The Pearl of the Orient
Plan My Trip →Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, dazzles with its futuristic skyline, colonial-era architecture, and vibrant street life. This guide covers the essential attractions of the 'Pearl of the Orient.'
Shanghai's most famous promenade, the Bund (Waitan), lines the Huangpu River with a row of colonial-era banking houses. Across the river rises the futuristic Lujiazui skyline. The Bund is spectacular at night when the buildings and the Oriental Pearl Tower light up.
Across the river, the Lujiazui financial district soars with the Shanghai Tower (632m, China's tallest), the Jin Mao Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center. Take an elevator to a sky deck for panoramic views, or stroll the riverside promenade.
The Ming-dynasty Yu Garden is a classical Chinese garden of rockeries, ponds, and pavilions, set within the bustling Old City bazaar. Nearby, the City God Temple and the winding streets of the old quarter offer tea houses, dumplings, and traditional crafts.
Nanjing Road is China's most famous shopping street — a pedestrianized stretch of department stores, malls, and street food. For a different flavor, the Tianzifang and Xintiandi areas offer boutique shopping in converted lane houses.
The former French Concession is Shanghai's most atmospheric district — tree-lined avenues, art deco apartments, and chic cafés and restaurants. Rent a bike or take a guided walk to soak in its unique character.
Two to three days covers the essentials: the Bund and Lujiazui (Day 1), Yu Garden and the Old City (Day 2), and the French Concession and a cultural visit (Day 3). Shanghai's metro is excellent for getting around.