CN
Shanghai
China’s biggest city, where colonial-era waterfront buildings face a futuristic skyline
China’s biggest city, where colonial-era waterfront buildings face a futuristic skyline
A riverside promenade lined with 1920s and 1930s banks and trading houses. It is busiest at night, when both the old buildings and the Pudong skyline are lit up.
Photo: bryan…, CC BY-SA 2.0
The twisting, 632m Shanghai Tower has one of the world’s highest observation decks, with views over Pudong, the river and the Bund.
Go on a clear day; smog and low cloud can hide the view.
Photo: Chatterjee.kaushik, CC BY-SA 4.0
A classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old town, surrounded by a busy bazaar.
Arrive at opening time to avoid the crowds.
Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0
A canal town with stone bridges and old houses on the western edge of Shanghai, reachable by metro. Boat rides run along the canals.
Photo: Lloyd Tudor, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), red-braised pork and hairy crab in autumn.
The former French Concession, Jing’an and the area around Yu Garden have food for every budget.
Pudong International Airport (PVG) is linked to the city by the Maglev, which reaches Longyang Road metro station in about 8 minutes, and by metro line 2. Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is next to the main high-speed rail station. The metro is huge and efficient.
Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and many others can currently visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days; this policy runs until 31 December 2026 unless extended. US citizens need a visa, though they and travellers from 55 countries can use the 240-hour visa-free transit if flying on to a third country through designated ports. Check current rules before you travel.
Shanghai is one of China’s most expensive cities. China uses the yuan (CNY, RMB). Mobile payment dominates: Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign bank cards, but carry some cash as a backup.
Old and new Shanghai.
Walk the Bund, cross to Pudong for the Shanghai Tower, and return to the Bund at night.
Visit Yu Garden and the old town, then the Shanghai Museum and the streets of the former French Concession.
Take the metro to Zhujiajiao, then spend the evening in Xintiandi.
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card before you travel; many places do not take foreign cards directly.
June brings the “plum rains” and summer can be very hot and humid.
The metro reaches almost everywhere; use a transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat.
Avoid Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week (1–7 October), when sights and transport are extremely busy.
Quick answers for planning time in Shanghai.
Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and others can currently visit visa-free for up to 30 days (until 31 December 2026). US citizens need a visa unless using the 240-hour visa-free transit.
Take the Maglev to Longyang Road and change to the metro, or take metro line 2 directly.
About 632m, one of the tallest buildings in the world.
April to May and October to November, when it is mild and less humid.
High-speed trains take about 4.5 to 6 hours.
Google Maps works poorly in mainland China; Apple Maps or the Chinese app Amap (Gaode) are more accurate.
Free
Mandarin is the main language, and English is limited outside big hotels; a translation app with camera and offline mode is very helpful.
Free
WhatsApp, Google and many Western apps are blocked in mainland China without a roaming SIM or eSIM; most people use WeChat for messages and payments.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our China travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.