Shanghai is a place where every road boasts a new narrative, and each gigantic building indicates a dream of the city’s citizens. It is a mesmerizing place made up of opposing forces, a lively pattern decorated with the designs of old customs and loud modernity. The well-known British author Somerset Maugham once said, “Shanghai is a city where every day is a new adventure, and every night a new dream.” Knowing its spirit, you must not only look at its attractions but also experience its beat. It’s a beautiful living city heart journey.
Top 15 Things to See and Do in Shanghai
The Bund: The Symphony of Two Eras
At The Bund, Shanghai’s beautiful and famous waterside walk, start your trip. A row of fabulous European-style old buildings tells the story of a time when it was called the “Paris of the East”, is what you see on one side. Meanwhile, the Huangpu River, with its view of the new and shining glass towers like the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower, is on the other side. What makes it wonderful is the combination – a very different but still coherent, in a way, silent meeting of the rich past and the future. If you want to see it at its very best, you should definitely see the Huangpu River by night, the moment when the city is all shining like a little starry sky on earth.
Yu Garden: A Zen Retreat in the Heart of the City
Immerse yourself in an enchanting piece of ancient Chinese garden design right in the middle of the city. Yu Garden, or Yuyuan, is an oasis of peace created in the Ming Dynasty. Explore its delicate pavilions, cross the lakes on charming stone bridges, and be overwhelmed with the beauty of the masterfully carved rocks and the peaceful water lilies that float on the surface. Each place has a surprise, a newly discovered, perfectly composed scene that feels like a painting come to life.
The French Concession: Echoes of a Forgotten World
Once you stroll the shady streets of the old French Concession, it is quite likely that you will feel as if time is passing not as fast as usual. This quaint neighborhood is a great mixture of the traditional and ancient Chinese and the European architectural styles. You can gaze at the tasteful mansions, unearth secluded art galleries, and sip coffee in fashionable cafes. The interesting and quite different Wukang Building, with the amazing and unforgettable visual of the ship, is among the attractions of the city for architects as well as curious cameramen.
Nanjing Road: A River of Light and Commerce
Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s most famous street for shopping. Day and night, it is a lively and vibrant street with no cars, only people. Nevertheless, do not forget to admire the beauty of the old houses. The real wonder of the 19th-century buildings is hidden in their finely decorated windows, roofs, and walls, which are above the flashy signs—artistic railings, picturesque moldings, and majestic domes that give a glimpse of an old time. In the evening, this road is like a forest of lights from the many advertisements and a place of great city life. A walk along here is one of the essential things to do in Shanghai.
Shanghai Tower: A Glimpse from the Sky
Experience the sky at the Shanghai Tower, which is the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world. The trip going up is really amazing, as one of the fastest elevators in the world takes you to the viewing platform. Seeing the city from this spectacular point is like seeing a huge city made of tiny cars and buildings. The view looks like a beautiful movie if the sky is clear.
Zhujiajiao Water Town: The Venice of Shanghai
Amazing Zhujiajiao is only a few minutes away from downtown, and how different it is. For people who love to escape from the rush, this 1700-year-old town is an ideal place to take a breath and enjoy the simple life. Zhujiajiao is like a maze of canals, with bridges that are charming and old houses that date back to the Ming and Qing times. Traveling on a small boat, walking in the narrow old streets, and feeling the stillness as if you are in another world, which is far away from the city. Experiencing this tranquility is one of the most serene things to do in Shanghai.
The Weird and Wonderful Tangle of Art and Alleyways that is Tianzifang
Experience the creative and slightly eccentric essence of Shanghai at Tianzifang. The district, an arts and crafts haven, is a network of revamped shikumen (old stone gate) dwellings. The tiny alleys are filled with one-of-a-kind fashion stores, artisan workshops, and coffee shops that are small and warm in appearance. It is an area to be delightfully lost, to find extraordinary items, and to enjoy the city’s artistic vibe.
Jing’an Temple: A glittering temple in the middle of the skyscrapers
Silent among the sky-high glass and steel Jing’an business district, the Jing’an Temple shines like a holy light of an ancient Buddhist culture. How bright the golden rooftop and lively red walls of the temple contrast with the impressive modern buildings! Come in and enjoy a quiet and fragrant refuge, a place of deep spiritual happiness in the middle of a bustling city. For those seeking spiritual peace, this is one of the unmissable things to do in Shanghai.
Shanghai Museum: A Treasure
Hoisting the flag of traditional Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum is a gem of culture, an expansive storehouse of ancient Chinese art. Its novel architecture, the globe on a square, epitomizes the ancient Chinese idea of “round sky, square earth.” The museum boasts an impressive variety of cultural relics, which not only include bronzes and calligraphy of the oldest times, but also jade carvings and furniture of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
People’s Park: A Peek at the Daily Life of Locals
People’s Park is not only a place for relaxation with nature, but it is also a center for culture where one can see how people really live in Shanghai. Every weekend, you can see the “Marriage Market” as well. The event is very interesting because one can see parents stuck up the full resumes of their single kids and looking for a perfect matching partner. In fact, it is a very touching and different cultural perspective of the people living there.
The Oriental Pearl Tower: Shanghai
Spanning a galaxy of spheres and columns, the Oriental Pearl Tower is a comment on the city of Shanghai and its sky. Such a tower with its observation decks that offer beautiful sights is more than a simple lookout point. Located on the ground floor is the Shanghai Municipal History Museum, through which one can learn about the great changes that the city has undergone from a fishing village to one of the world’s most significant cities. Getting to the top is one of the most classic things to do in Shanghai.
The Propaganda Poster Art Center: a Secret Exploration of the Past
This privately-owned museum, located in a building’s basement, is among the least known places in Shanghai. It includes a complete and one-of-a-kind collection of posters for propaganda ideas. The fact that the work of art is stunning to the eye, the history it unfolds is a rare and comprehensive account of a major change in China’s history.
1933 Old Millfun: A Surreal Architectural Marvel
Experiencing 1933 Old Millfun is like nothing else; it was a deadly, large animal-butchering place. At present, a creative space has been made from this industrial conglomerate, which includes art galleries, cafes, and shops. The building of brutalist architecture with fancy twisting staircases, bridges suspended in the air, and large empty spaces made from concrete is not only a photographer’s fantasy but also an unexpected and amazing visual that one gets when they stroll through the newly developed building. For a truly unique photo opportunity, this is one of the most intriguing things to do in Shanghai.
Taste the City: A Culinary Journey
If you haven’t tasted the Shanghai city food, you have never been to Shanghai. Treat yourself with the small soup dumplings (xiao long bao), which have a very thin cover and a burst of savory broth inside. Add to that some pan-fried sheng jien bu with the crunchy part giving you a nice bite. Get an authentic local food experience by visiting food stalls and trying the city’s food, such as “wolf tooth potatoes” and stinky tofu. Exploring the culinary scene is one of the most rewarding things to do in Shanghai.
M50 Art District: Shanghai’s Creative Pulse
M50 is a fantastic place to start if you want to learn more about modern art in Shanghai. It’s an old factory area that’s been turned into a lively center for artists. You’ll find more than a hundred galleries and studios there. You can walk around the alleys covered in street art, check out unusual sculptures, and visit galleries with innovative art by well-known and up-and-coming Chinese artists. It’s a gritty and stimulating place that offers a different perspective from Shanghai’s usual upscale image.
Your amazing trip through Shanghai is almost over, but this is just the beginning. The true magic of Shanghai lies in the unexpected moments – a secret alleyway, a friendly hello from a local, a melody drifting from afar. Just like the well-known writer Pearl S. Buck said, “Shanghai is an adventure, not simply a destination.”
Whether you’ve been amazed by the modern buildings, felt calm in an ancient garden, or enjoyed a perfect dumpling, you’ve now felt the heart of this lively city. May the feeling of Shanghai stay with you, like a bright mix of the past and the present, and the hope of making dreams come true. Your trip might be ending, but the memories – and the desire to come back – are only just starting.
