Backpacking: Travel Guide to Shanghai, China

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Shanghai, China

Shanghai is the largest Chinese city by population and it is one of the four direct-controlled municipalities of the People's Republic of China. It is a global financial center, and a transport hub with the world's busiest container port. Located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China, Shanghai sits on the south edge of the mouth of the Yangtze in the middle portion of the Chinese coast. The municipality borders the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the north, south and west, and is bounded to the east by the East China Sea.

Shanghai is a popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as The Bund, City God Temple and Yu Garden as well as the extensive Lujiazui skyline, many skyscrapers, and major museums including the Shanghai Museum and the China Art Museum. It has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming economy of mainland China.

Shanghai, with a population of more than 23 million (with over 9 million migrants), is the largest and traditionally the most developed metropolis in Mainland China. Shanghai was the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East during the 1930s. In the past 20 years it has again become an attractive city for tourists from all over the world. The world once again had its eyes on the city when it hosted the 2010 World Expo, recording the greatest number of visitors in the event's history.

Official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Suzhou dialect, the Ningbo dialect

Travel Tip:

1. Check the Weather

2. Prepare to handle money overseas

If you're traveling international, be sure to check and withdraw your own bank before leaving for your trip; that way you won't arrive short on cash (local currency) and have to immediately search for an ATM. Go to your bank's website and map out any available ATM locations near your destination so you are not forced to use other banks' machines. Furthermore, you will save on ATM fees/ withdrawals at machines located outside the country. There’s no guarantee that there will be one (or that it will be working properly).

3. Check and understand the exchange rate before you travel.

4. Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill.

5. Have Photocopies of Your Itinerary and Travel Documents

Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen.

·       Passport ID page

·       Foreign visa (if applicable)

·       Itinerary

·       Hotel confirmation

·       Airline ticket

·       Driver's license

·       Credit cards brought on the trip

How to get there:

Shanghai is one of China's main travel hubs and getting in from pretty much anywhere is easy.

By Plane

Shanghai has two main airports, with Pudong the main international gateway and Hongqiao serving mostly domestic flights, so be sure to check which one your flight is leaving from. Transfer between the two takes about 1 hour by taxi. There are also direct shuttle buses.

You can get between the two airports in nearer two hours by Metro (subway). Both airports are on line two, the main East-West line through downtown Shanghai, but at opposite ends of it. You can reduce the time some by taking the Maglev fast train part of the way. A traveler making that transfer with a few hours to spare and a desire to get a quick look at Shanghai (and not too much luggage) might get off at Nanjing Road East and walk a few blocks to the Bund.

Pudong International Airport

Pudong is Shanghai's main international airport, 40 km (25 mi) to the east of the city. Arrivals are on the first floor, departures on the third, and the airport has all the features you would expect of to find in the major hubs around the world. There are two gigantic terminals (T1 and T2). A free shuttle bus service connects the two in case walking a few minutes (or using the conveyor belts) is too cumbersome. 

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Shanghai's older airport Hongqiao offers domestic flights, the only exception being the city shuttle services to Tokyo-Haneda, Seoul-Gimpo, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei-Songshan. The airport is composed of two terminals, T1 and T2. The two are linked by a free 20-minute ride between the terminals or just 3 minutes for those willing to pay ¥3 for the Metro fare.

Hongqiao Airport is served by Metro Lines 2 and 10, the former of which goes all the way to Pudong Airport. Trains operate 05:35-22:50 (service to and from Pudong Airport has limited hours). Line 10 serves both T1 and T2. A taxi can manage the 12km (8 mi) trip to the city centre in 20 minutes on a good day but allow an extra 30 minutes for the taxi queue, especially when arriving after 19:00. Be sure to determine from which terminal your flight departs before you go to the airport as the English signs are confusing, taxi drivers may not be able to help you, and the shuttle between the terminals leaves on a half-hourly schedule with another twenty minute drive. If you miss your flight at T1 and need a flight out of Pudong, you will have to take a shuttle back to T2, then navigate that labyrinthine terminal to find the shuttle to Pudong, costing you another ¥40. 

How to Get Around:

If you intend to stay in Shanghai for more than a few days, the Shanghai Jiaotong Card is a must. You can load the card with money and use it in buses, the metro and even taxis, saving the hassle of buying tickets at each metro station and keeping change for buses and taxis. You can get these cards at any metro/subway station, as well as some convenience stores like Alldays and KeDi Marts.

Also, this card allows you to transfer lines at Yishan Rd, Shanghai Train Station, and Hongkou Football Stadium stations, as well as discounts for bus; bus and metro; bus transfer (the fare is discounted ¥1 each time you transfer).

By Train

Shanghai has a few major train stations including:

• Shanghai Railway Station. Shanghai's oldest, located in Zhabei district, on the intersection of Metro Lines 1, 3 and 4. Some high-speed trains and trains to Hong Kong terminals here.

• Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, is massive in size and located in the same building complex with Hongqiao Airport. The connecting Metro stop shares the same name, Hongqiao Railway Station, and is one stop beyond the Hongqiao airport stop on Metro Lines 2 and 10. High-speed trains to Beijing, Changsha, Changzhou, Danyang, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jiaxing, Jinan, Kunshan, Nanchang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Zhengzhou, Zhenjiang, Zhuzhou and other smaller stations use this station.

• Shanghai South Railway Station. Provides service towards the south except high-speed trains and services to Hong Kong. On Metro Lines 1 and 3.

• Shanghai West Railway Station / Nanxiang North Railway Station / Anting North Railway Station: Some high-speed trains to Nanjing direction stop at these smaller stations. In addition, there are a few trains to and from Shanghai Station for connections to other trains. 

Self-serve automated ticket booths are prevalent and would likely be the easiest mode of purchasing tickets and checking train schedules for those without an ability to utilize Chinese as the devices have an English mode. (NOTE: All tickets purchased MUST have a real name and ID number attached to them, and the automated machines do NOT read anything but Chinese ID.) Tickets are also conveniently booked in advance at one of the many travel service agencies, and as a note, tickets originating from other stations within the city can be purchased from a given station except for Hong Kong tickets (Shanghai West is an exception; the ticket office there can only process purchases for same-day departures from that station). Tickets to Hong Kong start selling 60 days in advance so book early; the Hong Kong-Shanghai segment sells out quickly).

By Car

Driving is definitely not recommended in Shanghai for a variety of reasons, even for those with driving experience in the country. Not only do you have to cope with a very complex road system and seemingly perpetual traffic jams, but also Chinese driving habits and ongoing construction. In addition, parking spaces are rare and almost impossible to find. Bicycles, scooters and pedestrians are also all over the place--a city with a real metropolitan feel. In short, do not drive if you can help it and make use of Shanghai's excellent public transportation network instead.

By Boat

There are ferry services from Kobe and Osaka (Japan) weekly and Hong Kong.

• Shanghai Ferry Company has a once a week service from Shanghai to Osaka and vice versa. Takes two nights. ¥1,300-6,500. 

• The Japan-China International Ferry Company has similar service as the Shanghai Ferry Company but alternates each week with Osaka and Kobe as the Japanese departure/arrival city. 

By Metro

You can buy metro cards at many stations (¥20 deposit, recharge machines take ¥50 and ¥100 notes). Shanghai Public Transportation Card can be used for one time by overdraft when you take buses, subway trains, or ferries. The overdraft should be less than ¥8. Only ordinary cards can be returned. If your ordinary Shanghai Public Transportation Card is complete and clean, it can be recalled and the deposit can be returned to you. The balance on the card can be immediately returned if it is less than ¥10. If the balance on your card is between ¥10 and ¥2,000, invoice should be taken to ask for the return of money; however, a 5% handling fee will be charged. These stations include: Line 1 - Hanzhong Rd, Hengshan Rd, Jinjiang Park; Line 2 - Jiangsu Rd, E Nanjing Rd, Century Park, Songhong Rd; Line 3 - Dongbaoxing Rd, Zhenping Rd, Caoxi Rd, North Jiangyang Rd; Line 4 - Yangshupu Rd. 

Shanghai Public Transportation Card Service Center, No 609, Jiujiang Rd, Mon-Fri 09:30 AM-18:30 PM, Sat, Sun 09:30 AM-16:30 PM.

If there are seats available but more passengers boarding than seats, be prepared to see a mad dash as passengers wrestle for the available seats. This is the norm so move quickly if you want a seat. Be mindful of pickpockets who may use this rush to their advantage. 

By Bus

The bus system is cheaper and much more extensive than the Metro, and some routes even operate past the closing time of the Metro (route numbers beginning with 3 are the night buses that run past 11:00 PM). It is however slower in general, and all route information at bus stops is in Chinese, but here  is a handy list of bus routes and stops in English. Once inside the bus, there are English announcements. Most buses do not require any conversation with a driver and/or conductor, while others depend on you knowing your destination and the conductor charging you accordingly. For the latter, pay the conductor directly and you'll get a paper ticket (and change, if any). The former bus types do not have a conductor but instead a driver only; there is a fixed price for the route, usually ¥2 and the buses are air-conditioned (¥1.5 on increasingly rare routes running on old buses without; check the bus itself as some routes have a mix of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses). Prepare exact change beforehand and drop it into the container next to the driver. It's best to have exact fare or go to a convenience store if needing change; otherwise you may depend on stating your situation to the driver or other passengers. If you change buses with an SPTC you will get a ¥1 discount on your second bus fare (and all subsequent transfers; there is a 90-minute window to do this on so if you're not spending too much time at the destination your transfer discount will apply to the start of your return journey too). 

By Taxi

Taxi is a good choice for transportation in the city, especially during off-peak hours. It is affordable (¥14 for the first 3 km, ¥2.4/km up to10 km, and ¥3.5/km after; when wheels aren't rolling, time is also tracked and billed but first 5 min. are free; a ¥1 fuel surcharge is also applied) and saves you time, but try to get your destination in Chinese characters or available on a map as communication can be an issue. Flag fall starts at ¥18 after 11:00 PM. As Shanghai is a huge city, try to get the nearest intersection to your destination as well since even addresses in Chinese are often useless. Most drivers do not speak English or any other foreign languages, so be sure to have the address of your destination written in Chinese to show the taxi driver but should you forget, there is a phone number displayed in the back of the taxi (you'll need a mobile phone for this). Dial the number and tell the agent where you want to go (English is the only foreign language offered currently). The agent will then, on your behalf, explain where you wish to go. The agent will even find out the address of bars and other spots for you if applicable and this service has very good remarks. (If without a mobile phone, try to get a business card of your destination or of something nearby.)

By Sight Seeing Bus

There are several different companies offering sightseeing buses with various routes and packages covering the main sights such as the Shanghai Zoo, Oriental Pearl Tower, and Baoyang Road Harbor. Most of the sightseeing buses leave from the Shanghai Stadium's east bus station. 

Shanghai activities and attractions must see.

Destination: Introducing Shanghai!

1. Building-The Bund

Location: Zhongshan East 1st Road, Huangpu, Shanghai

Open Hours: All day

Admission Fee: Free

The word "Bund" derives from an Anglo-Indian word for an embankment along a muddy waterfront. The Bund in Shanghai was first used when the first British company opened an office there in 1846 which extends from Jinling Road in the south to the Waibaidu Bridge in the north. It is a 1.5-kilometer-long boulevard on the western bank of the Huangpu River. is now surrounded by about 50 various buildings of different architectural styles and unanimously honored as a "world architectural fair" including all kinds of tall buildings like the Gothic style, Baroque style, Roman style, Classical style, Renaissance style and the combination of Chinese and Western style. A night walk along the Bund is a great way to enjoy the spectacular Shanghai nightscape; you can feel its grandeur, elegant and dignified bearing that is particularly noticeable in the many old English and French buildings now serving as restaurants, boutique stores, galleries, and offices.

How to get there: By Ferry

A useful ferry runs between the Bund (from a ferry pier a few blocks south of Nanjing Road next to the KFC restaurant) and Lujiazui financial district in Pudong (the terminal is about 10 minutes south of the Pearl TV Tower and Lujiazui metro station) and is the cheapest way of crossing the river at ¥2 per person. The ferry is air-conditioned and allows foot-passengers only (bikes are not allowed except for folding models). Buy a token from the ticket kiosk and then insert it into the turnstile to enter the waiting room - the boats run every 10 minutes and take just over 5 minutes to cross the river. This is a great (and much cheaper) alternative to using the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. However, the ferry stations are not directly connected to the public transport so you need to walk a bit.

2. Yuyuan Garden

Location: 132. Anren Street, Shanghai

Open Hours: 8:30 AM-05:30 PM; Daily

Admission Fee: RMB40

Bus Routes: Take bus 11, 126, 926, 66, 42, 64

Best Time to Visit: Spring

Yuyuan Garden was first established in Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan who used to be the governor of Sichuan and later expanded greatly. Yuyuan Garden was considered the best garden in southeast China and the most famous garden in Shanghai. With 30 pavilions and over 5 acres, this 16th century garden can be explored for days. It enjoys a history of over 400 years since its first establishment who had intended to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives.

The oldest section is the Outer Garden with further changes being made in the 18th century when Sansui Tang, the park's main hall, was added (the building is notable for its lovely roof ornaments, figurative representations in bas-reliefs, and window openings, as well as its dragon-adorned walls). The best-known building is the Hall of Spring where the Company of the Little Swords (Xiaodao Hui) had its headquarters between 1853 and 1855 when it ruled Shanghai. Of great historical importance are the artificial rocks in this part of the garden, the only work of the master garden designer Zhang Nanyang that has been preserved. The newer and much smaller Inner Garden dates from 1709 and includes features typical of a classical Chinese writer's garden: attractive little pavilions, decorative stones, and miniature mountain ranges, dividing walls and small ponds, and even a richly decorated theatrical stage.

What to see:

Sansui Hall

Originally named "Leshou Hall", the Sansui Hall was built with five commodious rooms to treat and entertain his guests. Later it was used for celebration and announcement of imperial edicts.

Grand Rockery

The grand rockery, created by Zhang nanyan, a celebrated rockery artist in Ming dynasty, is seen as the best treasure of the Yu garden, the best rockery in south China and is the most popular. Two thousand tons of rare yellow stones are combined with rice glue to form a massive sculpture that stands 46 feet high.

Exquisite Jade Rock

The exquisite Jade Rock in front of the Yuhua Hall is one of the three most well-known rocks in China. The other two are "Ruiyun Rock" in Lingering Garden in Suzhou and "Zhouyun Rock" in Hangzhou Flower Nursery. Beautifully shaped, the exquisite jade rock is about 4 meters in height. It is a piece of grotesque rock from Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and it is characterized by its wrinkled appearance, slender shape, translucent nature, and numerous holes eroded by water.

Stone City

It is a stone exhibition gallery housing a great quantity of stone sculptures and engravings. It finds favor in tourists' eyes for its visual arts and human values.

3. Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower

Location: No.1 Century Boulevard，Pudong District, Shanghai

Open Hours: 8:30 AM-08:30 PM; Daily

Admission Fee: Ticket A: 220 Yuan/person for the 3rd sphere + the 2nd sphere + the 1st sphere+ Shanghai History Museum (A guide for the 3rd sphere is included.)

Ticket B: 160 Yuan/person for the 1st sphere + the 2nd sphere+ Shanghai Municipal History Museum. Ticket for Shanghai History Museum: 35 Yuan. 

Bus Routes: Take bus 81, 82, 85, 774, 789, 795, 870, 971, 983, 985, 993; Bus no. 1 on Lujiazui Finance Trade Zone and Lujiazui Tourist Lines; The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel goes to the tower after crossing the river; Ferry Lujin Line and Taigong Line crossing the river to the Tower for 2 Yuan/person; Take Metro Line 2 and gets off at Lujiazui Station (Exit 1) for a ticket fare of 6 Yuan/person.

The Oriental Pearl Tower stands at a height of 468 meters, built in 1991, the tower takes its name from its 11 linked spheres of various sizes, the highest of which - the Space Module - contains an observation level at the 350 meter mark with a glass-floored outside deck. All told, the tower boasts 15 viewing areas, including the Sightseeing Floor and Space City, as well as a revolving restaurant with great views. Other highlights include a lower level shopping mall and the Space Hotel offering rooms with spectacular views. Even if you can't make it up the tower, you'll enjoy viewing it at night when the whole structure is lit up as part of a fascinating light show. The tower consists of 6 main parts: 3 gigantic columns, the 1st sphere called bottom ball, the 2nd sphere known as upper ball, the 3rd sphere called space capsule, other 5 small spheres, basement and the square. There is a totally transparent panorama lift between the columns offering a quiet good view of Shanghai. This was the first wholly transparent elevator in the world.

What to see:

The Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World 

The Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World has entertainment for both the young and the old. The list includes; Journey Through the Forest, Trip to the South Pole, Travel in Fantasy, Disney Theatre, Laser Theatre, Bliss Square, Three-Dimensional Movie and Hot Air Balloon.

Shanghai Municipal History Museum

The Shanghai Municipal History Museum is located in the Tower's pedestal and features the development of Shanghai over history. Tourists can about learn Shanghai’s history in a vivid way through a display of valuable relics, documents, pictures and advanced audio-visual presentations. The show is made up of 6 parts: leased territory, old municipal construction and street scenes, urban economy in shanghai modern culture, city life and political changes, and displays the profound changes in every aspect of Shanghai.
Aerial Sightseeing Corridor

The Aerial Sightseeing Corridor-Walking on the Clouds was officially opened to all users since May 1, 2009. Located in the 2nd sphere of the tower, 259 meters off the ground, visitors get a panorama view of the Huangpu River through the transparent glass under their feet. It is like walking on the clouds.

Revolving Restaurant

The revolving restaurant is 267 meters off the ground. Diners get a spectacular view of Shanghai City while enjoying lunch or dinner. It is the 2nd highest revolving restaurant in Asia, covering an area of 1,500 sq. meters and seats 350 customers at a time. The restaurant revolves once every 2 hours. The night view is particularly awesome. The price of the meal includes the programs of Ticket B. 

·      Buffet time: 11:00 AM-14:00 PM (Lunch) ; 14:00 PM-16:00 PM (High Tea) ; 17:00 PM-21:00 PM (Dinner)

·        Price for Revolving Restaurant: 298 Yuan/person for lunch and 328 Yuan/person for dinner; Reservation needed.

·         Recommended visiting time: Clear days

Note: You can also book it through your hotel staff. Most hotels and hostels offer the service.

4. Shanghai Old French Concession

Location: Puxi Central, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200000, China

Open Hours: 8:30 AM-08:30 PM; Daily

Admission Fee: Free

The French Concession is an area of Shanghai once designated for the French colonialists and consists of today's Luwan and Xuhui Districts. The area covered by the former French Concession in the 20th century was the premier residential and retail districts of Shanghai, and was also the center of Catholicism in Shanghai. It is a great area to explore, from the old European buildings in shady avenues to the cafes and restaurants and upmarket shopping area in Huaihu Road. You will find fashionable boutiques selling everything from designer handbags to pricey silks.

What to see:

Old French Concession Streets lined with trees is a bustling area, combined with a growing number of trendy boutiques and restaurants. Changle Road and Xinle Road are rapidly becoming the places to find small designer clothing shops. Interesting architecture built with French and Belgian venture investments and showing mixed Chinese-European styles.

Soong Ching Ling's Former Residence was built in 1843 at Huaihai Middle Rd, Xujiahui District. Today there's a small museum with many artifacts, largely about the politics of China, leading up to the official founding of the P.R.C. The nearby house is two levels and contains many original items and pictures. The grounds are very well maintained and there's a garage with a few formerly state-used cars as well.

Fuxing Park is located at 105 Fuxing Zhong Rd. This European Style Park, formerly known as French Park, is a popular park with gardens, open spaces, restaurants and clubs dotted throughout. Early in the morning, the park is filled with dancers, card and majiang players, tai chi artists, and singing groups.

Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery is located at 180 Longhua Lu. Nowadays very few people are buried here, so it's more of a memorial garden and museum but the acreage is beautiful and large.

Longhua Temple, next to Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery south gate, is one of the city's less-visited temples.

5. Peoples Square

Location: No. 300, People’s Avenue, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200000, China

Open Hours: 24/7

Admission Fee: Free

Transportation: Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 8 and get off at People’s Square

Peoples square is located in the center of Shanghai, covers 140,000 square meters, surrounded by the municipal government office building, the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Hall and the Grand Theatre. There are a huge green area and trees, encircled by all kinds of buildings on all sides. All of these buildings make up a beautiful view. In the center of the square is a smart musical fountain. Crossing through the square is a 100-meter-wide pathway from the west to the east. Many townsfolk go to the square for a walk. The Square is particularly spectacular at night, when steam appears to seep out of the roof of the museum and the light bounces off the glass walls of the Grand Theatre.

6. Jade Buddha Temple

Location: No. 170 Anyuan road Putuo District, North-West of Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 8:00 AM-04:30 PM; Daily

Admission Fee: 20 RMB, additional 10 RMB to the Jade Buddha’s.

Jade Buddha Monastery is one of the most famous Buddha religious temples in Shanghai. There are a lot of religious events hosted by the temple. It attracts many visitors locally and overseas to Shanghai every year, especially during the Chinese New Year. There are a lot of religious events hosted by the temple. The temple can pursue silent from sound, and is described as a clean land in the busy city. The main and popular structures of the temple are the great Devajara Hall, Mahavira Hall, the Jade Buddha Tower; others are the Kwan-yin Hall, Amitabh Hall, Tang Hall, Dining- Room, also Recumbent Buddha Hall.

History

The temple was initially built in 1882 and named for the two jade Buddhist statues. The smaller one was imported to China from Burma in l882 by Monk Huigen, the bigger one was brought from Singapore by Zhenshan, in 1890. The story is that a Buddha from Putuoshan moved to Myanmar via Tibet, dragged the Buddhist back to its current place and then went off in search of charities to construct a temple for it.

Features

The sparkling and crystal-clear white jade gives the Buddhist statues the beauty and sanctity. At the temple, there are many other priceless masterpieces – such as paintings and Buddhist scriptures throughout the different halls. The shrine’s remarkable porcelain collections of sitting well-imprinted, carved Buddha statues make the temple venerable and attractive.

The Jade Buddha Temple is not famed for its architecture, which is very new and built in a standard Song Dynasty style. The two Buddha’s housed within, both made of white jade in Burma depict Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha).

The more impressive of the two is the seated Buddha, 2 meters (6 feet 5 inches) tall, weighing 205 kg (452 lb.) and decorated with semi-precious stones. The other statue is a serene and beautiful Reclining Buddha about 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) long.

7. Longhua Temple and Pagoda

Location: 2853 Longhua Rd, Xuhui, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 8:00 AM-04:30 PM; Daily

Admission Fee: Free

The splendid Longhua Temple remains one of the oldest religious sites in China. Built along with the nearby 40-meter-tall wood and brick pagoda around 242 AD, this important place of worship was destroyed and rebuilt many times through the centuries, with the present structure dating back to the 10th century. The site is still used for regular Buddhist ceremonies and consists of five large halls, including the Maitreya Hall (Mile Dian) with its large Buddha statue, the Heavenly King Hall (Tian Wang Dian) dedicated to the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Grand Hall of the Great Sage (Daxiong Baodian) with its fine statues and a 16th-century bell. Other highlights include the Bell Tower with an even older, two-meter-tall, five-ton bell from 1382 that is still used on special occasions; the Library with its old manuscripts and ceremonial instruments; and the impressive sight of some 500 gold-painted Luohan Buddhas.

8. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

Location: 2000 Century Ave, Pudong, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 9:00 AM-05:30 PM; Daily

Entrance Fee: CNY 60 for adults
CNY 30 for Children above 1.2 meters tall and teenagers below 18 years old
IMAX 3-D Large-Format Theatre: CNY 40
IMAX Dome Theatre: CNY 30
4-D Theatre: CNY 30
Space Theatre: CNY 20

The huge Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, the largest of its kind in China and one of the city’s top draws with more than two million visitors each year. Opened in 2001, the museum includes numerous fun interactive multimedia exhibits, permanent exhibits, and state-of-the-art science theaters. Highlights include a large display of animals native to the region, scientific achievements, a fascinating exhibit on robotics, as well as exhibits focusing on space travel. Other fun attractions for families include the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, notable for its 120-meter tunnel that provides a close-up view of the region's diverse marine life, and the Shanghai Zoo, famous for its large collection of native species, including giant pandas and South China tigers.

The museum is composed of a basement and four floors above ground. It rises in a spiral, symbolizing scientific progress. A huge glass sphere embedded in a pool of clear water, at the building's midpoint, gives the theme of life renewed. The museum’s Wisdom of Light Hall is the most notable exhibition hall. The Wisdom of Light Hall demonstrates chemistry, biology, math, and physics with a large number of interactive items. The famous mysterious fountain is also located in the Wisdom of Light Hall.

9. Shanghai Art Museum

Location: 2000 Century Ave, Pudong, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 9:00 AM-05:30 PM; Daily

Entrance Fee: CNY 60 for adults

Founded in 1952, the Shanghai Museum remains China's most important museum of classical Chinese art. The Shanghai Museum has 11 galleries and over 120,000 historic artifacts. The Stone Sculpture Gallery and the Bronze gallery are the most popular with collections dating back to the 18th century B.C. The museum's four floors include impressive displays of bronzes and ceramics from prehistoric cultures to the 19th Century, ink drawings, calligraphy and seals, as well as large collections of art from ethnic minorities. It's also home to large collections of jade, coins and furnishings from the Ming and Qing periods (1368-1912).

10. Xintiandi

Location: Huangpu, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 11:00 AM-11:00 PM; Daily

Entrance Fee: Free

Xintiandi is located downtown nestled between the towering skyscrapers. It is one of the busiest urban tourist attractions and imbued with the city's historical and cultural legacies. Shanghai Xintiandi's Shikumen building was created by converting residential blocks into a multifunctional dining, retail and entertainment center flowing with restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars of an international standard. It is also stands out as an entertainment complex housed in reconstructed, modified houses of Shanghai. It occupies an area of about 30,000 square meters. It was a former old Shikumen which has been given restoration.

Shikumen Houses History

A`shikumen houses were first built around the 1870s, at the time of the Revolutionary War of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Many rich people fled to the French Concession Area of Shanghai. Foreign land agents built houses for these rich people with elegant designs and many rooms. This kind of buildings was designed based on the style of Jiangnan ('(Yangtze) River South') local residential houses, with the solid-wood door framed in stone, hence shikumen.

What to do in Xin Tian Di

Xin Tian Di is divided into two parts: the South Block and the North Block.

The South Block is more modern and one of China’s first major shopping centers lies there. The North Block provides the old shikumen architectural style in contrast to the modern style of the South Block. Some of the shikumen houses now serve as book stores, cafes, restaurants, and shopping malls. Xintiandi has an active nightlife on weekdays as well as weekends and it is considered as one of the first lifestyle centers in China. Xintiandi is also the location of the first congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

Drink

There are also very stylish wine bars; you’ll find whatever you’re thirsty for.

Eat

When the climate is fine, you’ll find what appears like everybody in Shanghai is sitting outside and eating. There are good cafes for example Paul (the French bakery and patisserie), KABB (Best American-style burgers plus censorships) and also Chinese coffee bars like Din Tai (make a reservation). Chic venues comprise Va Bene (Italian), plus T8 (fusion).

Shopping

Xintiandi has few good shops. You’ll find bargains in Shanghai Tang’s northern block. Also don’t forget Shanghai Trio (Taicang Street) for locally made bags, scarves and fittings.

11. Nanjing Road

Location: Nanjing Rd Pedestrian St. Huangpu, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Daily

Nanjing Road is one of the most important commercial and tourist streets in Shanghai, which stretches from The Bund to The People’s Park. Along this largely pedestrian-friendly street, you'll find every conceivable type of consumer good from street vendors selling Chinese-themed souvenirs, to expensive boutiques selling traditional arts and crafts, as well as a number of large shopping malls and department stores such as the iconic Yibai and Jiubai. It's also a busy entertainment district, home to many restaurants and cinemas, as well as a hub for street performances (it's especially fun to visit during major holidays such as Chinese New Year when the street becomes a focal point for festivities and fireworks).

It is the world's longest shopping precinct; it is around 6 km long, and attracts over 1 million visitors daily. Nanjing road consists of two parts - East Nanjing Road and West Nanjing Road.

East Nanjing Road

East Nanjing Road is a commercial zone. Close by is the Central Market, a century-old outdoor market today specializing in electronic components and digital media.

West Nanjing Road

This area consists of several five star hotels, upscale shopping centres, restaurants and office buildings. Recently, the area has benefited from the construction of Subway Line 7, connecting with Line 2 at the Jing’an Temple station. The latest development there was the completion of the Wheelock Square building in 2010, with 58 floors and just over 100,000 square meters of prime office space.

12. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

Location:  1388 Lujiazui Ring Rd, Pudong, Shanghai, China

Open Hours: 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Daily

Entrance Fee: RMB 110 per adult person and RMB 70 per child

Opened in 2002, The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is Asia’s largest aquarium and is one of the largest aquariums in the world. This massive aquarium is located in Pudong, right next to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is home to a special 120-meter tunnel that runs through various different marine habitat exhibitions including a coral reef and kelp cave. The aquarium is split into many different exhibition zones and even includes a China zone; the only aquarium in the world to do so.

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