Shanghai Travelers Recommend

A tradition dating back to the Qin Dynasty, acrobatic shows are the Chinese equivalent of Cirque du Soleil, with dangerous stunts, magic, comedy, theater, and Chinese acrobatic arts. Here’s what you need to know about seeing a show in Shanghai.

• See a modern performance complete with special effects at Chinese Circus World, one of Shanghai’s most famous acrobatic shows.

• Opt for a truly traditional performance at the Shanghai Acrobatics School or Shanghai Center Theatre.

• Make the most of your time in Shanghai by combining your plate-spinning, hoop-diving Shanghai circus performance with a dumpling dinner at Din Tai Fung or a nighttime visit to the Bund, French Concession, People’s Square, and the Xintiandi neighborhood. 

• Shows generally last an hour to 75 minutes.

• Most tours include hotel transfers in Shanghai.

With three days to spend in bustling Shanghai, you have time to explore city highlights—old and new—and to get out of town and experience the charm of one of the ancient water towns on the Yangtze River Delta. See below for suggestions on how to best spend your 36 hours in Shanghai.

Day 1: City Overview

Get oriented on your first day in Shanghai, a city of some 24 million people, with a guided sightseeing tour to some of its top attractions, including the Bund, Pudong skyscrapers, French Concession, Yuyuan Garden, and Jade Buddha Temple. Choose a private tour to see the sights most important to you, or if you’d rather explore at your own pace, opt for a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus with stops at locations around the city and narration. End your first day with a dinner cruise along Shanghai’s Huangpu River to see the iconic skyline illuminated at night. Many cruises offer dinner onboard for a complete night out. 

Day 2: History and Culture

Take a deeper dive into Shanghai's history and culture. Depending on your interests, you might spend the morning on a walking tour of neighborhoods such as the Old French Concession, Shanghai Old Town, or the Jewish Quarter. Alternately, you could hop in the saddle to tour the city streets by bike. In the afternoon, visit one of the city’s many excellent museums, such as the Shanghai Museum or Shanghai History Museum, or do some people watching in People’s Square. Wrap up another day of sightseeing with an evening street food tour or bar hop through the Bund and Old French Concession. 

Day 3: Water Villages and Rural Life

After two days in Shanghai, it’s time to escape the modern bustle for a day in rural China. Reconnect with the area's roots as a port town with a day trip to a nearby ancient water village. Tour the gardens of Suzhou—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—explore the canals of Zhujiajiao by boat, or learn why Zhouzhuang is considered the Venice of the East. Alternately, travel to Hangzhou by bullet train for a day touring West Lake. Upon your return to Shanghai, sit back, relax, and watch the gravity-defying stunts of a professional Chinese acrobatic troupe at one of the city’s many theaters.

Spring is one of the best times to visit Shanghai, with flowers in bloom and sunny, warm days. And, with the exception of the May national holidays, you can expect fewer visitors than in the summer. Here are some ideas on how to take advantage of the pleasant weather and sparser crowds in Shanghai this spring.

• Enjoy the sun and sights from the top deck of a double decker hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour.
• Stroll along the Bund waterfront area, taking in the views across to Pudong, and then get a different perspective on the city via a Huangpu River cruise.
• See the flowers in bloom at Yuyuan Gardens or the many parks in the city, such as Fuxing Park or Century Park.
• Enjoy a leisurely stroll or bike ride through the French Concession or Old Town.
• Experience theme park thrills at Shanghai Disneyland® or other theme park, such as Shanghai Happy Valley.
• Explore the history along the Yangtze River on a day trip to a nearby water town, such as Zhujiajiao or Wuzhen.
• Enjoy unobstructed panoramic views from the outdoor Skywalk at Jin Mao Tower.
• Treat your taste buds to popular local dishes on a walking food tour.
• Visit Hangzhou, and go tea picking on a tea plantation tour.

Visit Shanghai in the fall and you will find weather that’s largely dry, with cooler temperatures. The summer crowds are gone, the leaves are changing, and there are a number of cultural events and festivals to explore. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of the city this season.

• Try favorite local dishes, such as soup dumplings ( xiao long bao ) and hairy crabs (at peak season), on a walking food tour.
• Walk along the Bund waterfront area, then see a different perspective while on a Huangpu River cruise.
• Visit some of Shanghai’s more than 200 museums.
• Enjoy unobstructed panoramic views from the outdoor Skywalk at Jin Mao Tower.
• Travel along the tree-lined avenues of the French Concession or the narrow lanes of Old Town on a walking or bike tour.
• Relax with locals and admire the fall colors at one of the many city parks, such as People’s Park, Fuxing Park, or Century Park.
• Browse for gifts and artwork at the city’s fall art festivals, the trendy and artsy Tianzifang area, or M50 Creative Park.
• Experience theme park thrills at Shanghai Disneyland®, or at another local theme park, such as Jinjiang Action Park.

Shanghai experiences its coldest weather from December through February, but there’s still plenty to do and see in the city—and many ways to escape the cold. Plus, the holidays, including Christmas and Chinese New Year, bring many festive activities. Here are some ideas on what to do in Shanghai this winter.

• Choose from among 200 museums in Shanghai.
• Enjoy panoramic city views from one of the city’s many skyscrapers, such as Shanghai Tower or Oriental Pearl Tower.
• Get in a festive mood by checking out the Christmas markets at Christmas Village (Century Park) or Shanghai Christmas Market (Xin Tian Di).
• Participate in the Chinese New Year festivities, such as the Lantern Festival at Yuyuan Garden or the bells chiming at Jade Buddha Temple.
• Stay warm by shopping and dining indoors at trendy Xin Tian Di.
• See giant pandas playing in the snow at the Shanghai Zoo.
• Watch a cultural performance, such as Chinese Opera or an acrobatics show.
• Visit People’s Square, Wujiaochang Champion Rink, or Shanghai New World Ice Paradise to ice-skate indoors.

There’s a reason Shanghai is called the Paris of the East. With it sleek architecture, contemporary culture, and a heady mix of old and new, Shanghai is super romantic. Here are some of the best activities for couples. 

Feel the Romance of the Bund

Plan an evening around the most romantic spot in Shanghai: the Bund. Start with an intimate dinner at a rooftop restaurant before listening to the smooth sounds of the Old Jazz Band. Take a stroll along the Bund hand-in-hand or hit up some of the swankiest bars and clubs in town. Whether you want to cozy up at one spot or hop around is up to you and your sweetheart.

Plan a Special Sightseeing Tour for Two

Explore the sights of Shanghai with just a guide for more intimate experience. Stroll leisurely through the Yuyuan Gardens; take in the history of the Old City; cycle tandem through the tree-lined French Concession; or enjoy panoramic views from the skyscrapers of Pudong.

Cruise the Huangpu River

Enjoy the romance of being on the water during a Huangpu River cruise. Time your cruise for sunset or evening time for the most atmospheric views. Some cruises include dinner, live entertainment, and a bar to purchase drinks but, for a truly decadent experience, charter a luxury yacht or opt for a package that includes a ticket to an acrobatics show or the Chinese Opera. 

Savor the Flavors

They say that the way to the heart is through the stomach. Test out that theory on a food tour of local delicacies, or turn up the heat in the kitchen during a private cooking class, where you can learn to make local favorites such as dumplings and wontons.

China’s ultra-modern metropolis, Shanghai is home to tall skyscrapers, trendy cuisine, and a rich multicultural history. With a little planning, even time-restricted travelers can see the city’s top attractions in a day. Here’s what you need to know to make the most out of your 24 hours in Shanghai.

Morning: Modern Shanghai

Begin your day with a city sightseeing tour that starts in Pudong financial district. Head to the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower, World Financial Center, or Shanghai Tower to take in the views before descending back to street level for a photo op of the skyline from the Bund. Shanghai is perhaps most famous for its futuristic skyline, and this colonial-era promenade along the Huangpu River affords some of the best views. 

Afternoon: Historic City Sites

After lunch, step into Old Shanghai and back in time on a walking tour of the French Concession with its collection of colonial mansions or check out the 500-year-old Yuyuan Garden in the heart of Shanghai’s Old Town (Nanshi). If time permits, stop by Jade Buddha Temple, one of China’s few working Buddhist monasteries, to see the statues within. If you prefer to explore the city at your own pace, consider taking a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, which stops at these highlights and more. 

Night: Dinner Cruise

End your day in Shanghai with a cruise along Huangpu River. Book a table at Din Tai Fung for  dumplings beforehand, or have dinner onboard as you float past the illuminated skyscrapers of Pudong. If you still have energy after a day of sightseeing, upgrade your evening with some guided bar-hopping along the Shanghai riverfront or pub crawl through the French Concession.

As one of the world’s most dynamic, fast-paced metropolises, Shanghai is a city of startling juxtapositions between East and West, modern and traditional. If you want to truly experience Shanghai, you’ll have to embrace its many faces. Here’s what you need to know to experience the city, old and new.

Old Shanghai Despite its ultramodern skyline, pockets of Old Shanghai remain throughout the city. Learn about the city’s rich Chinese heritage on a walking tour of the historic walled town, wander the maze of backstreet nongtangs (traditional neighborhoods), soak up the classic architecture of Yuyuan Garden, and pay your respects at the Temple of the Town God. Stop for some traditional Chinese tea before heading to the French Concession to learn about Shanghai’s European influences.

New Shanghai You’d be hard pressed to find a more futuristic skyline than the one along the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Snap some pictures of the soaring skyscrapers of Pudong from the Bund across the river, or ride an elevator to the top of Oriental Pearl Tower or Shanghai World Financial Center for sweeping views across the city. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and Shanghai Expo 2010 Park are great places to learn about the city’s modern development. No exploration of modern Shanghai would be complete without a ride on the high-speed Maglev train.

Thanks to its cosmopolitan nature, Shanghai has developed a cuisine that melds the best flavors and techniques from regions throughout China, while using fresh, local ingredients such as freshwater fish, shrimp and crab. Since Shanghai's food is often sweeter than that in other parts of China, it also more closely resembles what travelers might find in the US. Here are a few foods and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Seafood lovers in Shanghai have plenty to choose from, but one of the most famous is steamed crab, or da zha xie, made from freshwater river crab caught in the area. Another local favorite is the soup bun ( xiaolongbao )—a steamed dumpling filled with a variety of savory ingredients and fragrant soup that bursts in your mouth when you bite into it. The dumpling action doesn't stop there; you can snack on fried pork dumplings, mini wontons served in soup or pan-fried dumplings.

In addition, Shanghai's contribution to China's wealth of noodle dishes comes as a thick-cut noodle stir-fried with meat, cabbage and onions in a slurp-worthy soy sauce-flavored broth.

Must-Do Experiences

• Sample lots of different foods on a street food walking tour, either by day or night. In Shanghai, some of the best street food dishes, like soup dumplings, green onion pancakes and hand-pulled noodles, are served at breakfast, while night owls won’t go hungry either, as vendors cooking up seafood,barbecued meats, grilled vegetables and wontons come out at after dark.
• Learn to make the city's beloved dumplings or buns and add new recipes to your repertoirein a hands-on cooking class.
• Master the use of a variety of Shanghaiese ingredients with a tour of a local wet market.

As one of the largest and most vibrant cities in China, there’s plenty to see and do in Shanghai. As well as being a modern metropolis, Shanghai offers plenty in terms of history, art, and culture. From classical gardens, ancient temples, and towering skyscrapers to artsy enclaves, tree-lined avenues, and art deco buildings, there’s something for everyone here. While it would be impossible to see and experience all that the city has to offer in one trip, there are certain things that you just can’t miss. To make the most of your trip, see below for our list of must-do activities in Shanghai.

Summer is the peak tourist season in Shanghai. It also can be hot and wet, but there are plenty of ways to cool off and stay dry, while experiencing the best that the city has to offer. Here are a few ways to enjoy summer days in Shanghai.

• Sightsee in air-conditioned comfort on a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
• Enjoy a nighttime cruise along the Huangpu River, followed by an acrobatics show.
• Cool off in one of the city’s pools or beaches, such as Sunny Beach or Jinshan Beach.
• Lace up a pair of skates at the indoor ice skating rinks at Shanghai New World Paradise or Songjiang University Students Sports Center.
• Go diving with sharks at the Changfeng Aquarium shark tank.
• Shop and dine indoors, while enjoying the air conditioning, at shops and restaurants along Nanjing Road or in Xin Tian Di.
• Float along the river in Zhujiajiao Water Town or visit the famous gardens in Suzhou.
• Sample local dishes on a food tour, then go rooftop bar-hopping at night around the Bund waterfront area.

Tea drinking has been elevated to a high art in Shanghai, where the hot beverage has been consumed for millennia. Here are a few ways to acquaint yourself with Chinese tea culture in Shanghai, whether you want to taste different types of tea, learn about traditional brewing techniques, or simply sip, chat, and people-watch.

Highlights

• Sample all kinds of different Chinese tea, from green tea and black varieties to oolong, jasmine, and pu-erh, and learn how to distinguish the nuances of flavor and aroma during a guided tea tasting. 

• Enjoy the serenity of an old-school Chinese teahouse, where soothing music and incense contribute to the relaxing atmosphere. 

• Let a tea master educate you on the history of tea in China and find out some of the reasons behind tea’s popularity, from its flavor and medicinal value to its purported spiritual powers.

• Learn about Chinese culture, correct tea ceremony etiquette, and common customs during a tea tour.

• Watch tea being prepared using traditional implements and methods that have been honed over the centuries at a traditional teahouse.

• Taste sweet treats, such as mooncakes, which are often paired with tea during China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, on a dessert and tea tour. 

• Combine afternoon tea with a walking tour that allows you to explore the Bund and Shanghai Old Town (Nanshi) with a guide.

Shanghai is known for its thriving art scene, and it’s one of the best places to see and appreciate contemporary Chinese art. From museums and galleries to art districts and enclaves, here are some of the must-see sites for art lovers in Shanghai.

Shanghai Museum

Located at People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum is considered one of the best museums in China. It’s home to more than 120,000 artifacts from the Neolithic period onwards and includes ancient bronzes, ceramics, jade, sculptures, paintings, calligraphy, and furniture. Entry is free, and new exhibits are constantly being added.

China Art Palace

Shaped like a bright-red inverted pyramid, China Art Palace is one of the largest art museums in the country and houses an extensive collection of modern Chinese art. With more than 25 exhibition halls and spanning 700,000 square feet (64,000 square meters), there’s plenty to see here. The main galleries are free, with charges for special exhibitions.

M50 Creative Park

M50 Creative Park is one of Shanghai’s premier destinations for modern and contemporary art. Spanning 36 acres (14.5 hectares), this massive industrial art park is home to more than 100 galleries and art studios. Artists from around the world exhibit a range of art forms, including painting, photography, sculpture, new media, design, and interactive installations.

West Bund Cultural Corridor

Known as Shanghai’s “Museum Mile,” the West Bund Cultural Corridor is home to a world-class collection of museums and galleries, including the Long Museum, Yuz Museum, and the West Bund Art Museum, which includes an outpost of the Pompidou Center. It’s also the site of the annual West Bund Art & Design Fair.

Tianzifang

Located in the French Concession, the hip and artsy Tianzifang enclave is comprised of three main lanes intersected by numerous small alleyways. It’s full of art galleries, design studios, stylish boutiques, and unique shops, all housed in traditional Shikumen buildings or converted factory spaces.

Propaganda Poster Art Center

Located in the basement of an apartment in Changning, the Propaganda Poster Art Center is a must-see for anyone with an interest in recent Chinese history and culture. Inside, find more than 5,000 propaganda posters, prints, graffiti, textiles, and artworks from 1949 to 1979.

Shanghai is cosmopolitan and glamorous—and the most expensive city in China. With a little advance planning, though, you can still enjoy sightseeing without busting your budget. Here are some tips on how to keep the costs down in Shanghai.

Opt for a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Shanghai is a sprawling city, and some attractions are quite far apart, such as the Jade Buddha Temple and Jin Mao Tower. Save money you’d otherwise spend on taxis and other transportation costs, and enjoy informative commentary, by booking a hop-on-hop-off-bus tour, which also includes entrance to a number of attractions.

Enjoy Free Activities

Some of the most popular attractions and experiences in Shanghai can be enjoyed for free. Take a stroll along the iconic Bund or the charming former French Concession, with a stop in Fuxing Park or the alleys of Tianzifang. A number of museums also offer free admission, such as the massive Shanghai Museum. Art lovers should check out the China Art Palace and galleries at M50 Creative Park.

Book a Combo Tour

Combo tours offer great value over booking different activities and attractions separately. For example, combine a Huangpu River cruise—one of the top experiences in Shanghai—with dinner, live entertainment, an acrobatic show, bar-hopping, or a sightseeing tour for extra savings. Alternatively, combine a trip to a nearby water town, such as Zhujiajiao, with a Shanghai sightseeing tour.

Choose a Tour That Includes Tastings or a Meal

To save on food expenses, opt for a tour that includes breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or join a walking or bike tour that also includes food tastings. Not only is it a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine, there are usually enough items and servings to fill you up as well.

Shanghai is an enormous city, with sometimes vast distances separating major sights. With an extensive and excellent public transportation network, bike-friendly streets, plentiful taxis, and a number of tour options, though, Shanghai is easy to navigate. Here are your options for getting around.

Public Transit

Shanghai’s public transit network includes buses, the metro, and the Maglev train. There are more than 1,000 bus routes and over a dozen metro lines, with plans to add more. The Maglev train connects Pudong Airport and Longyang Road, with onward connections by metro and bus.

Hop-On-Hop-Off-Bus Tours

Get your bearings in Shanghai on a hop-on-hop-off-bus tour. Open-top and double-decker buses stop at most popular attractions, such as the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Tours typically include audio guides in multiple languages and can be upgraded to include admission to certain attractions.

Biking Tours

Joining a biking tour is a great way to cover more ground than on foot, while still taking in the passing scenery in a leisurely manner. Many roads have dedicated bike lanes, and drivers tend to be fairly cautious around cyclists. Inexpensive daily bike rentals and bike-sharing programs give you flexibility to explore on your own.

Walking Tours

Shanghai’s tourist center, Puxi, is fairly compact, making it ideal to explore on foot. Walking tours are a great way to experience popular attractions at a more leisurely pace, with the added benefit of a guide to offer extra insights. The Bund, the Former French Concession, the Old Town area, and the area around People’s Square are all made for walking.

River Cruises and Ferries

A sightseeing cruise on the Huangpu River is a great way to take in city highlights, such as the colonial architecture of the Bund and the modern skyscrapers of Pudong, from a different perspective. Cruises last from 30 minutes to several hours and can be upgraded to include a meal. Those short on time can opt for a ferry crossing instead.

With a population of 20 million, Shanghai is generally teeming with people. However, there are ways to escape the crowds. Here’s how to get off-the-beaten-path in Shanghai.

Plan Ahead

Pre-booking your passes to popular Shanghai attractions saves you time and money. Skip-the-line admission tickets can cut down wait times at favorites such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower by a couple of hours. VIP packages are another great option; enjoy more space with VIP access to a separate level on the Huangpu River cruise.

Go Off the Beaten Path

Escape the crowds by going to lesser-known attractions such as the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, or the Zotter Chocolate Theater. Or,  head out of central Shanghai and visit local areas such as Jiading or Chongming Island.

Choose Transportation Wisely

Most of central Shanghai’s top attractions are close to each other, meaning that walking is sometimes the quickest way to get from the Bund to Nanjing Road to People’s Square. Bicycles also let you beat the crush of public transport during rush hour.

Get in Touch With Nature

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city at pubic parks such as Fuxing Park, Jing’an Park, or Century Park. Although popular with locals as well, these parks offer more space to move around than elsewhere in the city.

Visit During Off Peak Times

Time your visit to Shanghai to avoid the weeklong Chinese National holidays in May and October. Chinese New Year is also best avoided. Visit popular sites, such as the Bund, first thing in the morning, when you can observe locals practicing tai chi and other exercises. Nighttime, when crowds generally disperse, is another great time to explore the city.

Like many large cities, Shanghai has an extensive collection of museums that cover topics, ranging from art and culture to science and history. Here are some of the must-see museums in the city.

Shanghai Museum

Considered one of the finest museums in China, the Shanghai Museum exhibits more than 120,000 Chinese artifacts from the Neolithic period onward. Across 11 galleries, you can admire ancient bronze, ceramics, jade, paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, and furniture. Located at People’s Square, entry is free and new exhibits are added monthly.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center

Also on People’s Square is the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. The museum documents Shanghai’s development from a small fishing village to the metropolis it is today—as well as its plans for the future—through photos, videos, models, and interactive displays. Don’t miss the huge scale model of the city on the third floor.

Propaganda Poster Art Center

A must-see for anyone interested in recent Chinese culture and history, the Propaganda Poster Art Center features a collection of more than 5,000 Chinese propaganda posters from 1949 to 1979. Still located in its original location in the basement of a Changning apartment, it was officially recognized as a museum in 2017. Prints and copies of Mao’s Little Red Book are available in the gift shop.

Shanghai Natural History Museum

Learn all about the natural world at the Shanghai Natural History Museum, located in Jing’an Sculpture Park in a futuristic building. You can easily spend most of the day at this comprehensive museum, which exhibits more than 10,000 artifacts from across all seven continents.

Rockbund Art Museum

Located at the north end of the Bund, the Rockbund Art Museum is one of Shanghai’s premier venues for modern art and regularly showcases groundbreaking work from some of China’s top contemporary artists. At the very least, stop by to admire the minimalist, Art Deco design of the building, formerly the Royal Asiatic Society building.

Thanks to its location and cosmopolitan nature, Shanghai is known for the diversity of its cuisine, which mixes flavors and techniques from throughout China with its own dishes and ingredients. From dumplings to noodles to seafood, here are some of the dishes that you must try when you are in Shanghai.

Soup Dumplings (Xiaolongbao)

The iconic dish of Shanghai, these delicate thin-skinned dumplings contain a savory filling (of pork or pork and crab typically) and a fragrant hot soup that bursts in your mouth with an explosion of flavor. You can try them everywhere, but one of the most famous locations is just outside Yuyuan Gardens.

Fried Dumplings (Shengjianbao)

Unlike the more delicate xiaolongbao, these are made with a heavier dough that’s steamed, and then pan fried for a texture that’s both doughy and and crispy. A popular snack you can find just about anywhere, fried dumplings are usually made with minced pork, but also come stuffed with prawns and vegetables.

Noodles

There are many styles of noodles served in local restaurants. Shanghai’s contribution,cumian, is a thick-cut noodle dish that is stir-fried with meat, cabbage, and onions in a soy sauce-flavored broth. Also popular, especially late night, are scallion oil noodles (cong you ban mian) and Muslim hand-pulled noodles—the latter are usually served in a savory broth.

Seafood

Seafood lovers are spoiled for choice in Shanghai. Popular seafood dishes to try include squirrel-shaped mandarin fish (served with a thick sweet and sour sauce), steamed river prawns, cold-smoked fish, and freshwater eel (freshwater eel noodles are especially popular). Some local favorites are seasonal, including crawfish (summer) and steamed hairy crab (fall and winter).

Red Braised Meat

Hongshao, or red braising, refers to a special cooking style that's a hallmark of Shanghai cuisine. Meat (usually pork and sometimes fish) is braised in a thick, sweet mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, aromatics, and sugar for up to 24 hours until it’s so tender it melts in the mouth. It's a staple in home kitchens and restaurants, and you can try it just about anywhere in the city.

Beggar’s Chicken

Although this dish originated in nearby Hangzhou, beggar's chicken is also popular in Shanghai. To make it, a whole chicken is marinated and stuffed; it's then sealed tight in lotus leaves and baked in clay that hardens in the oven. The result is a juicy and aromatic chicken dish that bursts with flavor.

Two days in Shanghai gives you enough time to see its highlights, explore its diverse neighborhoods, and even take a deep dive into the local culture through a class or hands-on workshop. If you have 48 hours to spend in Shanghai, here are some ideas for how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: Essential Shanghai

**Morning:**Get an overview on a guided city sightseeing tour. Enjoy the value of a small-group tour, the intimacy of a private tour, or the ease of a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. Highlights include the Shanghai riverfront, including the skyscrapers of Pudong and the colonial buildings of the Bund and French Concession. 

**Afternoon:**After lunch, plan a stop at Shanghai Confucian Temple, dedicated to the famous Chinese philosopher of the same name, before heading to Yuyuan Garden and the Yuyuan Bazaar for shopping. Don’t miss the Jade Buddha Temple, home to two jewel-encrusted statues brought from Singapore by a Burmese monk in the 19th century.

**Night:**End your first day in Shanghai with a dinner show. While Shanghai is best known for its talented troupes of Chinese acrobats, you can also catch Chinese opera, stand-up comedy, or musical theater. 

Day 2: History and Hands-On

**Morning:**Dive deeper into Shanghai’s multicultural history with a visit to one of the city’s many museums. The Shanghai Museum displays artifacts dating back to the neolithic period, while the Shanghai History Museum tells the 100-year story of modern Shanghai. Other options include the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

**Afternoon:**Sign up for a cultural or culinary workshop and learn something new. Practice making Chinese dumplings, wontons, or dim sum with a local chef, or stoke your artistic side in a class on Chinese paper cutting, painting, or calligraphy. Alternately, get moving in a private Tai Chi workshop.

**Night:**Get to know Shanghai's famous nightlife scene like an insider. Join a local for a guided jaunt to top after-dark haunts. Many tours include hotel pickup and drop-off, as well as a complimentary beverage or two. For something low-key, opt for a dinner cruise along the Huangpu River.