Most visitors to Shanghai do not come intending to pursue outdoor recreation or sports, but there is a wide range of such activities. Hotels routinely provide exercise machines, weights, aerobic and workout areas, swimming pools, locker rooms, and, less often, tennis and squash…
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Shanghai Attractions
Shanghai has precious few sights on the scale of the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, but the treasures it does have -- its colonial neighborhoods, historic homes, museums, parks, and shopping avenues, not to mention Asia's most famous street -- speak to a unique legacy all its own. This section describes Shan ...
Shanghai has precious few sights on the scale of the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, but the treasures it does have -- its colonial neighborhoods, historic homes, museums, parks, and shopping avenues, not to mention Asia's most famous street -- speak to a unique legacy all its own. This section describes Shanghai's treasures, with a special focus on the city's four top attractions: the Bund, Yu Yuan (and Old Town), the Shanghai Museum, and the Huangpu River Cruise.
The average tourist usually blows through town in about 2 days, but 3 days is a minimum to do any real sightseeing, as attractions are scattered all over the city. Even then, Shanghai is about more than just its buildings. The city, one of the most exciting in the world, demands time to soak in its energy, appreciate its complexity, and sample its many attractions, which may not be apparent on the surface. Bear in mind that sights outside Shanghai, such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, or the water villages of Nanxun, and Tongli require day trips.
How to See Shanghai
The best way to see Shanghai is on your own, armed with a good map and this guide, and using a combination of taxis, subways, and your own two feet. Most attractions, including museums, mansions, places of worship, parks, and gardens, are open daily, unless otherwise noted. Allow an hour or two to visit each of these sights. Transportation facilities and many of the sights described here are very user-friendly, even for the non-Chinese-speaking, first-time visitor. Because Shanghai's traffic is getting worse by the day, if you are traveling long distances between attractions, consider taking the subway, where available, to the Metro stop nearest the attraction, then hopping a taxi the rest of the way.
Of course, if you are severely pressed for time and only have a day, an organized tour in the company of an English-speaking guide can be a hassle-free if superficial way to cover the major sights. Your hotel travel desk or a travel agency can arrange this.
The last and least advised option is to hire a car for the day through your hotel, an expensive option that will easily cost you upwards of ¥800 a day for a car and driver. It's cheaper if you hire a taxi for the day yourself on the streets.
After Expo
Shanghai's turn on the world stage in the form of the 2010 World Expo (May 1-Oct 31, 2010) has come and gone. At the outset of the Expo, 70 million visitors (95% Chinese citizens) and 200 countries and international organizations were expected to participate, and while final attendance figures were not available at press time, the Expo can largely be considered a success vis-a-vis legitimizing Shanghai as a bona fide international city. The Expo's theme, "Better City, Better Life," with its focus on science, technology, business, and sustainable urban development, not only signaled China's continuing rise as a world power concerned about future development, but also provided the Chinese government with an opportunity to remind Chinese citizens of the progress they had made ("better life") under the Party's leadership in the last 20 years. For the Expo, the government is said to have spent ¥300 billion to ¥400 billion in direct and indirect investment: building pavilions and walkways for the fair (covering 5.28 sq. km/2 sq. miles of land on both sides of the Huangpu River in the south of the city), and significantly upgrading public infrastructure. The success of the Expo in rousing patriotic fever, and what effects this greater national pride will have, remain to be seen. For the Shanghainese, at least, the result of suffering through years of upheaval and construction has been a much-improved city infrastructure that now includes two new airport terminals, 12 subway lines, and a host of tunnels that make traffic and commuting much more manageable. As well, revitalized districts such as the Bund (north and south) have made the city more attractive.
Those who didn't make it to the Expo missed a fascinating collection of eye-catching architecture. At press time, the majority of pavilions were expected to be torn down after the Expo, with the exception of five landmarks (all environmentally friendly buildings clustered together on the Pudong side around Shangnan Lu [Metro: Yaohua Lu]) which will be turned into permanent exhibitions. Most prominent among them is the towering 69m-high (226-ft.) bright-red China Pavilion (called the Oriental Crown) with six floors expanding out and up. It is estimated to have cost upwards of ¥1.4 billion to build, can hold up to 50,000 visitors a day, and was the scene of up to 3-hour waits during the Expo. The roof is built with 56 wooden brackets, representing the 56 ethnic groups in China, and also harvests rainwater. The building is due to be turned into a national history museum after the Expo. North of the China Pavilion is the spaceshiplike Expo Performance Center. West of these two structures is the Expo Axis, a 1km-long (2/3-mile) walkway along Shangnan Lu, with two levels underground and two aboveground; it is designated for commercial outlets after the Expo. The two remaining permanent structures lying west of the Axis are the Expo Center (an impressive glass structure that's largely a conference center) and the Theme Pavilion (designated as an exhibition center, and highly energy-efficient with rooftop solar panels). Post-Expo access to these sites had not been determined, so please check with your hotel concierge for the latest information.
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Religious Site
Baiyun Guan
Originally built in 1863 in a different location, and moved here in 2004, this temple is one of only two Daoist temples in China to possess the precious Ming Dynasty Daoist Scripture (daozang) -- the other is the much larger Baiyun Guan in Beijing. The two-story temple is housed in a… -
Neighborhood
Binjiang Da Dao
Pudong's answer to the Bund, this strip of green along the east bank of the Huangpu River offers a fine view of the Bund at a distance. After dark, when the Bund's buildings are lit up and beacon lights sweep the river lanes, the view is one of the best in Shanghai. The Riverside… -
Religious Site
Chenghuang Miao
Every Chinese city once had its Temple of the Town God, the central shrine for Daoist worship. Shanghai's version dates from 1403 when local official Qin Yubo, who had been posthumously designated as Shanghai's patron town god by the Ming Dynasty Hongwu emperor (A.D. 1328-98), was… -
Religious Site
Chenxiang Ge
Pan Yunduan, the official who built Yu Yuan, had this Buddhist temple built to honor his mother in 1600. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) it was all but destroyed and abandoned. In 1989, restoration began, culminating in its reopening as a Buddhist nunnery and small Old Town… -
Historic Site
Children's Municipal Palace
Initiated by China's honorary president, Soong Ching-ling, Children's Palaces provide after-school programs for high-achieving children, with advanced instruction in music, art, science, sports, and computers. Of the two dozen children's palaces in the city, this is the largest, the… -
Museum
China Art Palace
Those who missed the opportunity to attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expowill appreciate the reincarnation of the China Pavilion—which among theExpo's top attractions—as an art museum. Like most Chinese fine artmuseums, it is divided into nearly a dozen sections that includebronzes,…$Shangnan Lu near Guozhan Lu
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Theme Park
Dino Beach
The best water park in Shanghai boasts Asia's largest wave pool (.8 hectares/2 acres). As well, there are eight water slides, the longest measuring almost 150m (500 ft.), three swimming pools for kids, a mile-long river with rapids, and organized beach volleyball and water polo… -
Religious Site
Dongjiadu Tianzhutang
Located in the southern part of the old Chinese city, this was the first large cathedral in Shanghai, built in 1853 in the early Spanish baroque style. It's a fine-looking building with arched roofs, thick pillars, and lotus-designed bas-reliefs inside. Chinese couplets are inscribed… -
Neighborhood
Duolun Lu Culture Street
A 20-minute walk south from Lu Xun Gongyuan (Lu Xun Park and Memorial Hall) is Duolun Lu, Shanghai's culture street, an attraction opened in 1998, angling off Sichuan Bei Lu in the historic Hongkou District. This district north of the Bund was the original American Concession, but… -
Park/Garden
Fuxing Gongyuan
Formerly a private estate in the French Concession, Fuxing Park was purchased by foreign residents and opened to the French public on July 14, 1909. It was popularly known as French Park, styled after your typical Parisian city park with wide, tree-lined walks and flower beds. Today,… -
Religious Site
Guoji Libai Tang
Established in 1925 and also called the International Church, this is the best known of Shanghai's Protestant churches among foreign residents and visitors, and is the largest in use. The ivy-covered English-style building and grounds are beautiful, fully in keeping with this… -
The Performing Arts
Heluting Concert Hall
On the grounds of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, this concert hall plays host mostly to a variety of classical music performances and chamber concerts. -
Landmark
Huxingting Teahouse
Shanghai's quintessential teahouse has floated atop the lake at the heart of Old Town, in front of Yu Yuan, since 1784. It was built by area cotton-cloth merchants as a brokerage hall. Tea drinking was forbidden inside until the late 1800s, when it became what it is today. Believed… -
Theme Park
Jin Jiang Amusement Park
Shanghai's most complete modern amusement park, the Jin Jiang has a loop-the-loop roller coaster, merry-go-rounds, and bumper cars, as well as a haunted house. There's also a special playground for preschoolers. The "Gorge Drifting Waterland" is a watersports area open only during… -
Landmark
Jin Mao Tower
Built in 1998 as a Sino-American joint venture, this 421m-high (1,381-ft.) second-tallest building in China (to its neighbor the Shanghai World Financial Center) is simply sublime. Blending traditional Chinese and modern Western tower designs, the building, which boasts 88 floors… -
Park/Garden
Jing An Gongyuan
This pleasant little park was completely remodeled in 1999 when the new Jing An Metro station was created. Its north side consists of a sunken cement courtyard, flanked by a few shops, cafes, and the Metro entrance; the south side, dominated by a pond that is an artful re-creation of… -
Religious Site
Jing An Si
Always lively and crowded, this garishly decorated temple has the longest history of any shrine in Shanghai (about 17 centuries, though the shopping annex is considerably more recent, as is the 63m/207-ft.-tall gold pagoda at the back, completed in 2010). The temple's chief… -
Park/Garden
Jingan Sculpture Park
This small park in the heart of the Jingan District is a nice breather away from the busy streets and surrounding skyscrapers. There's a tree-lined main avenue, lotus pond, and all kinds of sculptures to weave in and around. This is a park enjoyed by many local…$Shimen Er Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu
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Religious Site
Longhua Si (Longhua Temple)
Shanghai's largest and most active temple is one of its most fascinating, featuring the city's premier pagoda, the delicate Longhua Ta. Local lore has it that the pagoda was originally built around A.D. 247 by Sun Quan, the king of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, but… -
Historic Site
Lu Xun Park and Memorial Hall/Former Residence of Lu Xun
What was originally Hongkou Park (1905), once a foreigners' park opened to the Chinese only in 1928, has been renamed for China's best-known 20th-century writer, Lu Xun (1881-1936), who lived in this neighborhood from 1927 until his death. Known as the "father of modern Chinese… -
Park/Garden
Lujiazui Ludi
Located just north of the Jin Mao Tower, this sprawling, 10-hectare (25-acre) park with an expansive lawn has a large lake in the shape of Pudong; radiating from it are paths that outline a magnolia, the city flower of Shanghai. Clusters of willows, maples, and gingko trees provide… -
M97 Gallery
Head to M97 Gallery for a celebration of contemporary and fine art photography. With high ceilings and exposed beams, the main exhibition room is airy and minimalistic, with the industrial feel that characterizes most of the art galleries in the…$$$Moganshan, near Suzhou Creek
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The Performing Arts
Majestic Theater
Opera in Chinese is occasionally performed by local and touring groups in one of Shanghai's oldest and most ornate theaters. The theater is worth attending just for the traditional atmosphere. -
Museum
Minsheng Art Museum
Minsheng Art Museum is located inside the park-like atmosphere of Red Town at the edge of the Changning district. Supported by Minsheng Bank, the museum opened in 2010 with the goal of promoting China's contemporary art from the past three decades, and hosts regular exhibitions…$Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu
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Historic Site
Moller Mansion
Garish, hideous, and mesmerizing at the same time, it's hard to take your eyes off this gigantic gingerbread mansion (at Yan'an Zhong Lu in the northwest corner of the French Concession). An eclectic mix of architectural styles from faux Gothic to Tudor, this mansion of brown-tiled… -
Religious Site
Moore Memorial Church
This church was established by American missionaries in 1887 and expanded in 1931 to seat more than 1,000 worshippers. It has built up a local membership that numbers in the thousands since reopening in 1979 after its closure during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Originally the… -
OCAT Contemporary Art Terminal
If you’re hankering to visit a contemporary Chinese art gallery, head over to this nonprofit space near Suzhou Creek. Established in 2005, OCAT partners with the national He Xiangning Art Museum in Shenzhen topromote Chinese contemporary art and an exchange between China and foreign…$$Suzhou Bei Lu, near Wen'an Lu
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Landmark
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
The earliest symbol of the new China, this hideous gray tower with three tapering levels of pink spheres (meant to resemble pearls) still holds a special place in many a local heart and is still one of the first stops in town for Chinese visitors. Built in 1994 at a height of 468m… -
Landmark
Peace Hotel
Having reopened after a 2-year renovation, this Art Deco palace is the ultimate symbol of romantic colonial Shanghai. Built in 1929 by Victor Sassoon, a British descendant of Baghdad Jews who'd made their fortune in opium and real estate, the building was originally part… -
Museum
Power Station of Art
Open since 2012, this art museum is located inside a stunningly renovated glass-and-red-steel encased power station overlooking the Huangpu River. It's gotten a lot of attention, as it's China's first state-owned contemporary art museum, and has drawn the interest of top touring…$Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu
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Propaganda Poster Art Center
If you have just the wall space for some revolutionary art, this place has just the right "left" poster for you. Tucked away in the basement of a French Concession apartment building is the personal collection of a private individual, Mr. Yang Peiming. It comprises more than 5,000… -
Park/Garden
Red Town
Residents of Shanghai know that this grassy park surrounded by art galleries, shops and cafes is one of the best places to meet friends for a leisurely picnic followed by some casual gallery strolling. You can sit on the grass most parts of the year here, which anyone who …$Huaihai West Road, near Hongqiao Road
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Park/Garden
Renmin Gongyuan/Renmin Guangchang
Shanghai's "Central Park" and central square are built on the site of colonial Shanghai's horse-racing track (dating to as early as 1863), once a favorite amusement for the British community and upper-class Chinese. Today, the original 12 hectares (30 acres) of the racecourse have… -
The Performing Arts
Shanghai Centre Theatre
A favorite with foreign tour groups, this luxurious, modern, 1,000-seat auditorium at Shanghai Centre is equipped for a variety of performances, but its specialty is the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. Almost nightly, the troupe gives a 90-minute variety show featuring both standard and… -
Zoo/Aquarium
Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World
Also known as Aquaria 21, this excellent underwater-world aquarium features a "touch pool" so that kids can mingle with the sea life (crabs, starfish, urchins). The main tank is stocked with seahorses, tuna, turtles, rays, and patrolling sharks fed by keepers in diving suits. There's… -
The Performing Arts
Shanghai Circus World
The home of the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, this glittering arena in the northern suburbs houses a 1,672-seat circus theater with computer-controlled lighting, state-of-the-art acoustics, and a motorized revolving stage, all the more to impress the already impressed crowd. On most… -
The Performing Arts
Shanghai Concert Hall
Recently renovated (and literally hoisted whole and moved), this classical concert hall used to be the former home of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which still continues to perform here occasionally despite its move to more permanent quarters in Pudong. -
Theme Park
Shanghai Disneyland
Disney's massive new Chinese resort, built in partnership with authorities, cost a reported US$5.5 billion to open in 2016, and all dedicated fans of the brand will find it a fascinating, upsized iteration of the iconic theme park. It's a powerful emblem of the economic muscle of…$$ -
Museum
Shanghai Glass Museum
This museum is located inside a former glass factory and displays a glittering array of antique glass objects and other items that a true connoisseur might find basic. But it's a great side trip for families whose children might enjoy the daily glass-blowing and glass-cutting…$Changjiang Xi Lu, near Jiangyang Nan Lu
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The Performing Arts
Shanghai Grand Stage
This stage, located inside the Shanghai Sports Stadium, is mostly used for large rock and pop concerts, including the Rolling Stones and Celine Dion. -
The Performing Arts
Shanghai Grand Theatre
This stunning space-age complex with three theaters (the largest seating 1,800) is the city's premier venue for international performers and concerts, ranging from Yo-Yo Ma to the touring company of Cats and The Lion King. Prices usually start at ¥80, and can top ¥1,600 for the best… -
Library/University
Shanghai Library
Opened in 1996, this city library is a state-of-the-art facility with many modern reading rooms, including one devoted to foreign periodicals (fourth floor; Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm). The collection includes almost two million rare scrolls, manuscripts, and books that can be viewed upon… -
Library/University
Shanghai Library Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei
The Jesuits established in 1847 as part of their mission in Xujiahui a library (Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei), which is now partially reopened to the public. The first of the two buildings that constitute the present library has a second-floor public reading room presided over by two… -
Zoo/Aquarium
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
Shanghai's biggest and best aquarium, and Asia's largest, opened in 2002 in Pudong, next to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Its state-of-the-art facilities boast 28 exhibit areas for more than 10,000 sea creatures from all continents: sharks, jellyfish, turtles, lionfish, sea otters,… -
Historic Site
Shanghai Old City Wall and Dajing Ge Pavilion
In 1553 during the Ming Dynasty, Shanghai built a city wall to defend itself against Japanese pirates. Following the course of today's Renmin Lu and Zhonghua Lu, the wall measured 8.1m (27 ft.) high and 4.8km (3 miles) around, and had 10 gates. All that remains today is 50m (164 ft.)… -
The Performing Arts
Shanghai Oriental Art Center
This modern, butterfly-shaped, Paul Andreu-designed complex (he also designed the Pudong Airport) is Pudong's answer to the Shanghai Grand Theatre. The 1,953-seat symphony hall is now a permanent home for the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and the center also has two smaller theaters. -
Zoo/Aquarium
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
Shanghai's only drive-through safari, home to some 5,000 animals (200 species), is located all the way out by the Pudong International Airport. At least the South China tigers, lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, camels, bears, elephants, hippos, and flamingos have more legroom here… -
Landmark
Shanghai World Financial Center
Opened in the middle of 2008, this tapering, 101-story, 492m-high (1,614-ft.) glass tower, resembling a giant, old-fashioned bottle opener, is the tallest building in China, and the tallest in the world, vis-a-vis the height to which visitors can ascend -- which, in this case, is the… -
Park/Garden
Shanghai Zhiwuyuan
Somewhat inconveniently located in the southwest part of town, the city's premier and largest garden provides a pleasant reprieve from the urban hustle, but is not worth a special trip unless you really like your plants. The extensive grounds, covering 81 hectares (200 acres), are… -
Zoo/Aquarium
Shanghai Zoo
One of China's best, this zoo still has a long way to go to equal the better preserves in the West. It was a private estate of the Sassoon family, then a city golf course, before its conversion to a zoo in 1954. There are plenty of open spaces for children to play, but the spaces for… -
Park/Garden
Shiji Gongyuan
Built to herald the new millennium, this sprawling 140-hectare (346-acre) park lies at the southern terminus of Century Boulevard (Shiji Da Dao), which runs from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Designed by a British firm, the park is divided into seven scenic areas, including a minigolf… -
Museum
Shikumen Open House Museum
This three-story museum in Xintiandi offers a trip back in time to 1920s and 1930s Shanghai with its presentation of a traditional shikumen home, with several rooms furnished with furniture from the time. The shikumen is a traditional Shanghainese style of architecture that first…$Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu
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Historic Site
Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party
This historic building of brick and marble -- a quintessential example of the traditional Shanghai style of shikumen (stone-framed) houses built in the 1920s and 1930s -- contains the room where, on July 23, 1921, Mao Zedong and 12 other Chinese revolutionaries founded the Chinese… -
Historic Site
Soong Ching-ling's Former Residence
Soong Ching-ling (1893-1981) is revered throughout China as a loyalist to the Communist cause. Born in Shanghai to a wealthy family, she married the founder of the Chinese Republic, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in 1915. Unlike the rest of her family members (the most famous being her youngest… -
Historic Site
Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence
Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), beloved founder of the Chinese Republic (1911), lived here with his wife, Soong Ching-ling, from June 1918 to November 1924, when the address would have been 29 Rue de Moliere. Here, Sun's wife later met with such literary stars as Lu Xun and George Bernard… -
Religious Site
Wen Miao
Built in 1855 on the site of an earlier temple, and restored in 1999 to celebrate the 2,550th birthday of Confucius, this temple honoring China's great sage offers quiet refuge from the crowded streets of the old Chinese city. As at all Chinese Confucian temples, there's a lingxin… -
Religious Site
Xiao Taoyuan Qingzhensi
Shanghai's largest and most active mosque dates from 1917, though the current reconstruction is from 1925. Its main prayer hall can hold several hundred worshippers (restricted to Muslim males only). There is a separate worship hall for women. The courtyard contains a minaret (for… -
Park/Garden
Xuhui Binjiang Gonggong Kaifang Kongjian
As part of the Huangpu River Restoration project, about 40 hectares (100 acres) of riverfront land west of the Lupu Bridge all the way down to the old Longhua Airport are being rehabilitated to become a vast open space made up of parks, gardens, and a pretty riverside promenade… -
Park/Garden
Xujiahui Park
This is a fantastic park for kids and adults alike, with a sprawling ramp that traverses nearly the length of the park, huge ponds with coi fish and black swans, and a large children's playground. There are plenty of corners to explore, and if you get bored or hungry head…$Tianping Lu, near Zhaojiabang Lu
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Religious Site
Xujiahui Tianzhutang
Once known as St. Ignatius, this is Shanghai's great cathedral, opened by the Jesuits who had a church here as early as 1608 (today's structure dates to 1910). The Jesuits were invited here by a local, high-ranking Ming Dynasty official, landowner, and scientist, Xu Guangqi (the… -
The Performing Arts
Yifu Theatre
This is the premier venue for Shanghai's opera companies. The Shanghai Peking Opera House Troupe, featuring some of China's greatest opera stars, performs here regularly, as do the Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe and other visiting companies. Performances most nights are at 7:15pm, with… -
Religious Site
Yufo Si
Though an active Buddhist monastery today, the real emphasis at Shanghai's most popular temple is squarely on tourism. What the busloads come for are the temple's two gorgeous white jade Buddhas, each carved from an individual slab of Burmese jade and brought to Shanghai in 1881 by… -
Historic Site
Zhou Enlai's Former Residence
China's most revered leader during the Mao years, Premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976), used to stay at this ivy-covered house when he visited Shanghai in 1946. His old black Buick is still parked in the garage. The backyard has a small courtyard garden, where there is a statue of Zhou.…
Shanghai Shopping
When it comes to shopping, Shanghai has it all, from markets to local boutiques and international fashion brands. Shoppers can have a new wardrobe tailored at the Fabric Market in the Old City, where hundreds of stalls offer silk and cashmere. Xintiandi is host to luxury shops including the famous Shanghai Tang ...
When it comes to shopping, Shanghai has it all, from markets to local boutiques and international fashion brands. Shoppers can have a new wardrobe tailored at the Fabric Market in the Old City, where hundreds of stalls offer silk and cashmere. Xintiandi is host to luxury shops including the famous Shanghai Tang and Suzhou Cobblers near the Bund area, which sells exquisite embroidered slippers. The French Concession quarter is full of boutique shops such as Madame Mao's Dowry.
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Art
K11 Chi Art Space
Newly opened in 2013, this art space integrates nicely into the K11 "Art Mall" concept, which aims to bring the high-falutin art world to pedestrian places. The space has movable walls and creative lighting schemes to allow a rotating celebration of exhibitions and installations;…$Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu
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Fabrics
South Bund Fabric Market
Want a replica of a designer sundress you saw in Vogue, only with a scoop- instead of a V-neck? Bring in a picture or sheet torn from the magazine. Need a dress shirt but your arms are typically too long for store-bought designs? Want a cashmere coat with tailor-made touches? Head to…$Lujiabang Lu, near Nancang Jie
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Souvenirs
Tianzifang
Tianzifang refers to a cluster of alleyways right off Taikang Road in the former French Concession populated with more than 200 little cafes, restaurants, small craft stores and souvenir shops. You'll find all kinds of knick knacks here, from trendy artworks to Mao posters…$Taikang Road near Sinan Road
Shanghai Nightlife
Shanghai is considered one of the most buzzing cities in Asia and its nightlife reflects that. There's a definite tendency towards the luxurious, especially around the Bund area, where cocktails and party frocks are the norm at places like Bar Rouge. More relaxed drinking can be found in the French Concession q ...
Shanghai is considered one of the most buzzing cities in Asia and its nightlife reflects that. There's a definite tendency towards the luxurious, especially around the Bund area, where cocktails and party frocks are the norm at places like Bar Rouge. More relaxed drinking can be found in the French Concession quarter at laid-back Cotton's. Most nightclubs are open until late and there are a number of after-hours clubs. For shows, head no further than People's Square to the Shanghai Grand Theatre.
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Bars & Pubs
Bar Rouge
Perched atop Bund 18, Bar Rouge, with its glamorous vibe, great views, grand terrace, and creative cocktails, is the bar of choice for Shanghai's beautiful jet set. Late at night, international DJs ratchet it up a notch. Even if you forget your Gauloises, someone there should be able… -
Bars & Pubs
Char Bar
Looking for that night spot with well-mixed cocktails and a view over the Huangpu River? Try the Char Bar, which sits on the top floors of the Hotel Indigo on the Bund and has some of the best bar views on the Puxi side of Shanghai. It's got an outdoor terrace, so head here on clear…$$$Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Dongmen Lu
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Bars & Pubs
Constellation
This single-room bar has long been a favorite with expats as when it arrived on the bar scene it offered one of the most extensive selections of cocktails you could find. Competitors have sprung up since then — especially in the 5-star luxury hotels who offer not only the…$$Xinle Lu near Xiangyang Bei Lu
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The Club & Music Scene
Cotton Club
Live jazz nightly is the hallmark of this local institution, Shanghai's longest running venue and still the best one for live jazz and blues. The bands are skilled, the tunes are tight, and the informal, darkly atmospheric club often attracts standing-room-only crowds on weekends. -
Nightlife
Glo London
This British-owned bar, restaurant and bakery started in London in 2003 and opened up here in Shanghai in 2011. It occupies a four-level venue on a corner right across the street from the American consulate. The bakery has some great pastries, breads and sandwiches and the lunch sets…$Wulumuqi Lu, near Dongping Lu
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The Club & Music Scene
House of Blues and Jazz
Relocated from the French Concession to just off the Bund across from the Captain hostel, this is thankfully still an excellent spot to sing the blues. The space is larger here, with two floors, but the vibe is still fairly intimate, relaxed, and unpretentious, with the music usually… -
Nightlife
Muse
Muse on the Bund is an incarnation of the original nightclub near Fuxing Park, and this version on the Rockbund is luxurious, with VIP lounges, KTV rooms and a wading pool on a rooftop deck. A number of the private rooms are decorated in celebration of various brands, including Moet,…$$$Beijing Dong Lu, near Yuan Ming Yuan Lu
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Bars & Pubs
Shanghai Brewery
Several microbreweries have opened up in Shanghai in recent years, and this is the best of the bunch. With two locations in Shanghai—one on Hongmei Lu in Hongqiao and the other in the former French Concession—Shanghai Brewery serves up six kinds of microbrews that are brewed…$Dongping Lu near Hengshan Lu (French Concession) Hong Mei Lu near Huaguang Lu (Hongqiao)
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Bars & Pubs
The Apartment
Opening in 2010 to great fanfare, The Apartment is still managing to appear at the top of most Shanghai barhoppers' and clubgoers' lists for its happy hour specials, fully stocked bar, restaurant and lounge, and late night DJs. Thursdays are ladies' night, when the bar offers Kahlua…$$Yongfu Road, near Fuxing Road
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Bars & Pubs
Thirsty Seahorse
The Thirsty Seahorse was started by three partners—including two who have lived in New Zealand for 10 years running bars and cafes—who wanted to offer Shanghai a "dive bar fusion" option, and that's the perfect way to describe this low-key joint. With about a dozen tables in a room…$Xuhui
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Nightlife
Uva Wine Bar
Two university friends from Milan paired up to launch this leather-chair-and-wood-floors spot in a part of the city center popular with hip young barhoppers. You’ll find good value here in an intimate atmosphere, which is getting harder to find as Shanghai’s nightlife scene expands…$Shanxi Bei Lu at Kangding Lu
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Bars & Pubs
Wooden Box Cafe
This cozy bar and live music lounge is intimate and lined with wood paneling and dark tones, which invokes the image in its name. It's not a hip place, but evokes more the slightly run-down feel of a college campus establishment with an area marked as a music stage. …$Qinghai Lu near Nanjing Xi Lu
More To Do in Shanghai
Art and Architecture in Shanghai
Eclectic Architecture For all of Shanghai's exalted status as China's economic powerhouse, it has another claim to fame, and that is as a museum of architecture, albeit of the Western variety. Shanghai's history as a treaty port has led to it today comprising one of the richest…
Best Dining Bets in Shanghai
Tackling Hairy Crab: The name says it all. The signature dish of Shanghai is absolutely scrumptious, but it's seasonal (autumn) and best enjoyed at a big local restaurant. Rooftop Dining on the Bund: Dining high above Asia's most famous street is a heady experience not to be…
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More To Do in Shanghai
Best Free Things to Do in Shanghai
People-Watch: One of our favorite activities. It's free, it's fascinating, and you may learn more about today's China in an hour of people-watching than you would in a day spent on a tour bus. You can do this practically anywhere, at a park or a major intersection, but the best…
Best Hotel Bets in Shanghai
Best for Contemporary Luxury: From its storied location at the top of the Bund to its beyond-luxurious in-room amenities, the Peninsula Shanghai easily takes top honors and also sets a new standard for Shanghai's luxury hotels. The "urban resort" PuLi Hotel and Spa is a close…
By Plane in Shanghai
Chinese carriers serving international destinations include Air China (www.airchina.com), China Eastern Airlines (www.flychinaeastern.com), China Southern Airlines (www.flychinasouthern.com), and Hainan Airlines (www.hnair.com). On direct nonstop flights, flying with one of the above…
