Shanghai is China’s largest city and its most international one, a port that grew rich in the nineteenth century and is now known for its skyline. It’s a city of contrasts: colonial-era banks on one side of the river, glass towers on the other, and a garden from 1559 a few streets from both. Most travelers need three days to enjoy it.
| The Bund | about 1.5 km, over 20 historic buildings |
|---|---|
| Yu Garden | built 1559 |
| Shanghai Tower | 632 m, completed 2016 |
| Oriental Pearl Tower | 468 m, opened 1995 |
| Maglev | 29.9 km, top speed 431 km/h |
The Bund
The Bund is a 1.5-kilometer promenade along the west bank of the Huangpu River, from Yan’an East Road to Waibaidu Bridge. More than 20 historic buildings line it, in a mix of styles, which is why Chinese writers call it a museum of international architecture. The area was a British concession from 1844 and became the financial center of China, once known as the “Wall Street of the East.” Walk it in the evening, when the buildings are lit and the Pudong towers are across the water.
Yu Garden
Yu Garden is a classical garden in the old city, built in 1559 by Pan Yunduan, an official who wanted to give his parents a place to enjoy in their old age; the name yu means “pleasing.” It was damaged repeatedly over the centuries and opened to the public in 1961. Look for the Jade Delicacy rock, one of the three great rocks of the Jiangnan region, and Dianchun Hall. The streets around the garden are crowded with shops and stalls, so go in the early morning if you can.
The Pudong skyline
Across the river, Pudong has the city’s tallest buildings. The Oriental Pearl Tower, 468 meters, opened in 1995 and was the tallest building in mainland China until 2007. Shanghai Tower, 632 meters with 130 floors, was completed in March 2016. Chinese sources report that its observation decks, on the 118th and 119th floors, are the highest in the world, and that it holds a 1,000-ton damper to steady it in wind. Choose one tower rather than all, and pick a clear day, as haze and cloud can hide the view.
The maglev train
The Shanghai maglev runs 29.9 kilometers between Longyang Road station and Pudong Airport. It’s the only high-speed magnetic levitation line in commercial service in the world. Its top speed is 431 km/h, though most trains run at 300 km/h, and since 2024 a few trips have been run at 430 km/h. It’s worth riding if you’re going to the airport anyway.
Zhujiajiao water town
Zhujiajiao, in Shanghai’s Qingpu district, is a canal town of the Jiangnan type, with stone bridges and old shopfronts. It grew rich on the rice trade in the Ming and Qing periods, and Shanghai named it a historic and cultural town in 1991. It’s a pleasant half-day, best on a weekday. See also our guides to the French Concession and Suzhou.
When to go and how long to stay
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable; summer is hot and humid. Three days cover the Bund, Yu Garden, Pudong and the French Concession, with a fourth for Zhujiajiao or a trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou. See our guides to Hangzhou and Beijing, and our China tours.
Planning Shanghai with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. In Shanghai that means a private guide who knows the old city as well as the new, a driver for the day trips, and a hotel on the right side of the river for your plans. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Tell us your dates and we’ll plan from there.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 上海市, 外滩, 豫园, 上海中心大厦, 上海磁浮示范运营线. Last checked November 2026.
Things to do in Shanghai: FAQ
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
Three days for the main sights, four with a day trip.
What is the Bund?
A 1.5-kilometer riverside promenade lined with more than 20 historic buildings, once the financial center of China.
How tall is Shanghai Tower?
632 meters, with 130 floors. It was completed in 2016.
How fast is the Shanghai maglev?
Top speed 431 km/h, though most trains run at 300 km/h.
When was Yu Garden built?
In 1559, by an official named Pan Yunduan.
What is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Spring and autumn.
Photo: Lloyd Tudor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
