UltimateCity Guide Shanghai
Our favourites
The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and Lujiazui across the Huangpu at blue hour The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and Lujiazui across the Huangpu at blue hour Pavilions and rockeries in Yu Garden Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China The Bund’s historic waterfront at night

The city guide to Shanghai, China

Best of Shanghai

The grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, Ming dynasty gardens, plane-tree streets and lane houses, and some of Asia’s finest Chinese restaurants.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Shanghai

Shanghai is two skylines facing each other across the Huangpu: the historic Bund and the towers of Lujiazui. Around them are the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession, the lane houses of Xintiandi, the malls and temples of Jing’an, Yu Garden in the Old City and the art museums of the West Bund. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Shanghai Museum East

World-class art

The new Shanghai Museum East

Pudong·Museum

Chinese bronzes, ceramics and the Jiangnan Gallery at the Shanghai Museum’s second site, on Century Avenue in Pudong. Closed Tuesdays; individual visitors don’t need to book.

Plan your visit

Shanghai by neighbourhood

From the Bund to the West Bund: each area has its own guide.

The former HSBC building and the Customs House on the BundNeighbourhood guideThe BundGrand hotels and the riverThe towers of LujiazuiNeighbourhood guideLujiazui & PudongThe skyline and Shanghai TowerWukang Mansion at the junction of Wukang Road and Huaihai RoadNeighbourhood guideThe Former French ConcessionPlane trees and Wukang MansionRestored shikumen lanes in XintiandiNeighbourhood guideXintiandiLane houses and diningJing’an Temple on West Nanjing RoadNeighbourhood guideJing’anWest Nanjing Road and ZhangyuanYu Garden with Shanghai Tower beyondNeighbourhood guideYu Garden & the Old CityMing gardens and People’s SquareThe West Bund MuseumNeighbourhood guideThe West BundRiverside art museumsM50 Creative Park on Moganshan RoadNeighbourhood guideSuzhou Creek & the RockbundThe Rockbund and M50

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

Terminal 1 departures at Pudong International AirportBefore you goShanghai essentialsEntry, money and getting aroundThe Shanghai Maglev trainGetting aroundGetting aroundMaglev, Metro and trainsThe Bund’s historic waterfront at nightItineraryThe Bund and Yu GardenThe classic dayWaldorf Astoria Shanghai on the BundLuxury guideLuxury ShanghaiThe finest addresses

Beyond Shanghai

Gardens, a lake and a water town, by train or Metro.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden in SuzhouBeyond ShanghaiSuzhouThe classical gardensWest Lake in HangzhouBeyond ShanghaiHangzhou & West LakeWest Lake’s causeways and pagodasA canal and stone bridge in ZhujiajiaoBeyond ShanghaiZhujiajiaoA water town by Metro

In depth: Shanghai’s back stories

The Bund, its grand hotels, the two Shanghai Museums and how to eat.

The Fairmont Peace Hotel on the BundThe back storyThe grand hotelsJazz, Sassoon and the Long BarLujiazui at nightThe back storyTwo skylinesThe Bund and LujiazuiThe Shanghai Museum East in PudongThe back storyTwo Shanghai MuseumsPeople’s Square and PudongXiaolongbao, Shanghai’s soup dumplingsThe back storyEating in ShanghaiFrom noodles to three starsShanghai Tower, the tallest building in ChinaFun factsShanghai fun factsThings you might not know

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Shanghai, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Shanghai Grand Opera House

    This week's pick

    Shanghai Grand Opera House

    Pudong·Opera house

    The new Shanghai Grand Opera House opened on 17 October 2026. This week brings La Fenice’s Tosca (22 and 24 October) and Valery Gergiev’s Shostakovich symphony cycle with the Mariinsky Orchestra (23–28 October).

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The Bund’s historic waterfront at nightItineraryThe Bund and Yu GardenOne day, on foot and by MetroWukang Mansion at the junction of Wukang Road and Huaihai RoadItineraryThe former French Concession and XintiandiOne day, on footThe towers of LujiazuiItineraryPudong: museum, tower and riverOne day, by MetroThe West Bund MuseumItineraryArt day: the West Bund, the Rockbund and M50One day, by taxi and on footLujiazui at nightItineraryA property viewing day: Xuhui, Jing’an and LujiazuiOne day, by car

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Shanghai: the back storyShanghai · In depth
    2. 2Taian TableChangning · Innovative restaurant
    3. 3Fu He HuiChangning · Vegetarian restaurant
    See all 68

    Tea & Cakes

    1. 1The Cathay Room, Fairmont Peace HotelThe Bund · Afternoon tea
    2. 2The Lobby, The Peninsula ShanghaiThe Bund · Afternoon tea
    3. 3The Mandarin Cake ShopLujiazui · Cake shop
    See all 3

    Bars

    1. 1Drinks on the Bund: the back storyThe Bund · In depth
    2. 2The Long BarThe Bund · Historic bar
    3. 3The Jazz Bar, Fairmont Peace HotelThe Bund · Jazz bar
    See all 6

    Hotels

    1. 1The grand hotels of the Bund: the back storyThe Bund · In depth
    2. 2The Peninsula ShanghaiThe Bund · Grand hotel
    3. 3Fairmont Peace HotelThe Bund · Historic hotel
    See all 15

    Sights

    1. 1The Bund and Lujiazui: the back storyThe Bund · In depth
    2. 2The BundThe Bund · Waterfront
    3. 3Shanghai Tower and the Top of Shanghai ObservatoryLujiazui · Skyscraper and observation deck
    See all 12

    Museums & Arts

    1. 1Two Shanghai Museums: the back storyPeople’s Square · In depth
    2. 2Shanghai Museum EastPudong · Museum
    3. 3Shanghai Museum (People’s Square)People’s Square · Museum
    See all 11

    Parks

    1. 1Fuxing ParkFormer French Concession · City park
    2. 2Century ParkPudong · City park
    3. 3Jing’an ParkJing’an · City park
    See all 3

    Walks

    1. 1The Bund promenadeThe Bund · Riverside walk
    2. 2Suzhou Creek and the RockbundSuzhou Creek · Creekside walk
    3. 3Wukang Road and the plane treesFormer French Concession · Neighbourhood walk
    See all 4

    Shopping

    1. 1Plaza 66Jing’an · Luxury mall
    2. 2RéelJing’an · Department store
    3. 3Shanghai IFC MallLujiazui · Shopping centre
    See all 5

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: 110, 120 and 119Shanghai · Emergency numbers
    2. 2Shanghai United Family Hospital (Changning)Changning · Hospital
    3. 3Shanghai United Family Pudong HospitalPudong · Hospital
    See all 7

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Shanghai: the back storyShanghai · In depth
    2. 2Savills ShanghaiFormer French Concession · International consultancy
    3. 3Knight Frank ShanghaiHuangpu · International consultancy
    See all 5

    Developments

    1. 1Shanghai Grand Opera House (opened 2026)Pudong · Opera house
    2. 2Shanghai Museum East (open)Pudong · Museum
    3. 3Pudong Airport Terminal 3 (under construction)Pudong International Airport · Airport terminal
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)Pudong · Airport
    2. 2Shanghai MaglevPudong · Maglev train
    3. 3Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Hongqiao Railway StationHongqiao · Airport and rail hub
    See all 7

    The ULTIMATE letter

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