Shanghai is China’s showpiece — the colonial Bund on one side of the Huangpu, a laser-lit Pudong skyline on the other, and a maze of shikumen lanes, gardens and water towns in between.
Best time to visit
Autumn (October–November) and spring (March–April) are best. Summer is hot and humid with typhoon-season downpours; winter is cold but dry and uncrowded.
How many days
- 2 days — Bund, Pudong, Old Town and the French Concession.
- 3 days — add a water town (Zhujiajiao) or day trip to Suzhou/Hangzhou.
Getting there & around
Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) airports plus a huge metro network. High-speed rail: Suzhou ~25 min, Hangzhou ~45 min, Nanjing ~1.5h, Beijing ~4.5h — the best hub for a first China trip.
Top things to do
- The Bund at night and the Lujiazui skyline from across the river.
- Yu Garden and the City God temple old streets.
- The French Concession — Wukang Road, Xintiandi, Tianzifang.
- Shanghai Museum and the China Art Tower district.
- Zhujiajiao water town, or Disney for families.
A 3-day Shanghai itinerary
- Day 1 — Nanjing Road, Bund, ferry to Lujiazui towers.
- Day 2 — Yu Garden, Tianzifang, French Concession lanes.
- Day 3 — Shanghai Museum, Jing’an Temple, a Suzhou or Zhujiajiao day trip.
What to eat
Shanghai xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), pan-fried shengjian buns, scallion-oil noodles and sweet Benbang dishes.
FAQ
- How many days do you need in Shanghai? — Two to three days covers the Bund and skyline, the Old Town and French Concession; its rail links make it a perfect base for Suzhou, Hangzhou and Zhujiajiao day trips.
- Which airport is closer? — Hongqiao (SHA) is already central by metro; the main Pudong (PVG) airport is ~45–60 min in via the maglev and metro. Both connect straight to the city.
- When is the best time to visit Shanghai? — October–November and March–April are mild and pleasant. June–July is humid plum-rain season and summers are hot; winters are cold and damp.
Plan the rest of your trip
Best time to visit China · Do I need a visa? (checker) · Weekend in China · AI trip planner · Cost calculator · China tours · Private driver · China eSIM
More China destinations
Chengdu · Chongqing · Hangzhou · Sanya · Lijiang & Shangri-La · Huangshan · Suzhou · Xiamen & Gulangyu · Wuhan · Dali & Erhai · Nanjing · Qingdao · Pingyao · Luoyang · Wuyi Mountain · Dunhuang · Hongcun · Zhangjiajie · Qinghai Lake · Fenghuang · Guilin · Xi’an · Beijing