Shanghai is the only Chinese city that regularly surprises people who expected not to like it. Shanghai Tourism reports over 8 million international overnight visitors annually. It is not deep China in the way Beijing or Xi’an is. It does not overwhelm with historical weight. What it does is feed you better than almost anywhere in Asia, offer you two neighborhoods worth losing yourself in, and show you what happens when 3,000 years of Chinese history collides with 150 years of European commercial ambition.
The result is The Bund and the French Concession. Everything else in Shanghai is optional. For the 3-day itinerary: 3-Day Shanghai Itinerary.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
| Best months | October (best). April to May. Avoid summer humidity and Golden Week. |
| Stay in | French Concession (Xuhui) for atmosphere. Nanjing Road area for convenience. |
| Non-negotiable | Bund walk. French Concession streets. Good xiaolongbao breakfast. |
| Book restaurants in advance | Dianping or WeChat. 3 to 5 days ahead for well-reviewed spots. |
| Airports | Pudong (PVG) for international. Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic. |
| Getting around | Metro is excellent. Line 2 is the main tourist artery. |
The Two Essential Neighborhoods
The Bund (外滩)
The 1.5 km waterfront promenade facing the Huangpu River. On the west side: 52 historic buildings from the colonial treaty port era (1843 to 1943), in every major European style: neoclassical, Art Deco, Gothic, Baroque. On the east side: Pudong’s skyline across the river, led by the Shanghai Tower (632m), the Jin Mao Tower, and the Pearl Tower.
Best times: sunrise (6:30 to 7:30am, almost no people), early evening before sunset (light on the buildings from the west), and night (Pudong towers lit up). The ¥2 Huangpu River ferry from the Bund to Pudong beats the expensive tourist cruise for seeing the same view. Full guide: The Bund Shanghai Guide.
Former French Concession
The neighborhood west of the Bund and south of Nanjing Road West. Tree-lined streets (London plane trees planted by the French, now heritage-listed) and early 20th-century villas. The best walking area in Shanghai. Anfu Road, Wukang Road, Fuxing Road, and Yuyuan Road are the key streets. Wukang Mansion (a 1924 Art Deco building at the apex of Wukang Road) is the most photographed building in Shanghai. Full guide: French Concession Guide.
Food: What to Eat and Where
| Food | Where to Get It | What to Know |
| Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) | Jia Jia Tang Bao, 90 Huanghe Road. Queue outside, no reservations. | Nibble a hole in the skin, slurp the broth first. Then eat the rest. |
| Sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns) | Yang’s Fry Dumplings, multiple locations. | Crispy bottom, juicy inside. Eat immediately, burn your tongue, no regrets. |
| Scallion oil noodles (葱油拌面) | Any local noodle shop. | Simple, cheap, the best breakfast after xiaolongbao. |
| Hairy crab (大闸蟹) | Any restaurant in October to December. Book ahead. | Seasonal. The roe inside is the point. Messy. Worth it. |
| Avoid | Tourist restaurant menus near Yu Garden. | 20% of the price for 80% of the quality if you walk 5 minutes away. |
The Things Most Shanghai Guides Get Wrong
- The ¥2 ferry beats the ¥70 tourist cruise. The Huangpu River ferry from pier 4 (near the Bund) to Pudong costs ¥2. It crosses the same river, gives you the same views, and takes 10 minutes. The tourist cruise is the same experience at 35 times the price.
- Tianzifang before 10am, not during the day. Arrive at 9am and the narrow lanes are quiet and atmospheric. Arrive at noon and it is elbow-to-elbow.
- Book restaurants in advance. This cannot be overstated. Jesse Restaurant, Ultraviolet, and many French Concession favorites book out days ahead.
- Jia Jia Tang Bao is on Huanghe Road, not near Yu Garden. The Yu Garden area has xiaolongbao stalls but they are tourist-priced and inferior. Walk to Huanghe Road.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the 3-day itinerary: 3-Day Shanghai Itinerary. For French Concession in depth: French Concession Guide. For the best xiaolongbao: Best Xiaolongbao.