All guides
China · Asia

Shanghai

Neon skyline over 1920s art deco streets — China's most cosmopolitan city.

Best time
March–May and September–November.
Stay
4 nights
From US
13h from LAX, 15h from NYC
Lang / Cur
Mandarin · Chinese Yuan (CNY)

Shanghai's Bund waterfront frames Pudong's futuristic skyline. Behind it: the French Concession's leafy lanes, Michelin dumpling shops, and a metro that puts most Western cities to shame.

01

Highlights

  • 01Bund walk at sunset with Pudong skyline
  • 02Yu Garden + Old City tea houses
  • 03French Concession café + boutique crawl
  • 04Shanghai Tower observation deck
  • 05Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung or Jia Jia Tang Bao
02

Where to stay

The BundFrench ConcessionPudong (Lujiazui)XintiandiJing'an
03

4-day itinerary

  1. 01Bund + Old City

    Yu Garden, Bund promenade, Fairmont Peace Hotel jazz.

  2. 02Pudong

    Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl, riverboat back to Puxi.

  3. 03Concession

    Café hop, Tianzifang lanes, dumplings for dinner.

  4. 04Modern art

    Power Station of Art, West Bund, rooftop cocktails.

04

Local intelligence

  • 01You need a VPN for Google/Instagram — install before arrival.
  • 02Set up Alipay Tour Pass with a US card before you land.
  • 03Didi (Chinese Uber) works with the Alipay mini-program.
Ready to book?

Turn this guide into your live plan.

TripTogether's AI concierge personalizes this itinerary and hands you booking links for flights, stays, cars, tours, and activities.

Plan my Shanghai trip
05

More in Asia