honestly the bund sightseeing tunnel is a waste of money, it's just a tacky light show in a tunnel. skip it and just walk the promenade, the views are way better for free. the grand hyatt restaurant is solid but if you want something more casual try lost heaven on the bund, it's upscale yunnan food with a view and less touristy

for day 2 i'd actually recommend huamu park over century park, it's smaller and way less crowded, plus there's a nice little lake with paddle boats. century park gets packed on weekends with families and it's too big to enjoy in a quick visit

the china art museum is a gem, the spiral ramp alone is worth going for. if you're into architecture the original expo site buildings are cool to walk around too, most people just go to the museum and leave

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I've done this exact route a few times and it works well. One thing I'd add for Day 1 is that the Shanghai Tower's 118th floor observation deck gets crowded fast, but the 121st floor bar (Jin Dian Lounge) lets you in for just the price of a drink, around 80 RMB for a coffee. No queue, same view, and you can take your time.

For Day 2, if you skip Disney, consider the Shanghai Museum of Glass on Changjiang West Road instead of the library. It's a bit further south but the building itself is stunning, all glass and light, and the entry is only 20 RMB. The permanent collection has some wild pieces from Chinese artists you won't see anywhere else. It's a 30 minute metro ride from Century Park but worth the trip.

Day 3's China Art Museum is my favorite spot in Pudong. If you go on a weekday morning you'll practically have the place to yourself. The spiral ramp takes you up through six floors of exhibits, and the top floor has a balcony that looks out over the entire expo site. I spent two hours there and only saw maybe ten other people.

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Solid itinerary, covers the big bases without feeling rushed. One thing I'd swap on Day 1 is the Oriental Art Center cafe for lunch. It's fine if you need a quick bite, but the food is overpriced and average. Instead, walk five minutes north to the Kerry Center on Huamu Road. There's a Din Tai Fung in the basement that's reliable, and the food court has a ton of options under 50 RMB. You'll eat better and still be close to the metro for the science museum.

For Day 3, if you go to the China Art Museum, check if the elevated promenade outside is open. It was part of the original Expo site and runs along the river for about a kilometer. You get a great angle on the Lupu Bridge and it's usually empty compared to the Bund. It's a nice quiet walk to end the trip without fighting crowds.

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good guide, covers the basics well. one thing nobody mentions is the ferry across the river, the 2 RMB public ferry from dongchang road to the bund side. way better than the sightseeing tunnel which is a total tourist trap. at night the skyline from the water is unreal and you'll have it mostly to yourself.

for the shanghai tower, skip the official observation deck and go to the bar on the 88th floor of the jin mao instead. same view, no queue, and a drink costs less than the ticket. the bar staff don't care if you just order a soda and hang out for the sunset.

also, if u're near lujiazui at lunch, the food court under the super brand mall has a stall called "yang's fried dumplings" that does the crispy-bottomed sheng jian bao better than most sit-down places. 8 yuan for four, eat them standing at the counter like everyone else.

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solid guide, honestly covers most of it. one thing i'd add: the metro card is fine but if you're staying a while, just link your Alipay to the metro directly. saves you the 20 RMB deposit and the hassle of returning it. also, the Maglev is cool once, but the regular metro line 2 to the airport is half the price and only like 15 min slower, so unless u're in a rush, skip the gimmick.

for food, skip Din Tai Fung honestly. it's good but you can get xiaolongbao just as good at Jia Jia Tang Bao near the Bund for a third of the price. queue is long but moves fast. and for the Lujiazui seafood market, yeah it's fun but check the price per jin before you pick, some stalls try to upcharge tourists. bargain hard.

oh and if you're here on a weekend, the Science and Technology Museum underground market gets packed. go on a weekday morning if u can, way easier to browse without getting shoved.

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The guide's spot on about Alipay being essential. I'd add that you should set it up before you land, because linking your card can take a few tries and the airport Wi-Fi is patchy. Once it's working, you'll use it for everything from vending machines to the metro.

For the Shanghai Tower, I'd actually skip the official deck and go to the Jin Mao's 88th floor bar instead. Same skyline, no queue, and a coffee costs less than the 180 RMB ticket. The bartenders are used to people just coming for the view, so nobody rushes you.

One thing nobody mentions: the public ferry from Dongchang Road to the Bund side. It's 2 RMB and runs late, and at night you get the whole skyline from the water with maybe five other people on board. Way better than the sightseeing tunnel, which is just a neon tube with a price tag.

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