Travel guide · East China
Shanghai
上海
China's financial centre on the Huangpu River
Shanghai is China's largest city and its main financial centre, a municipality on the Huangpu River near the mouth of the Yangtze. Visitors come for the Bund's pre-war waterfront, the Pudong skyline, Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum and Shanghainese food.
Key facts
- Status
- Municipality directly under the central government[1]
- Area
- about 6,340 km²[1]
- Airports
- Pudong International (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)[3]
- Main railway stations
- Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai and Shanghai South
- Local language
- Shanghainese (a Wu dialect); Mandarin
- Time zone
- China Standard Time, UTC+8
- Climate
- Humid subtropical, hot summers, damp winters
- Suggested stay
- 3–5 days; longer with day trips
Overview
Shanghai is China's commercial and financial hub and its most international city. The historic core lies on the west bank of the Huangpu River around the Bund and People's Square; the high-rise district of Lujiazui in Pudong faces it across the water. Between the skyline sights, lane neighbourhoods, museums and food streets show the older city.
History
Shanghai grew from a market town on the Huangpu into a major port after it was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Nanking in 1843. British, American and French settlements shaped the Bund and the former French Concession, and by the 1930s the city was the leading trading and banking centre of East Asia. After 1949 it remained China's industrial base; the development of Pudong from 1990 turned it into the country's financial centre.
Culture
Haipai (海派), the 'Shanghai style', describes the city's mix of Chinese and Western influences in architecture, painting, opera and fashion. Shikumen lane houses, the Shanghainese dialect and the sweet, soy-braised dishes of benbang cuisine are its local markers.
Main sights
Riverside promenade lined with banks and trading houses of the 1900s–1930s, facing the Pudong skyline
- Neoclassical and Art Deco bank buildings
- Huangpu River views
- Evening illumination of both banks
- Peace Hotel
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- Evening for the illuminated skyline and cooler air
Television tower completed in 1994, the first landmark of the new Pudong
- Views over the Huangpu and the Bund
- Glass-floored observation deck
- Urban history exhibition hall
- Revolving restaurant
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- Clear days for visibility, sunset for photographs
Classical Chinese garden laid out from 1559 during the Ming dynasty, next to the old City God Temple bazaar
- Traditional pavilions
- Rockeries
- Dragon Wall
- Huxinting teahouse
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- Early morning to avoid crowds, spring for blossom
Residential district of plane-tree-lined streets, lane houses and villas from the concession era
- Plane-tree-lined streets
- Art galleries
- Cafés
- Historic villas
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Best time
- Afternoon for walking and cafés, evening for dining
One of China's leading collections of ancient Chinese art, at People's Square with a second site, Shanghai Museum East, in Pudong
- Ancient bronzes
- Jade collection
- Calligraphy gallery
- Ming furniture
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours
- Best time
- Morning, when it is less crowded; reserve entry online in advance
Local food
Shanghai's signature soup dumplings: thin wrappers around pork and hot broth, a speciality of nearby Nanxiang
Where to try: Nanxiang Mantou Dian at Yu Garden · Jia Jia Tang Bao · Din Tai Fung
Contains pork traditionally · Crab and vegetarian versions available · Very hot soup inside - bite carefully
Pan-fried pork buns with a crisp base and juicy filling, a Shanghai breakfast staple
Where to try: Yang's Fry Dumpling · Da Hu Chun · Street vendors
Contains pork · Sesame and scallions on top · Best eaten hot
Autumn delicacy of Chinese mitten crab, the most prized from Yangcheng Lake near Suzhou
Where to try: Wang Bao He · Fu 1088 · Seasonal restaurants across the city
Seasonal availability (September-December) · Not suitable for shellfish allergies · Traditionally eaten with ginger and vinegar
Plain noodles tossed with fried scallion oil and dark soy sauce
Where to try: A Niang Noodles · Neighbourhood noodle shops · Local breakfast stalls
Contains gluten · Often vegetarian-friendly · Simple ingredients, but technique makes the difference
Getting there and around
Getting there
Main international airport, some 30-40 km east of the city centre, linked by Maglev, metro, airport buses and taxis
- The Maglev, the first commercial high-speed maglev line (2004), runs to Longyang Road, where it connects to the metro
- Metro Line 2 runs from the airport into the city centre without a change of train
- Airport buses connect to major hotels and districts
- Use the official taxi queue or a ride-hailing app such as Didi
Mainly domestic and regional flights, closer to the city centre and next to Hongqiao railway station
- More convenient for the city centre than Pudong
- Integrated with Hongqiao high-speed rail station
- Metro Lines 2 and 10 run into the city centre
Shanghai is a hub of China's high-speed rail network, with fast links to Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Beijing
- Hongqiao station, next to the airport, handles most high-speed trains
- Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai South serve other routes
- Book early for public holidays; a passport is needed to reserve and board
Getting around
An extensive metro network covering the whole city, one of the longest in the world and the most efficient way to get around
- Station names and announcements are in Chinese and English
- Weekday morning and evening rush hours are very crowded
- Pay with a transport card, a single-journey card or a mobile QR code
- Keep your single-journey card until the exit gate
Convenient for door-to-door trips, but slow in heavy traffic
- Have your destination written in Chinese
- Didi (ride-hailing) is widely used and has an English interface
- Traffic can be extremely heavy at rush hour
- Drivers may not speak English
Comprehensive bus network, good for short distances and neighbourhood exploring
- Pay with a transport card or a mobile QR code
- Can be very crowded
- Limited English signage
- Good for exploring local neighbourhoods
Entry rules are on the visa and entry pages.
Plan the trip
From historic hotels on the Bund to high-rise hotels in Pudong and boutique stays in the former French Concession.
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Shanghai's two airports, Pudong and Hongqiao, connect the city with destinations across China and the world.
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The Maglev links Pudong Airport with the city, and high-speed trains connect Shanghai with Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Beijing.
Partner link: if you book or buy through it, CHINANETZ earns a commission. The price does not change for you.
Practical information
- Best time to visit
- October-November and April-May for mild weather and lower humidity; avoid the National Day and Spring Festival holidays if crowds are a concern
- Climate
- Humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8
- Internet
- Good WiFi and mobile data coverage; many foreign websites and apps are blocked, so arrange a roaming plan or eSIM before arrival
- Electricity
- 220V, 50Hz, Type A, C, and I plugs
Safety
- Shanghai is safe for visitors, with low levels of street crime
- Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas such as Nanjing Road
- Beware of tea-house and art-gallery scams by friendly strangers near the Bund and Nanjing Road
- Use licensed taxis or a ride-hailing app
- Air quality varies - check the index on hazy days
- Avoid unlicensed money changers
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government (English portal) — Shanghai Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- National Immigration Administration (English) — National Immigration Administration (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Shanghai Airport Authority — Shanghai Airport Authority (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Shanghai Museum — Shanghai Museum (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Shanghai — Encyclopaedia Britannica (retrieved 27 September 2026)
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