China ☀️ 21°C · Now
★ Best Time Now Shanghai
China
Shanghai at a glance
$70+
Budget tier · excl. flights
From major hubs
PVG (Pudong) / SHA (Hongqiao)
Visa-free 90 days
For most Western passports
$1 ≈ ¥150
JPY · ECB rate
Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Now is ideal!
Subtropical (mild winter
Now ☀️ 21°C
21:17
CST (UTC+8)
Mandarin + Shanghainese
limited English
Why visit Shanghai?
Shanghai is China's largest city — population 26M, the financial + commercial capital of the People's Republic, the most populous city in China + most-visited city in mainland China. The Bund (Wai Tan, 1.5km waterfront promenade) is THE Shanghai image — Western 1920s colonial buildings on one side, the futuristic Pudong skyline on the other. Pudong's Shanghai Tower (632m, world's 2nd tallest building) + Oriental Pearl Tower (468m, 1994 retro-futurist landmark) + Jin Mao Tower (420m, 1999 Pagoda-shape) form the canonical photo. Beyond the skyline: Yu Garden (1577 Ming dynasty classical garden + 9-zigzag bridge), Old French Concession (tree-lined plane streets + cafés + 1920s mansions), Xintiandi (restored Shikumen lane houses), and Disneyland Shanghai (2016, China's first Disney).
Iconic Shanghainese cuisine: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings, $1-3 each — Din Tai Fung canonical, Jia Jia Tang Bao locally famous), Sheng jian bao (pan-fried soup buns, $1-2 — Yang's Dumpling), Hairy crab (Sep-Nov, $50-150 — Wang Bao He 1744), Drunken chicken (cold marinated chicken, $10-15), Sweet + sour Mandarin fish ($25-40), Tsingtao beer ($3-5).
Bottom line: Shanghai is modern China + Bund skyline + foodie playground + Disney. 3-4 days hits Bund + Pudong + French Concession + Disney or Suzhou day trip.
Things to do in Shanghai
Highlights
The Bund (Wai Tan)
1.5km waterfront promenade; Western colonial buildings + Pudong skyline.
Shanghai Tower SkyDeck (632m)
World's 2nd tallest building; 118th floor observation deck.
Yu Garden + Old City
1577 Ming dynasty classical garden + 9-zigzag bridge + Huxinting Tea House.
Travel cost
Per person, per day (excludes flights)
Hostel + local food + public transport
$70
≈ ¥10,500 JPY
Per person / day (excl. flights)
📅 Total cost by trip duration (incl. flights)
3 days
$250
≈ ¥37,500
5 days
$400
≈ ¥60,000
7 days
$530
≈ ¥79,500
Flight estimate: $700-1,400 from US/EU; $250-500 from Asia (PVG direct from Seoul/Tokyo/BKK) (round-trip estimate)
Monthly weather
Currently in Shanghai: ☀️ 21°C
Shanghai now (May)
High 24°C / Low 16°C· Pleasant★ Best Time
Jan 🍂
High 8°C / Low 1°C
Cool
Feb 🍂
High 9°C / Low 2°C
Cool
Mar 🌥️
High 13°C / Low 5°C
Cool
★ Best time to visit
Apr ⛅
High 19°C / Low 11°C
Mild
★ Best time to visit
May 🌤️
High 24°C / Low 16°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
Jun ☀️
High 28°C / Low 21°C
Hot
Jul 🔥
High 32°C / Low 25°C
Very Hot
Aug 🔥
High 32°C / Low 25°C
Very Hot
Sep ☀️
High 28°C / Low 21°C
Hot
★ Best time to visit
Oct 🌤️
High 23°C / Low 15°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
Nov ⛅
High 17°C / Low 9°C
Mild
★ Best time to visit
Dec 🌥️
High 11°C / Low 3°C
Cool
Jan
🍂
8°
1°
Cool
Feb
🍂
9°
2°
Cool
Mar
🌥️
13°
5°
Cool
★Best
Apr
⛅
19°
11°
Mild
★Best
May
🌤️
24°
16°
Pleasant
★Best
Jun
☀️
28°
21°
Hot
Jul
🔥
32°
25°
Very Hot
Aug
🔥
32°
25°
Very Hot
Sep
☀️
28°
21°
Hot
★Best
Oct
🌤️
23°
15°
Pleasant
★Best
Nov
⛅
17°
9°
Mild
★Best
Dec
🌥️
11°
3°
Cool
Practical information
Getting there
Getting around
Money & payments
Language
Cultural tips
Money & payment
Currency
CNY.
Card acceptance
International hotels. Alipay/WeChat Pay otherwise.
Tipping
Not customary in China.
ATM
Bank of China + ICBC free for foreign cards.
Recommended itinerary
Shanghai 3-day route
Day 1 Bund + Pudong
09:00
Yu Garden + Old City + Huxinting Tea House
1577 Ming dynasty garden + 9-zigzag bridge; CNY 30 ($4.15)
12:00
Lunch — soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) at Din Tai Fung
World's best xiaolongbao ¥120-200 ($17-28)
14:00
The Bund waterfront walk
1.5km Western colonial buildings facing Pudong skyline; free
16:00
Shanghai Tower SkyDeck (632m, 118th floor)
World's 2nd tallest building; CNY 180 ($25)
20:00
The Bund night view + dinner at M on the Bund
Iconic skyline backdrop ¥600-1,000 ($83-138)
Day 2 French Concession + Xintiandi
10:00
Old French Concession walk + cafes
Tree-lined plane streets + 1920s mansions; free
13:00
Lunch at Yongkang Lu
Local Shanghainese restaurants ¥80-150
15:00
Tianzifang artist colony
Maze of restored Shikumen lane houses + galleries + boutiques; free
17:00
Xintiandi for cocktails + tapas
Restored 1920s lane house district; cocktails ¥80-120
20:00
Acrobatics at Shanghai Centre Theatre
Era — Intersection of Time Cirque show; ¥320 ($44)
Day 3 Disney or Day trip
09:00
Shanghai Disneyland OR train to Suzhou
Disney ¥475 ($66) OR Suzhou 30min by high-speed train (UNESCO classical gardens) ¥40 RT
🎫 16% off — Book lowest price13:00
Lunch in Suzhou — Songhe Lou
1850 Songhe Lou squirrel mandarin fish ¥150-250
15:00
Humble Administrator's Garden Suzhou
Largest classical Chinese garden; CNY 90 ($12.50)
20:00
Final dinner — Hairy crab at Wang Bao He (autumn) or hotpot
Shanghainese hairy crab Sep-Nov ¥300-500
Where to stay
Click each district to compare hotel deals
The Bund (Wai Tan)
1.5km waterfront promenade. Best Pudong skyline view + colonial buildings.
See hotels in this area
Pudong (East side)
Modern district + Shanghai Tower + Lujiazui CBD + Disneyland.
See hotels in this area
Old French Concession
Tree-lined plane streets + cafés + boutique hotels. Most charming.
See hotels in this area
Xintiandi
Restored Shikumen lane houses + bars + galleries. Modern + nightlife.
See hotels in this area
Nanjing Road West
Pedestrian shopping + connects Bund to People's Square.
See hotels in this area
Hongkou
Older Shanghainese neighborhood + cheaper accommodations.
See hotels in this area
Shanghai hotel price comparison
Compare Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com prices in one place
* Centered on The Bund (Wai Tan) — the most hotel-dense area in Shanghai
Top tours & activities in Shanghai
Top-rated by travelers
Frequently asked questions
Most common questions from travelers to Shanghai
Q How much per day?
Budget $70, mid $155, luxury $380+. Similar to Beijing.
Q How many days?
3-4 days. Bund + Pudong Day 1; French Concession + Xintiandi Day 2; Disney or Suzhou day trip Day 3; final foodie Day 4.
Q Best time?
Mar-May + Sep-Nov mild. Avoid Jul-Aug (32°C+ humid). Mar 25-Apr 5 cherry blossom Century Park.
Q Visa?
Visa required for most. 144-hour transit visa-free for 53 countries with onward 3rd-country flight.
Q Safety?
Very safe. Watch for scams: tea ceremony scams in Bund + Nanjing Road, fake art galleries.
Q English?
Better than Beijing — international city. English moderate at hotels + Bund attractions.
Q Famous food?
Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung (canonical) or Jia Jia Tang Bao (locally famous), sheng jian bao at Yang's Dumpling, hairy crab at Wang Bao He (1744, Sep-Nov), Sweet+sour Mandarin fish, Drunken chicken.
Q Maglev train?
Pudong Airport to Longyang subway in 8 min at 430 km/h (world's fastest commercial train). ¥50 ($7) one-way. Worth riding once.
Q Beijing or Shanghai?
Shanghai: modern, less polluted, more international, financial center. Beijing: imperial history, Great Wall, more cultural depth, smoggier. Most do both 3-4 days each.
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