2 Days in Shanghai – Our recommended Shanghai itinerary

Shanghai is an international financial center and as such is a very interesting and varied city.

This two-day itinerary will take you to all of Shanghai’s top sites, including traditional gardens, bustling shopping streets, historic buildings, and even to the top of a skyscraper.

Your 2 days Shanghai itinerary will begin at the beautifully landscaped Yuyuan Garden, after which you will wander through the winding lanes of the former French Concession, which are dotted with shops and traditional shikumen houses.

You’ll also explore Nanjing Street, Shanghai’s busiest shopping street, followed by an unforgettable cruise along the Huangpu River, from where you can admire both the historic buildings of the Bund and the shimmering skyscrapers of Lujiazui .

The next day, you will visit Zhujiajiao Water Town, where you will enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this ancient city and its historic canals.

Then head to the heart of Shanghai’s financial district, known as Lujiazui, where you can climb to the top of the Shanghai Tower for great views of the city.

So, let’s start our exiting 2 days Shanghai itinerary!

Day 1: Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden, also known as Yu Garden, was established over 400 years ago in the Ming Dynasty.

This sumptuous garden located in the heart of Shanghai is an emblematic example of the art of Chinese gardens. Visitors flock there.

Tips for your Shanghai itinerary:

Beautifully crafted with an unparalleled sense of style and detail, Yuyuan Garden is a haven from the hustle and bustle of crowded city streets. The Yuyuan Garden is also a taste of what you will see if you plan to visit the historic gardens of Suzhou, not far from Shanghai.

This garden is not huge (it covers an area of ​​about 2 hectares) but offers many highlights, from its ancient pavilions and pagodas to its beautiful ponds and six scenic spaces: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall , Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall, and the inner garden. Each of these spaces is unique and has its own charm.

One of the main attractions of the garden is the “Sublime Jade Rock”, a large honeycombed rock, adored by the creator of the garden, Pan Yunduan, a representative of the government of the Ming era.

Another activity, also very popular, is climbing the Grande Rocaille, one of the largest and most impressive in the region, which offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding gardens.

The main walkways of Yuyuan Garden can get a bit crowded at times, but there are plenty of nooks and crannies where you can find peace and quiet. To avoid the tourist crowds we recommend visiting the garden in the morning or on a weekday.

Very close to the garden, is the Yuyuan Market, which sells, in its hundreds of shops and stalls, souvenirs and food to take away. You’ll also find plenty of teahouses and restaurants in this area that serve decent food, as well as western chains like Starbucks and Häagen-Dazs.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Price: 40 RMB (April to June, September to November); 30 RMB (July – August, December – March)
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm last entry: 4.30pm

Tianzifang / the former French Concession

This district of Shanghai, which extends over several blocks west of the Bund, was a foreign concession, owned by France between 1849 and 1943.

From its past as a European district, the French Concession has retained its stores and upscale restaurants. It is now a tourist spot thanks to its charming tree-lined avenues, European cafes and quirky boutiques.

After visiting the former French concession, many tourists go to Tianzifang, a historic district with its traditional alleys, shikumen houses and more than 200 small businesses: cafes, restaurants, art galleries, craft shops and studios.

Although there are a few souvenir shops, the area has not developed too much and still retains its historic charm. Unlike Xintiandi, another nearby tourist destination, it has managed to retain its hometown feel.

In Tianzifang, the cult of coffee is emerging, which makes it the ideal place to enjoy this caffeinated beverage while people watching in this unique setting.

Xintiandi

The place to see and be seen in Shanghai, Xintiandi is a fashionable pedestrian shopping street, perfect for an afternoon stroll, especially if you want to rub shoulders with Shanghai’s elite.

Traditional shikumen houses have been converted into quirky art galleries, boutiques and chic bars, blending the style and splendor of 1920s Shanghai with the modern luxury of the 21st century megalopolis.

We also find in Xintiandi inside a beautiful shikumen building on Xingye Road the first congress hall of the Chinese Communist Party.

Lujiazui New District

Located to the east of Huangpu, Lujiazui, in the new district of Pudong is the brilliant financial and commercial center of Shanghai.

There are these impressive modern skyscrapers that give the skyline of the city its very special character. Since its creation in the 1990s, the new district of Pudong has become overnight one of the most active and prosperous regions in the world.

Of course the many emblematic towers of Lujiazui make incredible photos but not only… tourists are welcomed with open arms in this district, which is mainly a business district. That said, even if you’re just passing through, it’s definitely a view not to be missed.

The Pearl of the Orient

Completed in 1994, the Oriental Pearl (television tower) was the tallest in China until 2007. It is an outstanding example of modern architecture.

Shanghai’s most recognizable building, it has long been the symbol of China abroad. It consists of eleven spheres of different sizes linked together by three gigantic columns.

The 15 observation decks placed at different levels offer extraordinary views of the Bund and the Pudong district.

Today it is the third tallest tower but the view it offers on the Bund remains the most beautiful because it is from there that you can observe the most details.

The Pearl of the Orient is famous for its panoramic view glass floor. Acrophobics, hang in there!

You will also find in this tower an interesting museum which traces the history of Shanghai as well as the highest panoramic restaurant in Asia.

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 9:30 pm

Price: 220 RMB per person all-inclusive ticket (the three spheres and the museum);
160 RMB per person for the first two spheres and the museum;
120 RMB per person for the second sphere alone and the museum;
35 RMB per person for the museum only.

Shanghai Tower

Soaring skyward at a height of 632 meters, the Shanghai Tower is the second tallest building in the world and the tallest in China (as of 2018).

To these superlatives are added the highest observation deck, the fastest elevators (74 Km/h). You will find yourself on the 119th floor in less than a minute!

The tower itself is mainly occupied by businesses, however there are shops and services on some floors. If the view from the Oriental Pearl haven’t quenched your thirst for the heights, a quick trip to the observation deck of the even taller Shanghai Tower is a must.

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Price: 180 RMB

Shanghai World Finance Center

The Shanghai World Finance Center, another super skyscraper located in the Pudong district, dominates at 492 meters. It is currently the second tallest building.

As its name suggests, The Shanghai World Financial Center is the center of financial activities in the city. There are mainly offices there.

There is, however, a luxury hotel and a shopping arcade on the lower floors. The observation decks are 474m above ground on floors 94 – 100.

If you are a budding mountain climber, we recommend the 100th floor where you can venture onto the Skywalk, a 55m long walkway while glass.

You can also go up to floors 79-93 of the Park Hyatt hotel and have a tea or a coffee in front of these same sublime panoramic views.

Opening hours: 9am – 9:30pm
Fee: 120 RMB observation deck only (94th floor); 180 RMB all-inclusive ticket (SkyWalk included)

Jinmao Tower

Until 2007 the Jinmao Tower was Shanghai’s tallest building. Although demoted to fourth place, it remains magnificent and the view it offers over the city is absolutely beautiful.

It is in the Jinmao Tower that the Grand Hyatt Hotel is located, with on the 87th floor of the hotel, the Cloud 9 bar where we like to take our customers for a drink at the cocktail bar.

Far from the crowded observation decks, you can relax in a five-star setting, sipping a drink while admiring the grandiose spectacle offered by the city.

If you still want thrills, the 88th-floor observation deck will provide them, and it’s with your head in the clouds that you will tread the 60-meter long glass walkway.

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Price: 120 RMB

Century Boulevard

Century Boulevard is a 5 km avenue that runs from the Oriental Pearl Tower to Century Park, the largest park in Shanghai. There are magnificent landscaping, including several botanical gardens and two very beautiful sculpture gardens.

We strongly recommend that you come and take a walk there between two visits to the skyscrapers.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

The new district of Pudong is also home to the largest ocean aquarium in the world. Located at the foot of the Oriental Pearl Tower, with an area of ​​20,500m², the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium presents an incredible variety of exhibits.

You can see sharks, coral reefs and the longest underwater tunnel in the world (150m long).

You will also find an entertainment and information section with the theme of Chinese aquatic life. It is above all an activity to do with the family in rainy weather.

Opening hours: 9am – 6pm
Fee: 160 RMB

The Bund

A visit to Shanghai without a stroll on the Bund would not be complete. The Bund comprises a row of historic buildings built before World War II by major foreign powers that resided in the Shanghai International Concession at the time.

Located on the west bank of the Huangpu, the Bund is a large pedestrian avenue that runs along the river where Chinese and foreign tourists like to stroll and soak up the architecture while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Shanghai skyline.

Tips for your Shanghai itinerary:

Most of the buildings have remained intact, and one can appreciate a wide variety of architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Baroque. Many of these buildings are now chic boutiques, restaurants and offices.

Its historic charm, Western-style architecture and unparalleled view of Pudong’s skyscrapers make The Bund a popular tourist destination.

The Old HSBC building

This six-story neoclassical building is the grandest on the Bund. It was formerly the headquarters of the Shanghai branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) from 1923 to 1955, it is now the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank which occupies the premises.

The exterior of the building, with its imposing dome is very impressive.

The Customs Office

Another must-stop during a walk on the Bund is the Customs House, an eight-story building built in 1927.

Like its neighbor the HSBC Building, the Customs House has long been a symbol of the Bund. You can see a large clock nicknamed “Big Ching.”

Huangpu Park

Located at the northern end of the Bund, right next to the river, this small park is a charming island of greenery, an ideal place for a moment of rest after a walk on the Bund.

You will see the Monument to the Heroes of the People, a large concrete commemorative stele in memory of those who fought to free Shanghai from foreign powers.

Next to it is the War Memorial, in homage to the soldiers who fell during the First World War. History buffs should visit the Bund Historical Museum, also located in Huangpu Park.

The Bund Tourist Tunnel

Another highlight is a ride through the tunnel that runs from the Bund to the “Oriental Pearl” TV tower on the other side of the river.

The ride doesn’t last long, just 5 minutes, but lights and visuals are projected onto the walls. The experience is unique.

Price: 45 RMB

Huangpu River Cruise

There is no better way to enjoy views of both the towering skyscrapers of Pudong New Area and the Bund’s characteristic colonial architecture than via a cruise along the Huangpu River, the waterway that cuts through the heart of Shanghai.

A popular activity among visitors, this cruise will give you a unique glimpse of Shanghai’s one-of-a-kind mix of old and new.

Tips for your Shanghai itinerary:

The Huangpu River Cruise leaves from Shiliupu Wharf, at the southern end of the Bund. Tickets can be purchased in person at the wharf.

There are cruises of varying durations, ranging from 30 minutes to 3.5 hours, so you can choose which route and length is best for your schedule.

The most popular route, and the one we recommend for most visitors, is the standard 50-minute trip, which takes you past all of Pudong’s most impressive skyscrapers, including Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Oriental Pearl TV Tower, as well as the Bund’s many famous buildings. This cruise route circles back and ends at its starting point, Shiliupu Wharf.

We recommend taking the Huangpu River Cruise in the evening to make the most of Shanghai’s impressive nighttime lights. Cruises usually leave every hour during the day and every 15 minutes at night, although the exact schedule varies by season. Be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before your departure time to allow enough time for boarding.

Cruise boats vary in terms of size and amenities—some are more modern and are equipped with a bar and restaurant, while others are more basic, although all are perfectly safe and comfortable. Since you’ll likely be spending most of your time on deck taking pictures of the amazing skyline, the amenities inside the boat may not affect your experience too much. If you prefer to sit and dine in comfort during the ride, you can select one of the cruises that includes a meal.

How to Get There

Located directly south of the Bund, Shiliupu Wharf can easily be reached by car, bus, or subway. You may also be able to walk there, depending on where you are heading from. The wharf is just a short 10-minute walk from Yu Garden, for instance.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices

Opening hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm
Ticket price: 120 RMB (sightseeing only, no meal or snacks—prices vary for cruises that offer food)
Recommended duration of this activity: 1-2 hours

Day 2: Zhujiajiao Water Town

From its past the city has preserved picturesque and emblematic testimonies: its many canals dug by man. The many waterways have remained intact over the years.

Zhujiajiao Water Town, on the outskirts of Shanghai, is a typical example of ancient Chinese canal towns. It is famous throughout the country for its architecture, its excellent state of preservation and its rivers.

A visit to Zhujiajiao will make you forget the hustle and bustle of the city for a morning or even a day.

Tips for your Shanghai itinerary:

Known as the “Venice of Shanghai,” Zhujiajiao Water Town is a heavenly hideaway; it is very representative of ancient Chinese water towns , with its peaceful canals, old cobbled streets, bridges and houses and buildings dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

You will be charmed by the narrow winding streets of Zhujiajiao and its quiet canals as you stroll through the city. For a small fee you can take a trip in a traditional boat to see the picturesque spots of this famous spa town and soak up its bucolic atmosphere.

The city’s 36 bridges are renowned for the superb views they offer over the many waterways. Fangsheng Bridge is the longest and largest. Its construction dates back to the 1500s. The Lang Bridge is the only wooden bridge, it is like a long corridor that spans the canals.

North Street is also worth a visit. Barely a kilometer long, so easy to navigate, it is lined with ancient buildings and bridges that date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

From North Street, across the Dianpu River, you will find Kezhi Park, a large traditional garden. Climb the park hill to reach the highest point of the city at the “Moon View Pavilion”.

Zhujiajiao Water Town is easily accessible from Shanghai by taxi, bus, or subway.

Fee: Visiting Zhujiajiao Water Town is free, but you will need to pay an entrance fee to many sites in town. A 120 RMB pass will get you access to the boat ride as well as nine of the city’s top sites. A 60 RMB pass will give you access to eight sites, excluding the boat tour.

Accommodation in Shanghai

The best areas to stay in Shanghai include:

The Bund

✔ Best area to stay in Shanghai for sightseeing & first-time travellers

Recommended hotels near The Bund

Thanks to its central location and 24/7 popularity with tourists, hotels in & around The Bund area, unsurprisingly, come at a premium. Most of the selection here sits in the mid-range to luxury categories including some of the sleekest 5-star hotels in Shanghai and even in all of China.

• Shanghai Fish Inn East Nanjing Road: The best budget pick in the district, this boutique hotel offers clean newly-renovated room on a quiet side street just minutes from the action of The Bund and Nanjing Road.
• Metropolo Classiq Shanghai Off Bund: An elegant mid-range hotel featuring spacious rooms with extras like soaker tubs built for your relaxation. The higher-end offerings include private balconies with spectacular views towards the Pudong skyline.
• Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund: A stunning boutique hotel with ultra-stylish rooms affixed with unique artwork and modern furnishings and decor with a Chinese twist. The hotel’s chic rooftop bar is one of the finest places in the city to enjoy a cocktail to dramatic skyline views.
• Fairmont Peace Hotel On the Bund: A Shanghai accommodations classic, this illustrious Bund hotel has a history dating back over 80 years and has played host to most celebrities than any other hotel in the city. Besides the elegant rooms, guests will be charmed by the hotel’s world-class amenities from its famous Jazz Bar to the soothing treatments at the Willow Stream Spa.

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Nanjing Road & People’s Square

✔ Top neighbourhood to stay in Shanghai for shopping & eating to your heart’s content

Recommended hotels near Nanjing Road & People’s Square

It shouldn’t be surprisingly that with such a central location, hotels here don’t necessarily come cheap. Most of the selection around East Nanjing Road is in the mid-range with true budget and higher-end luxury picks a little more difficult to find.

• The Phoenix Hostel Shanghai LaoShan: One of the few recommended budget choices around here, this property features both dorms and private rooms with private bathrooms to its guests. The location, within five-minute walking distance from People’s Square Station, is extra convenient.
• The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai: A lovely hotel featuring a supremely elegant style that blends Art Deco sophistication with Chinese sensibilities. Guests will love the three on-site restaurants—serving everything from Cantonese to modern Italian—as well as enjoying at nightcap at the classy on-site cocktail lounge, The Bar.
• Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World: Although its rooms are a little less flashy than other hotels in the area, this delightful mid-range Shanghai hotel is still a charmer with a host of superb amenities including five on-site restaurants to try, a palatial indoor pool, mini-golf facilities, and a day spa. The location one-minute away from the People’s Square metro station doesn’t hurt either.
• Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre: Offering spacious rooms with dramatic skyline views, this superb luxury hotel checks all the boxes for the perfect place to stay in the centre of Shanghai. Both Nanjing East Road and People’s Square are just five minutes away.
• JW Marriott Shanghai at Tomorrow Square: One of the finest luxury picks in the district, this lofty 5-star hotel delights with soaring views and a glut of amenities that’ll have you singing its praises. Don’t miss out on its stunning outdoor pool and its insane vistas over the city centre.

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Old City

✔ Best area to stay for uncovering Shanghai’s ancient roots

While it’s admittedly a little kitschy at times, Old City offers a fleeting glimpse at Shanghai’s historical character outside of its colonial quarters.

Hidden within its disorganized warren of narrow alleyways and along historic merchant roads lined with traditional Chinese architecture, the spirit of ancient Shanghai lives on—even if it’s just a tiny taste.

Recommended hotels in Old City

• Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel: A simple modern Shanghai hotel just a few blocks from the ancient city wall that’s by far the best budget place to stay in the area. Rooms are spotless and feature upgraded facilities & contemporary furnishings. Both Yuyuan Garden and The Bund are fifteen minutes away by foot.
• SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund: A lovely mid-range boutique hotel perched on the edge of the Old City just steps from one of the few remaining sections of ancient city wall. The rooms here are elegant and larger than most in China, impressing with superb skyline views.
• Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel: The best hotel in the area, this fantastic luxury property draws travellers in with expansive guestrooms that defy Shanghai’s usually tight standards. Relax to the lights of the ancient quarter or Pudong in the hotel’s restaurant, bar, indoor pool or ever your own private soaker tub in your room to get the full Renaissance experience.

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Former French Concession

✔ Top-rated area to stay in Shanghai for discovering leafy boulevards, elegant bars & cafés, and hip restaurants

By far the most surprising neighbourhood in Shanghai, the Former French Concession is not just one of the city’s best districts to explore, but one of the most recommended areas to stay.

Recommended hotels in the French Concession

• Hotel Equatorial Shanghai: With a shortage of good budget hotels, this low-mid-range hotel offers one of the best balances between budget-friendliness and quality in the French Concession. Rooms are fairly standard stock, but extras like an indoor pool & well-equipped gym tip the scales in this property’s favour.
• Shanghai Donghu Hotel: A classy mid-range luxury hotel in the historic heart of the Former French Concession. The rooms exude a traditional oriental elegance and are more spacious than average.
• InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin: A candidate for the absolute best hotel in the OFC, this luxurious property is hidden away on a leafy avenue that feels more like an exclusive French villa than a hotel in the middle of one of the world’s largest cities. From the elegant old world decor to the lush park-like grounds, there’s no experience quite like this in China’s largest city.
• The Puli Hotel And Spa: An elegant property nestled into the northern fringes of the French Concession near Jing’an. Rooms are outfitted with sleek modern furnishings and peer out onto the Shanghai cityscape with gusto through floor-to-ceiling windows. Slip into the steam room, hot spring tub or infinity pool for the ultimate in relaxation.

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Jing’an

✔ Best district to stay in Shanghai for great shopping, eating & more affordable luxury

Located just west of the Nanjing East Road & People’s Square, Jing’an is among the most popular neighbourhoods in Shanghai for expats thanks to its excellent transportation connections, wide array of housing options as well as deluge of shopping malls, cafés and restaurants.

Recommended hotels in Jing’an

As one of the most popular options for where to stay in Shanghai, there’s plenty of choice for travellers in Jing’an. Most accommodations here fall into the mid-range.

There’s also a fairly large concentration of 5-star hotels in Jing’an, making it, along with Lujiazui and The Bund, a first-class district for luxury travellers, although at more affordable prices than either.

• Campanile Shanghai Natural History Museum Hotel: The best hotel in Jing’an for budget travellers, this property surprises with clean modern rooms that don’t suffer the same cramped quarters or low quality of most offerings in the price range.
• URBN Boutique Shanghai: A hip & trendy mid-range boutique hotel boasting a unique design aesthetic that fuses modern urban elements with Asian motifs. The entire property is designed to be eco-friendly from the mysterious bamboo garden to the locally-sourced seafood at the on-site bistro.
• InterContinental Shanghai Jing’an: A excellent value luxury hotel with all the amenities you’d come to expect from IHG. Enjoy a range of Asian cuisines to try from Cantonese & Shanghainese to Sichuan & Japanese in one of the hotel’s seven on-site restaurants. Skyline views from the expansive guestrooms are simply breathtaking.
• Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai: A stunner among Shanghai hotels, this luxurious hotel lives up to its parent’s brand with a gentle mix of pure sophistication and modernity. Everything from the charming rooms to the soothing on-site spa spells out a dream-like choice for where to stay in Shanghai.

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Lujiazui

✔ Best area to stay for basking in the ultimate in Shanghai luxury experience

Recommended hotels in Lujiazui

With much of Shanghai’s wheelin’ and dealin’ taking place in the lofty skyscrapers of Lujiazui, the district focuses extensively on the high-end of the market.

Not surprisingly, Lujiazui and Pudong are home to many of the best luxury hotels in Shanghai at prices that fit their unmatched swankiness.

• Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai: One of the most affordable 5-stars in Lujiazui, this grand luxury hotel charms guests with its art-deco-inspired rooms that sport floor-to-ceiling windows peering onto Shanghai & the river. Seven dining options as well as a fully-equipped health club—with everything from an indoor pool to a spa—await.
• Grand Hyatt Shanghai: Located in the upper echelons of Jin Mao Tower, this lofty luxury Shanghai hotel unleashes mega-sized rooms with interiors inspired by art-deco. If the skyline views through the large panoramic windows in your room aren’t quite enough, retire to the Sky Pool or the popular rooftop Cloud 9 Patio & Piano Bar for some of Shanghai’s most incredible vistas.
• Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai: A classy & elegant property leaning more towards the traditional than the modern with its cultured decor & furnishings. The deluxe rooms are a superb value for Lujiazui, but the hotel’s Horizon rooms will truly take your breath away.
• The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong: Perhaps the best luxury hotel in Shanghai, this exquisite property boasts one of the premier locations in the city with the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower staring it down at every angle. There’s a whole slew of superb amenities here from a indoor infinity pool to a spa, but none is more unique than Flair, a rooftop restaurant & bar that soars as the highest, not just in Shanghai, but in China.

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Shanghai Tourist Map

Here is a tourist map of Shanghai, which will help you spot the main places to visit in town!

And you, what are you planning to visit in Shanghai?

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