenir shopping. Among the many shops and restaurants worth visiting are an authentic Chicago and New York pizza shops, and souvenir shops with Mao-inspired merchandise.
Five: Day trips to Hangzhou and Suzhou
If you have at least four days in Shanghai, we recommend a day trip to either Hangzhou or Suzhou. Hangzhou is
109 miles from Shanghai and it takes about 45 minutes if you go on a high-speed train. Suzhou is
72 miles from Shanghai and takes only 23 minutes on a high-speed train.
Hangzhou is famous for its lakes and teas. Two recommended things to do are the Tea Museum and a walk on West Lake. Suzhou is a well-renowned place for Chinese classical gardens. We recommend a visit to Humble Adminstrator’s Garden, Suzhou Museum and Net Master’s Garden.
More information:
UNESCO’s
Classical Gardens of Suzhou
China National Tea Museum in our article
5 Places to Visit in China.
Have you been to Shanghai? Here are 3 tips if you are visiting Shanghai:
1. A visa is required to visit Shanghai. But Shanghai offers a 72-hour visa free visit.
Find out more here.
2. For help with
hotels in Shanghai.
3.
Airlines that fly to Shanghai.
