Shanghai doesn't do subtle. It's China's biggest, boldest, and most glamorous city — where 1930s jazz clubs share streets with futuristic skyscrapers and Michelin-starred restaurants neighbor hole-in-the-wall soup dumpling shops.
The Bund & Pudong
Start on the Bund at dawn, when locals practice tai chi against a backdrop of Pudong's sci-fi skyline. The Bund's colonial-era buildings house some of Shanghai's best restaurants and rooftop bars. Cross the river via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (kitschy but fun) or the metro to ascend Shanghai Tower — China's tallest building at 632 meters.
Former French Concession
Plane tree-lined streets, 1920s lane houses, and some of Asia's best cafes and boutiques. Wander Fuxing Road and Wukang Road on foot, then stop for brunch at Al's Diner or craft cocktails at Speak Low (hidden behind a bookshelf). This is Shanghai at its most charming.
Food: From Street to Starred
Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings): Jia Jia Tang Bao and Din Tai Fung are the classics. Shengjianbao: Pan-fried pork buns at Yang's Fry Dumplings. Hairy crab: A Shanghai autumn ritual — best enjoyed at a specialist restaurant like Cheng Long Hang. For modern Chinese fine dining, Fu He Hui and Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet are world-class.
Day Trips
Zhujiajiao Water Town: An ancient canal town 1 hour from central Shanghai. Suzhou: Classical gardens and silk — 30 minutes by high-speed train. Hangzhou: West Lake and tea plantations — 1 hour by train.
