Shanghai, China: things to do, prices and tips 2026

Things to do in Shanghai (China): The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower, The former French Concession. Prices, opening times and the author’s tips.

Open the interactive guide

What to see

🌉The Bund

A waterfront of 1920s colonial buildings, and across the river the skyscrapers of Pudong. At night both sides blaze with light.

Price Free

Insider tip The lights go on around 6–7 pm and off at 10 pm — don't be late. The best shot is from the north end of the promenade by Waibaidu Bridge.

🏮Yu Garden

A classical 16th-century Chinese garden with ponds, bridges and rockeries, surrounded by a busy bazaar with a teahouse in the middle of a pond.

Price About 40 yuan in April–June and September–November, 30 the rest of the year

Insider tip The garden opens at 9 am — come at opening. The famous Nanxiang xiaolongbao by the garden have a queue, but they're worth it.

🗼Shanghai Tower

A twisting 632-metre skyscraper with an observation deck on the 118th floor. The lift climbs at about 18 metres per second.

Price About 180 yuan

Insider tip Go up an hour before sunset and stay until dark. If the sky is smoggy, sit in a riverside bar in the evening instead — the view is free.

🌳The former French Concession

Leafy streets lined with plane trees, 1930s villas, coffee shops and boutiques — the cosiest part of Shanghai. Don't miss Wukang Road and the "flatiron" Wukang Mansion.

Price Free

Insider tip Rent a shared bike through Alipay and ride along Yuyuan Road and Anfu Road. At weekends there's a queue for photos at Wukang Mansion.

🛍Tianzifang

A maze of narrow longtang lanes with old shikumen houses now filled with studios, cafés and souvenir shops.

Price Free

Insider tip By day it's crowds and souvenirs; in the morning it's a quiet residential quarter. Nearby Xintiandi has the same houses, but pricier and polished.

🛶Zhujiajiao water town

China's Venice an hour by metro from the centre — canals, stone bridges and boats.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

🚢An evening on the Huangpu River

How to see Shanghai's lights from the water for 2 yuan instead of 150.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

All of China

Open the interactive guideA map with every spot, your own day-by-day route, a checklist and weather. Free, in the browser or in Telegram.Open