By rail
Shanghai Hongqiao, the high-speed rail hub
East Asia · China
Shanghai, China
The Bund, skyscrapers and water towns
Getting there
By air
Shanghai Pudong (PVG), ~40 km; the maglev takes about 8 minutes
Best time to visit
April to May and October to November — mild
Don't miss
The Bund
The Yu Garden
The Shanghai Tower
The former French Concession
Things to do
The Bund at night
The Yu Garden
A day in the water town of Zhujiajiao
The maglev from the airport
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: MasaneMiyaPA · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, an umbrella
A quieter corner
Tianzifang's lanes in the former French Concession
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Pudong airport into Shanghai?
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) is about 40 km out, and the maglev takes about 8 minutes. By train, Shanghai Hongqiao is the high-speed rail hub.
What are the essential Shanghai experiences?
The Bund at night and the Yu Garden, then a day in the water town of Zhujiajiao. For a wander, get lost in Tianzifang's lanes in the former French Concession.
Which dumplings should I try in Shanghai?
Xiaolongbao soup dumplings and shengjian bao.
When should I plan a Shanghai trip?
April to May or October to November, when it's mild. Pack layers and an umbrella.
About Shanghai
- Riverside
- Coastal
Where it is
Shanghai lies on the east coast of China at the mouth of the Yangtze River, where the Huangpu River divides the old city and the Bund on its west bank from the towers of Pudong on the east; it is one of China's four directly governed municipalities.
History
A market town and cotton-trading port for centuries, Shanghai was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, and British, American and French concessions grew up along the Huangpu. By the 1930s it was one of Asia's great financial centres, and since the 1990s the farmland of Pudong has become a district of skyscrapers.
People
Shanghai's people speak Mandarin and Shanghainese, a Wu Chinese language, and the city draws people from every province. Shikumen lane houses, braised pork in the local style, hairy crab in autumn and the qipao tailoring of the 1930s are all part of its heritage.
Known for
- The Bund's riverside buildings
- The Pudong skyline and the Shanghai Tower
- The Yu Garden and the old city
- Xiaolongbao soup dumplings
- Water towns such as Zhujiajiao
Did you know?
At 632 m, the Shanghai Tower in Pudong is the tallest building in China, and its outer skin twists as it rises to reduce the force of the wind.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.