City Itineraries

City Itineraries

Shanghai is fast and tough, so bring good shoes and a lot of patience. Don't expect the grandeur of ancient sights, but rather relish the small details like exquisitely designed art-deco buildings or laid-back cafés. Shanghai hides her gems well, so it's important to be observant and look up and around. The crowds of people and the constant change can make travelers weary, so take advantage of the wide range of eateries and convenient benches.

Best of Shanghai

On Day 1, start at Yu Garden, and take a walk through the old city streets and markets surrounding it. Next, head to the Bund for a waterfront stroll and a look at some of Shanghai's grandest historic buildings. Segue down Nanjing Lu, Shanghai's busiest street, for a spot of shopping. For dinner, check out New Heights at Three on the Bund for its chic all-white interior and view of the Bund lit up at night.

Head to People's Square on Day 2 and make your way to the Shanghai Museum. If you aren't suffering museum fatigue, choose from the other worthy offerings in this area, such as the Urban Planning Exhibition Centre. In the afternoon take a cab north to Jade Buddha Temple and to M50 on Moganshan Lu to check out China's art scene. That night you can take a relaxing cruise along the Huangpu River or go dancing. Cocktails at Face is a calmer choice for those with sore feet.

Make a trip to Pudong in the morning of Day 3, and go to the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower for a bird's-eye view of the city. Relax on the riverfront promenade, or take the kids to the Shanghai Aquarium or Century Park. After lunch, take the wacky Bund Tourist Tunnel back to Puxi. In the afternoon, spend some time walking around the Former French Concession for a view of old Shanghai and the city's new chic stores. After dinner at Xintiandi, catch a show of the Shanghai acrobats.

Retail Therapy

Shanghai has possibly the best shopping on the mainland, from designer peices to knockoff items picked up at market stalls. The Bund and the glamorous Plaza 66 are the up and coming designer areas. If you want something more "Chinese," the boutiques in and around Xintiandi offer very stylish fusion pieces. For those on a smaller budget, the Dongtai Lu Antiques Market is near Xintiandi. Taikang Lu offers more funky merchandise, and the antiques market there is blissfully un-crowded, but you need to be ready to search. The Shanghai Museum shop is also great for browsing and always has some wonderful treasures to remind you of your trip.

For the History Buff

You won't find much ancient history here -- go to Beijing for that -- but from the art-deco architectural gems on the Bund to the closed-down brothels in the Former French Concession, there are many venues to visit if you want to find out why Shanghai was once called the Paris of the East. Although massively restored, Xintiandi is composed of Shanghai's traditional shikumen homes. Around the Former French Concession area, streets like Shaoxing Lu are still relatively untouched by development. Finally, take a long walk through Hongkou District, across the Garden bridge and down Sichuan Bei Lu where apartment blocks, bridges, and a huge post office still stand -- testimony to the past glory of the city.