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Things to Do in Shanghai (2026)
The Bund is Shanghai's iconic waterfront promenade, lined with historic colonial buildings. Stroll along the Huangpu River for unbeatable views of the futuristic Pudong skylinβ¦ ποΈ Start on the Bund
The Bund is Shanghai's iconic waterfront promenade, lined with historic colonial buildings. Stroll along the Huangpu River for unbeatable views of the futuristic Pudong skyline. Arrive before sunset to watch the city lights flicker on across the water.
πΏ Escape to Yu Garden
Yu Garden is a classical Ming Dynasty garden in the Old City, offering tranquil pavilions, rockeries, and koi ponds. Admission is 40 RMB, and it's open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Nearby, the Yuyuan Bazaar is perfect for souvenir shopping and tasting xiaolongbao.
ποΈ Rise Above in Pudong
For panoramic views, head to the Shanghai Tower, the world's second-tallest building. The observation deck on the 118th floor costs 180 RMB and offers a breathtaking 360-degree perspective. Alternatively, the Oriental Pearl Tower has a glass-bottomed skywalk for an adrenaline kick.
π¨ Explore the French Concession
The French Concession is a leafy neighborhood with tree-lined streets, art deco villas, and chic boutiques. Visit the former residence of Sun Yat-sen at 7 Xiangshan Road, or browse contemporary art at the Power Station of Art. It's a great area for cafΓ©-hopping and people-watching.
π Taste Local Street Food
Don't miss shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns) at Yang's Fried Dumpling on Huanghe Road, where a portion costs just 8 RMB. For a sit-down meal, head to Din Tai Fung in Xintiandi for world-class xiaolongbao. The Yunnan Road Food Street is also a vibrant spot for evening snacks.
π Navigate Like a Local
Shanghai's metro is efficient and covers most attractions, with single rides costing 3-10 RMB. Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card for convenience, or use Alipay's transport feature. Taxis are affordable but avoid rush hour (8-10 AM and 5-7 PM) to skip traffic.
π Experience Nightlife in Xintiandi
Xintiandi is a stylish entertainment district with restored shikumen houses housing bars, restaurants, and clubs. For a rooftop view, visit the bar at The Shanghai EDITION hotel on Nanjing Road. Cover charges are rare, but drinks cost around 60-100 RMB.
ποΈ Shop on Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road is one of the world's busiest shopping streets, stretching 5.5 kilometers from the Bund to Jing'an Temple. It's packed with flagship stores, department stores, and local brands. For luxury goods, head to Plaza 66, while the pedestrian section is great for budget finds.
The Yu Garden tip is spot on, but I'd suggest going when it opens at 8:30 AM. By 10 the crowds start piling in and you lose the peaceful vibe that makes it special. The rockery in the center is the highlight, it's a miniature version of a mountain landscape designed so you can only see part of it at a time.
For the street food section, Yang's is great but the original location on Huanghe Road gets a huge line. There's a second Yang's on Wujiang Road that's less crowded and tastes exactly the same. Also worth trying are the scallion oil noodles at a tiny place called Lao Di Fang on Yunnan Road, it's 12 RMB and locals pack it out at lunch.
adding to the xintiandi suggestion, if you want a more local nightlife scene head to the yongkang road area instead. it's a short walk from the french concession and has a row of tiny bars where you can grab a beer for 15-20 rmb, way cheaper than the 60-100 at xintiandi. the vibe is more laid back, people just standing on the street chatting, and it stays busy until late.
for the bund, the ferry tip is good but i'd also say walk along the entire length from the garden bridge down to the old city wall near the south end. most people just do the main middle section and miss the quieter parts where you can actually sit on a bench and take it in without someone's selfie stick in your face. the public toilets along that stretch are also cleaner than the ones near the main tourist spots, trust me on that one lol
Honestly this is a great guide, covers everything without being too much. One thing I'd add is that if you're on the Bund around sunset, walk north toward the Waibaidu Bridge instead of just sticking to the main stretch. The old iron bridge has this great view of both the historic buildings and Pudong, and the light hits the water in a way that's hard to beat. It's also way less crowded than the main promenade.
For the food section, there's a place called Da Hu Chun on Zhejiang Road that does the best shengjian in the city imo. It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall, 8 RMB for four buns, and the bottoms are perfectly crispy. The line moves fast and most people are locals grabbing takeaway, so you know it's legit.
Shanghai hidden gems beyond the Bund?
honestly skip the bund crowds and head to the former french concession around wukang road. grab a coffee at some random lane spot, the whole area has these old lane houses that feel way more real than the skyline. also check out the rock bund art museum near the south bund, it's in this old industrial building with killer views and barely any tourists last time i was there. if u want food, go to tianzifang but skip the main alleys and wander into the side lanes, you'll find a tiny dumpling place that's like 15 yuan for 10 pieces
if you're around on a weekend morning, hit up the antique market on dongtai road before it fully gentrifies. it's mostly gone now tbh but there's still a few stalls tucked near the intersection with liuhe road, you'll find old propaganda posters and weird mao-era knickknacks for like 20 kuai. also the shanghai natural history museum in jing'an is underrated, the building itself is this wild spiral shape and the dinosaur skeletons are legit impressive, plus it's like 30 yuan entry. for a quiet evening walk i'd do the suzhou creek path near the north bund but go west from the waibaidu bridge, past the old post office building, there's a stretch where the lights hit the water just right and nobody's around
yeah if you want something totally different check out the long museum (long museum west bund) it's this massive space with rotating contemporary art, way less crowded than the power station of art. also walk the suzhou creek trail near the north bund, it's kinda rough around the edges but you get these weird views of old factories mixed with new towers