For first-time visitors, if you only have two or three days in Shanghai, don't try to fit in every famous attraction, but know which experiences are actually worth your time.
Instead of planning Shanghai by the number of places you visit, plan it by experiencing the city's different faces.
Imagine yourself walking through streets shaped by history, tasting flavors that have been part of the city for generations, and ending the day watching the lights from the famous Pudong Skyline.
These moments show why Shanghai is not just another modern metropolis, but one of the most memorable stops on a China journey.
This guide is organised by experiences rather than by attraction popularity, helping you balance Shanghai’s historic charm, local life, and futuristic energy without wasting hours on places that may not match your expectations.
- What's Actually Worth Your Time in Shanghai
- Top Things to Do in Shanghai
- How to Prioritize If You Have 1, 2, or 3 Days
- FAQs
How to Decide What's Actually Worth Your Time in Shanghai
Shanghai has more attractions and experiences than you could possibly fit into one trip.
If your time is limited, don't try to check off every famous landmark. Instead, prioritize experiences that help you understand what makes Shanghai unique.
We believe the three experiences most worth your time are its history, its everyday life, and its vision of the future. Together, they show you where Shanghai came from, how it lives today, and where it is heading next.
1. Step Into Shanghai's History, Not Just Its Landmarks
Shanghai's historic neighborhoods are worth your time because they show you how the city's past still shapes its modern identity.
Instead of simply ticking off historic buildings as sightseeing stops, walk through neighborhoods where the past is still part of everyday life.
Old residences sit alongside cafés, local shops, and modern businesses, giving you a chance to experience how Shanghai has evolved without leaving its history behind.
2. Experience How Shanghai Actually Lives
To truly experience Shanghai, you don't travel all this way to see how it performs for tourists, but to delve into the city locals actually live in.
From food and morning markets to neighborhood streets and ordinary daily routines, these experiences help you understand the rhythm, character, and energy of Shanghai in a way that famous attractions alone cannot.
What makes its neighborhoods so special is that none of them feels preserved for tourists; it simply feels lived in.
3. See Shanghai's Leap from Past to Future
Shanghai's skyline is worth your time because few places make the city's transformation so visible, both from above and on the river.
In a single view, you can see the contrast between its historic roots and its futuristic ambitions, giving you a sense of how dramatically the city has changed and how fast it is moving forward.
Top Things to Do in Shanghai (Ranked by Experience Value)
Instead of ranking these experiences by how famous the landmarks are, we have ordered them by something more meaningful: the depth of what you actually take away to carry home from each one.
But if you have to pick just two or three, start at the top and work your way down.
1. Walk Along the Bund: See Shanghai’s Past and Future Face Each Other
If there is one single spot that justifies the phrase "Shanghai," it is the Bund.
To get the full effect, the skyline is at its best between 6 PM and 8 PM, when the fading daylight softens the horizon and the new towers begin to sparkle one by one.
Evening is when you will witness the entire riverbank transform into a glowing runway, and the “wow” will remind you why this spot tops our list. But if you want fewer crowds, arrive 30–40 minutes before sunset and stay until the lights come on.
For those who want to explore the Bund in-depth, we recommend a walking tour by day.
Our guide will walk you through the history of the row of buildings that blend European and Chinese architectural styles and how they survived the war, such as Astor House Hotel, Peace Hotel, and the former HSBC Building.
We are not trying to give you a history lesson, but a chance to see that Shanghai did not erase its past to become modern: it simply built the new by rooting around the old.
If you want to see more aspects of the Bund besides the classic one, combine your Bund walk with a stroll through Waibaidu Bridge to North Bund Green Land, where you find significantly fewer people, unobstructed skyline views, and rewarding scenery along the way.
2. Explore the Former French Concession: Shanghai’s Most Walkable Historic Area
For visitors who wonder whether Shanghai is nothing but concrete and glass, the Former French Concession tells a different story.
The Former French Concession is at its most lively on weekday mornings (before 9 AM). You'll see locals buying breakfast, walking dogs, opening neighborhood shops, and daily life unfolding beneath the shade of leafy, towering plane trees over quiet, winding streets.
As you wander, keep your eyes open for the old villas with red ceramic roofs and black iron balconies, where elderly residents play chess on folding tables along the streets.
The narrow lilong lanes lead you to hidden courtyards and the tiny cafés that have set up shop in them. Young white-collar workers can always find these quiet hidden gems, enjoy a serene space sipping coffee while tapping on laptops.
If you'd like to explore these quieter lanes without worrying about navigation, our private walking experience combines local food stops with the neighborhood stories most visitors miss.
3. Taste Shanghai Through Time-Honored Food and Local Flavors
When you start wondering what you should eat in Shanghai, the real question is often: "What will help me understand this city through its flavors?" Embarking on a Shanghai Benbang food adventure may give you the answer.
Our local food walks focus on carefully selected century-old restaurants still loved by Shanghai locals, rather than tourist-only stops. From Dexingguan and Lao Zheng Xing to other historic eateries, you'll taste each restaurant’s signature dish and discover the classic flavors that generations of Shanghai diners have enjoyed.
Feel free to inform your tour guide of your dietary restrictions and allergies in advance so they can make further recommendations.
However, these famed restaurants generally require you to take a number and wait in line, so it's best to arrive as early as possible during peak meal times to minimize the chance of queuing, such as around 11:00 AM or 5:00 PM.
Want to learn how to cook so you can recreate its delicious flavors at home? Travel with China Highlights, and we'll take you from buying ingredients at a local Shanghai market to visiting a local resident's home in a lilong alley, where you'll quickly learn how to make easy and delicious dishes in a cooking class.
4. See Shanghai from Above: Choose One Skyscraper Experience
The city offers multiple observation decks on the skyscrapers, and the choice can easily become overwhelming.
Our advice is simple: if this is your first time in Shanghai, just pick the Shanghai Tower and be done with it.
As the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world, it gives you the ultimate advantage of looking down on its two famous neighbors—the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower—rather than looking up at them from ground level.
The elevator ride to the 118th floor is an experience in itself, and the 360-degree views from the top give you a comprehensive understanding of Shanghai's urban layout.
If watching the sunset above is a must for you, it's recommended that you arrive around 4 PM to avoid long queues that could delay your trip.
For a romantic night, we can help you reserve a dinner on the 119th floor around 6 PM, where you can witness the city light up after the stunning sunset with your loved one.
5. Cruise Huangpu River at Night: See the City Change After Dark
Shanghai feels busy and businesslike during the day, but takes on a completely different personality once the lights come up: more glamorous, more mysterious, and undeniably more romantic.
You can tell the night version of Shanghai feels like a different city altogether.
As we mentioned, besides taking an evening walk along the Bund and having a romantic dinner on the top of the Shanghai Tower, consider a brief Huangpu River night cruise if you truly want to be surrounded by the spectacle.
Being on a cruise ship means you're surrounded by beautiful scenery, with ever-changing views and a stunning skyline every second. What’s more, the cruise ship has a VIP area, which is perfect for those who want to avoid crowds and simply enjoy the scenery in peace.
We suggest taking the classic route, embarking from Shiliupu Marina for about 45 minutes, so you can slow-glide across the water, feel the gentle river breeze, with skyscrapers towering on both sides that no land-based viewpoint can replicate.
For more detailed information, check out: Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise: Route, Price, Tips
How to Prioritize If You Have 1, 2, or 3 Days in Shanghai
The most common mistake travelers make with a Shanghai itinerary is trying to do everything and ending up exhausted without truly experiencing anything.
Leave your days open for discovery, and engage deeply with each experience.
One Day in Shanghai: Sample the Essentials
If you only have 24 hours in Shanghai, your goal should be to feel its most dramatic contrasts in the most efficient way possible.
- Morning: Explore the Former French Concession by strolling along the streets lined with leafy plane trees.
- Afternoon: Admire the classical Yu Garden for its curved bridges and delicate pavilions. The bazaar outside the garden is also worth your time.
- Night: Arrive at the Bund before sunset for the spectacular skyline.
This single day will give you three distinct Shanghais: the elegant, the classical, and the futuristic. All without rushing from one corner of the city to the other.
Two Days in Shanghai: Explore by Neighbourhood
With two days, you have the luxury of slowing down and letting each area reveal itself at its own pace. The smartest strategy is to plan your time by neighbourhood, so you are not wasting valuable hours on cross-city commutes.
- Explore the Huangpu District from the Bund (1 Day): Visit the old buildings along the Bund promenade, shop at Nanjing Road, wander into the Yu Garden and nearby bazaars, and return to the Bund to witness the dazzling skyline.
- Feel Shanghai’s Lively Side from the Former French Concession (1 Day): Stroll around the Former French Concession for the shady streets, vintage boutique stores, and tiny cafés at a leisurely pace. Jing’an Temple or Jade Buddha Temple are also optional.
Three Days in Shanghai: Add a Day in Pudong's Future
Three days allow you to complete the time-travel experience by crossing the Huangpu River and spending a full day in Pudong, the district that represents Shanghai's tomorrow.
- Observe the Future Close Up in Pudong District (1 Day): Peak the Shanghai Tower for the panoramic view of Shanghai city, experience consumer technology at the DJI flagship store, and appreciate the sparkling Lujiazui skyline by taking the Huangpu River night cruise.
Extra Day Options: Time for a Side Trip
If your schedule allows for a fourth day or more, or you simply want to escape the urban intensity, Shanghai offers several compelling options that reward a full day's commitment.
- Zhujiajiao or Tongli Water Town: Take a boat tour to glide through its ancient canals, stone bridges, and centuries-old architecture.
- Shanghai Disneyland: Perfect for families traveling with kids to enjoy themselves in Asia’s biggest Disneyland.
- Suzhou: Appreciate classical Chinese gardens while dressing in traditional Han costumes to travel back in time.
- Hangzhou: While the West Lake is a must-see for first-timers, Hangzhou cuisine, exemplified by West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, is not to be missed.
- Wangxian Valley: It is more like an ancient Chinese theme park than an ancient town, but absolutely worth a night's stay for its stunning night view.
What Is Not Worth Spending Too Much Time On in Shanghai
The fear of wasting time is one of the most common anxieties travelers bring to Shanghai: there is too much for you to see, and not everything deserves your precious hours.
- Skip the over-commercialised shopping streets that you can find everywhere. Streets like Nanjing Road are not bad, but if you have limited time, unless you specifically want to buy limited-edition items at certain stores (such as the Pop Mart Global Flagship Store on Nanjing East Road), it's completely skippable.
- Visiting more than one observation deck is a classic trap. Aside from the different observation deck heights, the views from the top of Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, and Jin Mao Tower are fundamentally the same. Choose one (preferably Shanghai Tower) and move on; the time you save can be spent in a park or a café where you will actually absorb the city's atmosphere.
- Most importantly, stop trying to cover every attraction on your list. Shanghai's true value does not come from checking off landmarks. Allow yourself to pause, to look around, and let the city reveal itself at its own pace.
FAQs
Are there any unusual things to do in Shanghai besides the classical ones?
- Shanghai Tian An 1000 Trees: You won’t regret coming and taking a photo here, as it features over 400 open terraces, each planted with real trees, creating a forest-like appearance that has earned it nicknames like "Shanghai's Hanging Gardens of Babylon" and the "vertical forest".
- Shanghai Aurora Art Museum: Unlike the grand Shanghai Museum with its sprawling collections, the Aurora Art Museum is more private and has a stronger design personality. The museum is far less crowded, allowing you to appreciate the exhibits in peace and create a closer connection with your mind.
- Shanghai People’s Square: Take your time on a weekend morning, and visit a corner of People's Park that transforms into what is known as the "parental dating market". You’ll see a side of Shanghai that no guidebook could ever fully capture, where Chinese parents of unmarried adults gather, bringing printed "resumes" of their children and displaying them for blind dates.
Will my kids feel bored in Shanghai? Anywhere else to visit besides Disneyland?
- LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort: You and your kids can easily spend 5 hours exploring this LEGOLAND theme park with an average wait time of less than 20 minutes. In contrast, without FastPass, you could wait for hours at Shanghai Disneyland.
- The Shanghai Wild Animal Zoo: Great for children who love animals and outdoor exploration. It offers the rare opportunity to observe animals in more natural, open enclosures rather than cramped cages, like giant pandas and red pandas.
- The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: Excellent for curious young minds who enjoy learning about the world through hands-on play. It covers everything from robotics to human biology, and the interactive exhibits keep kids entertained for hours without feeling like schoolwork.
- The Shanghai Astronomy Museum: One of the largest and most advanced astronomy museums in the world. Let your children stand on the shoulders of scientific giants and gaze into the cosmos through cutting-edge displays and immersive simulations.
Explore Shanghai with China Highlights
Before you actually set foot on Shanghai soil, what do you hope to gain from this trip?
Well, we would like to show you what we know about Shanghai: the contrast between old streets and modern towers, traditional flavors of centuries-old legacies, lively neighborhoods, and a glowing skyline by the river.
With the right pace and route, even a short stay can reveal the many sides of this fascinating city.
If you would like to experience Shanghai beyond the typical sightseeing checklist, our local travel experts can help design a private itinerary based on your interests, travel pace, and the way you want to experience China.