Location: Shanghai
Top Things to do in Shanghai
Top Restaurants in Shanghai
- 1. Epicure on 45
- 2. Scena (The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong)
- 3. Flair Rooftop
- 4. Shanghai Haidilao Hot Pot (Zhangyang Road)
- 5. Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant (The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong)
- 6. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet
- 7. Efes Restaurant Turkish & Mediterranean Cuisine
- 8. Tock's - A Montreal Deli
- 9. Goodfellas
- 10. The 1515 West, Chophouse & Bar
What to do and see in Shanghai, Shanghai Region: The Best Free Things to do
The largest city in China is also its most cosmopolitan, offering visitors a chance to experience the past, present, and future all at once. The Huangpu River splits Shanghai into two districts: Pudong and Puxi. The Pudong skyline looks like it was ripped from the Jetsons, with the bulbous Oriental Pearl TV and Radio Tower looking a bit like a two headed lollipop. On the Puxi side, you can walk the Bund riverside district to get a taste of old Shanghai.
Restaurants in Shanghai
1. South Bund Soft Spinning Material Market
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,287 reviews
A bespoke company based in Shanghai. Our main business is tailor-made men's and women's wear. Within more than ten years of experience in the bespoke industry, customers are all over the world. We have our own tailors and factories for both shirts and suits.
Reviewed By 617kristineg
We visited the fabric market on the first day of our family visit in order to have things custom made in time to pick them up 5 days later. Had a BEAUTIFUL yellow trench coat made at BOOTH #285, Gorgeous blue suit for my son made at Suits by Susan #233 (they spoke English very well and were super helpful on the choices to be made), Also had a shirt made from Cloud at booth # 172 (I brought in one of my favorite shirts and they had an exact copy in one of their fabrics) and my daughter had a dress made at #172 as well. DEFINITELY negotiate with the price!
2. Riverside Promenade (Bingjiang Da Dao)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,391 reviews
The riverside walk along the Bund may be busy and crowded during the day, but with good reason - it's simply a must when in Shanghai for people-watching and getting a good feel for the city.
Reviewed By matthewyetsky
The prefecture took the industrial roots of the city and transformed them into art, see both sides and try to imagine that once this metroplex was once a village and it grew exponentially as its importance as a port grew.
3. Fuxing Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 566 reviews
Reviewed By kindfultraveller
enjoyed seeing the huge variety of groups who meet here. singing, dancing , exercise, calligraphy, majong and cards music. Everyone was so unself concious and enjoying themselves and happy for you to watch. It is an attractve shaded park which was lovely to be in during hot weather. We found it so much fun to watch all theses groups socialising and paracticing together and they were friendly to us and let us join in.
4. Heping Fandian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 689 reviews
Reviewed By ayl3 - Durham, United States
I have reviewed this hotel sometimes ago in 2016. If you wish to stay by the and and Nanjing Road the Fairmont peace hotel is the best location and it is simply a great hotel. The Jazz band which plays every night is a must.
5. Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,847 reviews
This elegant museum, opened in 1996, features eleven state-of-the-art galleries housing China’s international-standard exhibits of bronzes, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jade and Ming and Qing dynasty furniture.
Reviewed By DeveanCook - Lubbock, United States
The Shanghai Museum is an expansive museum covering many collections of art from ancient Chinese history and it is both informative and impressive. The museum covers 4 floors and has 11 galleries. The galleries are all quite vast and are informative. Information cards are almost all in both English and Chinese, making it very easy for Westerners and non-Chinese speakers to understand the descriptions. A better job of this could've been done in the exhibition on currency, however, as a number of signs were in Chinese only. Just about every aspect of ancient Chinese arts are covered including calligraphy, paintings, pottery and ceramics, and sculpture. There are also exhibits covering bronze, jade, currency, and furniture. In addition to the ancient Chinese exhibits there are also exhibitions in other categories including Silk Road coins, artifacts from Oceania, and others. The sheer size of the collection means that at least 3 hours should be spent here and it is nearly impossible to cover the entire museum in one day. In all, this museum is well worth a visit in Shanghai.
6. The Bund (Wai Tan)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19,488 reviews
This is a designated section of Shanghai’s port along the Huang Pu River lined with beautiful neo-classical buildings and a waterfront promenade that is packed with tourists, locals and street sellers.
Reviewed By gollyg2017 - Shanghai, China
This is where the vast spread of this huge city really connects-the true centre of Shanghai.A great view of both sides of the river- the 19th and early 20th century ornamental British and European buildings on one side, and the futuristic boldly designed skyscrapers on the other. No scammers or pickpockets to worry about here,as it's heavily guarded.Nice for a brisk walk during the day, but amazing to stroll and gaze in wonder at night with all the lighting! Keep walking and you'll find the ferry.Its a 10 minute ride to the other side, and only about 2 or 3 rmb per person!Do your research, and find a fancy restaurant or bar looking across the river to relax and finish off the evening. You can't go wrong!
7. Old Town (Nanshi)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,154 reviews
Reviewed By JoanneP514 - Bowral, Australia
Easy to walk around in a couple of hours. Pretty gardens and pavilions and lots of shops to buy your souvenirs. Interesting old buildings, fabulous tea houses and lots of produce to tease the senses. Worthwhile. Beware though it is crowded and so be careful of your belongings.
8. Pudong New Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,187 reviews
"Pudong, in its 13-year history, has surprisingly progressed in its economic strength and its urban development. This 556-sqaure-kilometer farmland 13 years ago is well on its way toward a modern metropolis. As the epitome of Shanghai' modernization and the symbol of China's reform and opening up drive, Pudong has become an ideal land for global investors."
Reviewed By ChuckTheTravelingGuy - Hot Springs Village, United States
For an incredible sight, enjoy viewing the nighttime lighted buildings in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai. It's like Times Square and the Las Vegas strip all in one. Amazingly beautiful. You can do this while visiting three of China's most famous cities...Beijing, Xian and Shanghai on an eight-day China Discovery Tour. My wife and I arranged our China Discovery Tour via email with tour representative Catherine Liu after checking out the tour on the Internet. Catherine was wonderful to work with as she was very professional, replied quickly with answers to our questions, and made sure our group tours of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai had excellent guides and drivers. Our group tours in Beijing included a visit to Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and gave us the fascinating opportunity to walk on the Great Wall. In Xian, a lovely city that was once the capital of China, we visited the site of the world-famous Terra-cotta Warriors. Amazing tour. If you have time in Xian, make sure to have dinner at one of the Hot Pot restaurants. A fun experience somewhat like the old days of cheese fondue dinners...but without the cheese. In Shanghai, the most flourishing metropolis in China, highlights will include a visit to the Bund, the multinational classic building complex along the river, a ride to the 85th floor the Global Financial Center for a bird's eye view of Shanghai, and lunch at a local restaurant. During your eight-day group tour (private tours are also available) you will stay in excellent five-star hotels, see the countryside when you ride a high speed bullet train from Beijing to Xian and fly from Xian to Shanghai. We highly recommend the China Discovery Tour on a visit to China. It is a quick way to tour three of China's most well-known cities. Contact Catherine Liu at [email protected] for more information. You will be glad you did.
9. Former French Concession
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,964 reviews
A residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses.
Reviewed By Hugary1 - Sydney, Australia
Part of our walking tour with Penny which also took in The Old Town, Yu Gardens Markets, Confucius Temple, a house were Albert Einstein stated in the 1920's and the oldest and largest house which is to be renovated. Penny was a fantastic guide who picked us at the hotel and organised transport to a couple of the attractions. Her English was outstanding and her knowledge was vast and extensive. We really enjoyed her commentary and general conversation. At the end of the tour she helped us get a Metro card and put enough funds to keep us going for 3 days of city travel. That gave us great freedom to explore the city and points further out and for that we are very grateful. She went above and beyond. The walk showed us areas that will be demolished soon. Houses left and bricked up. People on the day we walked were being served with their date to leave. Then onto the last of the areas still fully populated with its quaint shops and wonderful market place. These are sites that are disappearing and we felt that we were seeing a passing of a way of life in this city. The Temple was a place of calm and quite in a busy city and penny gave us the history behind it in a clearly articulated way. I suggest you get to see this before it all disappears.
10. Bund International Architecture Exhibition
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 922 reviews
Reviewed By ZenithWanderer - Makati, Philippines
If you're into European-style buildings, then go here! It's best to see those at night! Best if you could come around April or May where you get to strong on colder evenings compared to summer!
