City guide · China
Shanghai’s visitor core spans both sides of the Huangpu River. The Bund, People’s Square and Nanjing Road anchor Puxi, while Lujiazui’s towers rise directly opp...
Photograph · King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Shanghai’s visitor core spans both sides of the Huangpu River. The Bund, People’s Square and Nanjing Road anchor Puxi, while Lujiazui’s towers rise directly opposite in Pudong. The former French Concession spreads southwest through tree-lined neighbourhoods, and older water towns or distant cultural sites require journeys beyond the central metro grid.
Checked 2026-08-26
September · September cools Shanghai to a 27.2°C mean high, although precipitation peaks at 156.0 mm over 12 days.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
60 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
上海环球金融中心
Shanghai World Financial Center is a 492-metre, 101-storey skyscraper in Lujiazui, Pudong, completed in 2008 and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.
金茂大厦
Jin Mao Tower is a landmark skyscraper in the Lujiazui financial district of Shanghai's Pudong area. The building stands among the tallest structures in the city and has become an identifiable element of the skyline.
上海海洋水族馆
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is a major public aquarium located in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海海洋水族馆. The facility stands as one of the city's notable visitor attractions, recognized in broader assessments of Shanghai's tourism offerings.
上海邮政博物馆
The Shanghai Postal Museum occupies a historic building in the Hongkou district along the Suzhou Creek.
上海铁路博物馆
The Shanghai Railway Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of rail transport in Shanghai and China.
上海电影博物馆
The Shanghai Film Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to the history and art of Chinese cinema, with particular emphasis on Shanghai's foundational role in the nation's film industry.
上海玻璃博物馆
The Shanghai Museum of Glass is a museum dedicated to glass art and craft, located in Shanghai, China. It occupies a converted former glass factory site, repurposing industrial heritage into a cultural venue.
上海汽车博物馆
The Shanghai Auto Museum, known locally as 上海汽车博物馆, is a museum dedicated to automotive history and culture in Shanghai, China. It stands as a recognized visitor destination within the city's broader tourism landscape, noted among Shanghai's places of interest.
Shanghai Guanfu Museum is a private museum located in Shanghai, China. It was founded by Ma Weidu, a well-known Chinese antique collector and television personality.
武康大楼
Wukang Mansion, known locally as 武康大楼, is a historic apartment building located in Shanghai's former French Concession area. The building stands at the intersection of multiple streets, creating a distinctive triangular footprint.
复兴公园
Fuxing Park, known locally as 复兴公园, is a public park located in Shanghai's former French Concession area. Established during the colonial era, it reflects European garden design influences uncommon in Chinese urban green spaces.
静安寺
Jing'an Temple, known locally as 静安寺, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Shanghai's Jing'an District. The temple stands as one of Shanghai's most recognizable religious landmarks, situated in a prominent urban position amid modern commercial development.
上海城隍庙
The Shanghai City God Temple, known locally as 上海城隍庙, is a historic Taoist temple complex located in Shanghai's old city district. It serves as a cultural and religious center dedicated to the city's protective deity.
徐家汇圣依纳爵主教座堂
Saint Ignatius Cathedral, known locally as Xujiahui Catholic Church, stands as a prominent Catholic cathedral in Shanghai's Xujiahui district. The cathedral represents one of Shanghai's most recognizable religious landmarks and holds significance in the city's architectural and cultural heritage.
佘山进教之佑圣母大殿
Sheshan Basilica, known locally as 佘山进教之佑圣母大殿, stands as a significant Catholic pilgrimage site on Shanghai's western outskirts. Perched atop Sheshan Hill, this landmark represents one of China's most prominent surviving ecclesiastical structures from the pre-1949 era.
龙华烈士陵园
Longhua Martyrs Cemetery is a major memorial site in Shanghai, located in the Xuhui District.
新场古镇
Xinchang Ancient Town, known locally as 新场古镇, is a historic water town located in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China. It represents a preserved example of traditional Jiangnan architecture and canal-town settlement patterns.
Fengjing Ancient Town is a historic water town located in the Jinshan District of southwestern Shanghai. The settlement traces its origins to the Yuan dynasty and developed significantly during the Ming and Qing periods.
上海植物园
Shanghai Botanical Garden, known locally as 上海植物园, is a botanical garden in Shanghai, China. It serves as a space for plant conservation, scientific research, and public recreation.
共青森林公园
Gongqing Forest Park is a large urban park located in Yangpu District, Shanghai. The park occupies substantial green space in northeastern Shanghai and represents one of the city's significant forest park developments.
上海动物园
Shanghai Zoo is a large zoological garden in Shanghai, known locally as 上海动物园. The grounds combine animal viewing, landscaped walking routes and public education across a substantial urban site.
上海海昌海洋公园
Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is a major marine-themed amusement park in Shanghai, China. Opened in 2018, it represents a significant tourism investment in the Pudong New Area, near the Dishui Lake region.
上海野生动物园
Shanghai Wild Animal Park is a zoological garden in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海野生动物园. The park is identified in OpenStreetMap data as way/182969057.
梅赛德斯-奔驰文化中心
Mercedes-Benz Arena is a major indoor arena located in Shanghai, China. The venue serves as a prominent entertainment and sports complex on the Pudong side of the Huangpu River, within the Expo Park area developed for the Shanghai World Expo.
上海大剧院
Shanghai Grand Theatre is a major performing arts venue in Shanghai, China. The building stands as a prominent cultural landmark in the city, designed for opera, ballet, symphony concerts, and other large-scale theatrical productions.
Walk the Bund and Nanjing Road as one Puxi route, with People’s Square and its museums nearby. Cross by metro or ferry for Lujiazui rather than treating it as the same walking cluster. Yu Garden and the old city form another compact zone, while the former French Concession rewards a separate route through several neighbourhoods.
Checked 2026-08-26
The municipal guide describes the metro as an efficient way to cross Shanghai’s large urban area. Use it between Puxi, Pudong and the former French Concession, then walk locally. Single tickets, transport cards and supported contactless options are available under current rules. Ferries can make useful river crossings, while suburban water towns need additional rail or road planning.
Checked 2026-08-26
A fixed stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around the Bund, People’s Square, Lujiazui and the former French Concession, then add water towns and suburban districts only when the available time supports a separate journey.
Group places by district instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Start with the Bund, People’s Square, Lujiazui and the former French Concession; treat water towns and suburban districts as separate routes with their own travel allowance.
Use Walking, metro, bus and ferry. Walk within compact clusters and consult the linked official transport information before making longer transfers or relying on a particular route.
Only within individual neighbourhood clusters. The main visitor areas are separated by distances, waterways, major roads or regional approaches, so longer links normally need public transport or a licensed vehicle.
Plan water towns and suburban districts separately from the Bund, People’s Square, Lujiazui and the former French Concession. Check the current route, return connection and any access requirements on the official source before departure.
