Things to do in Shanghai

A cultural and financial center in China, Shanghai is a modern metropolis with a traditional touch. Blending that perfect marriage between the West and the Orient, there is much to see and do in the city. From shopping along Nanjing Road, museum-hoping to getting a glimpse of the city’s skyline atop a skyscraper, and of course a visit to Shanghai Disneyland Park, Shanghai is a traveler’s delight.

Regarded as Asia’s New York, Shanghai, is deemed as the financial and cultural center of China.

Experience breathtaking city views atop the Oriental Pearl Tower, one of the most important and best-maintained tourist attractions in China. Visit the Suzhou & Zhouzhuang Water Village, the Venice of East, and learn more about ancient China. Find yourself in the heart of one of the world’s busiest shopping districts on Nanjing Road and fill your tummies with joy and great food by purchasing baskets of Xiao Long Bao along the way!

Shanghai was the largest city in China in 2020, followed by Beijing with around 20 million inhabitants.

A Beacon of Modern China

A beacon of 21st-century China, Shanghai is modernising at an electrifying rate. Nowhere is this more evident than the skyscraper-punctuated Pudong commercial district. The most distinct – the Oriental Pearl Tower – has a ball at the top and bottom and offers fabulous city views. A number of towers also twist as they go up – a feat of contemporary engineering.

This side of the city also houses Shanghai Pudong International Airport, while Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is over the Huangpu River in the Puxi district. An area of older and less dominating buildings, Puxi features the elegant Bund area whose varied architecture includes a surprising array of Art Deco.

With a choice of shopping centres and small shops beneath brightly lit neon signs just like in Chinatowns across the world, city shopping is fantastic.

Other must-see Shanghai attractions include the wonderful Shanghai Museum and the Jade Buddha Temple. For a break from the hustle and bustle head to the Yuyuan Gardens, the beach or the peaceful Zhujiajiao Water Town in the west.

Here are some must-have apps to use in Shanghai:

• WeChat – This is an all-in-one messaging app that is essential for life in China. You can use it for messaging, voice or video calls, paying bills, hailing taxis, ordering food, and much more. WeChat Pay is the built-in payment system for WeChat, so you can use it to pay for almost anything in Shanghai.
• Alipay – This is another popular mobile payment app in China. It’s similar to WeChat Pay and can be used for paying for goods and services, as well as for transferring money to friends.
• DiDi – This is the Chinese equivalent of Uber. You can use it to hail taxis or private cars. It’s a convenient way to get around Shanghai, especially if you don’t speak Chinese.
• Gaode Maps or Baidu Maps – These are two popular map apps in China. They offer navigation, traffic information, and point-of-interest search. Since Google Maps is not available in China, these are your best options for getting around.
• Pleco or Baidu Translate – These are translation apps that can be helpful if you don’t speak Chinese. Pleco is a dictionary app that allows you to look up Chinese characters and words. Baidu Translate is a translation app that can translate between Chinese and English (and other languages).
• Trip.com  – This travel booking app can be used to book flights, hotels, and trains in China. They are a convenient way to book your travel arrangements for your trip to Shanghai.