Shanghai has always been a city with a strong sense of fashion and is also a popular domestic tourist destination. There are many beautiful scenery here, and as the “Magic City”, it has a unique charm. So what are the must-visit attractions for tourists visiting Shanghai? Let’s take a look.
1. Must-Visit Attractions for a Day Trip in Shanghai
1.1 Century Park
Address: 1001 Jinshui Road, Pudong New Area
Transportation: Metro Line 2, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station/Century Park Station
Free entry starting from May 1st. Century Park is the largest natural ecological city park in the inner ring area of Shanghai. It mainly consists of large areas of lawns, forests, and lakes. Trees and shrubs embrace each other, with flowers blooming in all seasons. It is an oasis in the metropolis, with a modern Chinese garden style.
1.2 Zhujiajiao
Address: Intersection of Xinfeng Road and Meizhou Road, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District
Transportation: Self-driving or Metro Line 17, Zhujiajiao Station
Zhujiajiao Town is one of the four famous historical and cultural towns in Shanghai. Rivers and canals crisscross within the town, nine long streets extend along the river, thousands of Ming and Qing buildings stand by the water, and 36 ancient stone bridges remain. There are countless historical sites and scenic spots.
1.3 Fengjing Ancient Town
Address: No. 281 Zhuifeng Highway, Fengjing Town, Jinshan District
Fengjing Town is a famous historical and cultural town in China and one of the new Eight Views of Shanghai. Historically, it was known as the town of Wu and Yue because it was located at the junction of Wu and Yue. Fengjing is a typical Jiangnan water town. There are numerous water networks around the ancient town, and the town is crisscrossed by rivers and canals. There are as many as 52 bridges, the oldest being the Yuan Dynasty Zhihe Bridge, with a history of nearly 700 years.
1.4 Qingxi Country Park
Address: No. 500 Zilian Road, Jinze Town, Qingpu District
Transportation: Line 17 Zhujiajiao Qingpu 28 Road Lianxi Highway West Song Road Station
Located by the Dalian Lake in Qingpu District, it is the only country park in Shanghai that features wetlands. The “Water Forest” is located in the ecological conservation area of Qingxi Country Park, covering an area of over 60 acres. It is dominated by water-tolerant tree species such as bald cypress, with water and forest interlaced, egrets flying, forming a unique landscape in the Shanghai area.
Top 10 Tourist Spots in Shanghai
2.1 The Bund
Strolling along the Bund is one of the must-do things for tourists in Shanghai. The Bund is located on the west side of the Huangpu River and is one of Shanghai’s most famous tourist attractions. On both sides of the Bund are ancient buildings representing various architectural styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture. This contrasts sharply with the east side of the river, which is filled with stunning skyscrapers that reach dizzying heights. The best time to walk the Bund is at night, when the skyscrapers are lit up like Christmas trees.
2.2 Yu Garden
Yu Garden has been a fixture in Shanghai since the 16th century, when a Ming Dynasty official wanted to create a peaceful garden for his parents to spend their twilight years. Today, it is one of the most famous classical gardens in China, meaning “delightful and satisfying.” The garden is full of rockeries, halls, pavilions, where tourists can rest their weary feet, and ponds, which flow serenely by your feet.
2.3 Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s shopping street. It is in fact one of the largest and most famous tourist destinations in the world, attracting about 1 million shoppers every day. Built in 1845, the road is divided into east and west sections, with the east section being the main shopping area. Once a place where traditional Chinese shops sold daily necessities, Nanjing Road is now home to upscale shops, restaurants, and hotels. The eastern section is a long pedestrian street, so shoppers don’t have to worry about being hit by cars.
2.4 Shanghai World Financial Center
As one of the global centers of the world economy, Shanghai has its own World Financial Center. However, this financial center is not an ancient building, but a skyscraper with an innovative design, reaching a height of 492 meters. The 101-story building houses 20 multinational financial institutions, a shopping mall, and a large hotel. Visitors with acrophobia might want to visit the observation deck near the top of this amazing landmark.
2.5 Shanghai Museum
Paris has the Louvre, Amsterdam has the Rijksmuseum, and Shanghai has its own world-class museum. Located in a modern building in People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum spans five floors and contains Chinese ancient history: old coins, priceless paintings and ceramics, intricately carved traditional lacquered furniture, and ancient bronzes and jade. All in all, the museum has over 120,000 exhibits, divided into 11 galleries. Even the building itself is a work of art, with a round dome representing heaven and a square base. Best of all, the museum has free admission every day, with about 8,000 visitors a day.
2.6 Tianzifang
Tianzifang was once a residential area in the French Concession. Today it is an art district similar to Beijing’s 798, filled with boutiques where tourists can buy art and crafts, or take in the traditional architecture. Tianzifang is located in a labyrinthine alleyway near Taikang Road, dotted with many small businesses, including art supply stores, fashion studios, galleries, and cafes. The area is known for its old traditional buildings.
2.7 Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Any visit to Shanghai must include a trip to a water town. Located in the suburbs of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is one of the best-preserved water towns in the area, despite its 1700-year history. Visitors must take a boat tour, paddling under 35 ancient stone bridges, flanking old houses. Perhaps the most famous bridge is the Fangsheng Bridge from 1571, with its five openings and eight dragons surrounding a pearl. Visitors will also not miss the North Street with Ming and Qing architecture. Also worth a visit is the largest memorial garden in Zhujiajiao – Kozhi Garden.
The Oriental Pearl Tower is Shanghai’s iconic landmark, standing on the bank of the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area. At 468 meters tall, it was the tallest building built in the early 1990s. The world’s sixth tallest radio and television tower looks like a cross between the Eiffel Tower and the Seattle Space Needle, with 15 observation decks and a 264-meter rotating restaurant. The outdoor observation deck’s glass floor is probably one of the most exciting attractions in Shanghai.
2.9 Shanghai Maglev Train
Shanghai’s main airport, Pudong International Airport, is very close to downtown Shanghai. The Shanghai Maglev Train is the fastest way to get to the city. The Maglev Train travels at 430 kilometers per hour and takes only 8 minutes to complete the 30 kilometers journey to Pudong Central. From there, visitors can transfer to the subway, bus or taxi to their final destination. The Maglev Train was built in the early 21st century at a cost of 8.2 billion yuan.
2.10 Shanghai Circus World
Shanghai is famous for its acrobatic performances, which are even better than Shanghai Circus World. Visitors can see these amazing acrobats in their daily show “Insert Time”, which is comparable to a Broadway musical. Agile acrobats perform from traditional acrobatics to martial arts skills, all set to music, lighting and costumes. Shanghai Circus World also has its own circus – Happy Circus, which features everything from clowns to animals to acrobats. Happy Circus takes center stage on weekends and holidays. Shanghai Circus World has its own circus stages around the world, where international circuses can also perform.
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