Shanghai is the softest landing in mainland China and the best place to shake off jet lag. The Bund, the former French Concession and the Pudong skyline are close enough to cover on foot and by metro, and the city has the deepest bench of bars, galleries and restaurants in the country.
It is also a useful base. Suzhou and Hangzhou are short high-speed train rides away, which makes Shanghai a natural first or last stop on a two-week route.
What is actually worth your time
Editor’s shortlistEat this
- Xiaolongbao. Soup dumplings; bite a hole first, do not burn your mouth.
- Shengjianbao. Pan-fried pork buns, crisp bottom, molten centre.
- Scallion oil noodles. Simple, cheap and usually excellent.
Where to stay
- Former French Concession. Best for walking, cafés and boutique hotels.
- Jing’an. Central, polished and well connected.
- Lujiazui. Skyline views; less lived-in at street level.
First-timer notes
- Do not book a hotel in Pudong just for the view; stay west of the river for a better first trip.
- Use the Metro plus walking. Shanghai traffic makes short taxi rides feel longer than they are.
- Book museums and the Shanghai Tower observation deck online; popular slots sell out.
Honest skip list
- Skip the fake-market alleys around Nanjing Road; the real markets are elsewhere.
- Skip a guided Bund walk if you are comfortable reading plaques; the riverfront is easy to do yourself.
On the map
Map data © Google. Centred on Shanghai, China.
Open in Google MapsRead before you go
240-hour visa-free transit in China: the rules that actually matter
Who qualifies for China's 10-day transit waiver, which ports and regions you can use, and the onward-ticket mistakes that get travelers denied boarding.
Alipay and WeChat Pay for foreigners: set up both before you fly
A practical setup guide for foreign cards, the fees that surprise people, limits, verification, and what to do when a QR code will not scan.
Internet in China: eSIM, local SIM and VPNs without the guesswork
How to stay connected in China: which eSIMs bypass the firewall, when you need a local number, and how to set up a VPN before you land.
Sources & further reading
Last checked October 2026. Opening hours, tickets and transit change; confirm before you travel.
