Things to Do in Shanghai, China

The Bund (Waitan)

The Bund (Waitan) is Shanghai’s riverside promenade along the Huangpu River, defined by a continuous row of colonial‑era buildings in Baroque, Gothic, Neoclassical and Art Deco styles.

A walk along the paved embankment pairs close‑up architectural details with sweeping views across the river to Lujiazui’s modern skyline; photographers often use the contrast between masonry façades and glass towers as a dramatic foreground and background.

The promenade includes plazas, memorials and vantage points where river traffic and sightseeing boats animate the scene. Many historic buildings now house museums, hotels, restaurants and banks, so a visit can combine outdoor viewing with interior stops.

Yuyuan Garden (Yu Garden)

Yuyuan Garden (Yu Garden) is a compact Ming‑dynasty private garden in Shanghai’s old city, composed of pavilions, covered corridors, rockeries, ponds and courtyards arranged to evoke natural scenery within a small footprint.

Visitors enter through tiled gateways into a sequence of named scenes—halls with carved eaves, the Nine‑Turn Bridge, lotus pools and intricately stacked rock formations—each feature holding aesthetic and symbolic meaning tied to classical poetry and scholarly life.

The garden sits beside the lively Yuyuan Bazaar and pedestrian lanes where teahouses and historic eateries create a dense atmosphere. Its compact scale rewards slow movement and close looking; for a quieter visit, aim for early morning or a weekday, and confirm ticketing or access rules on official channels before you go.

Shanghai Museum (People's Square)

Shanghai Museum, on People’s Square, is the city’s premier museum of ancient Chinese art and material culture. Housed in a landmark circular building designed to echo an ancient bronze vessel, the museum presents a systematic, chronological display of bronzes, ceramics, painting, calligraphy and furniture that traces continuity across millennia rather than isolated highlights.

The collection is extensive and arranged by material and theme, allowing visitors to move from early bronzes to ceramics and then to painting and calligraphy. Audio guides are available in multiple languages and galleries provide contextual labels.

The museum sits beside Nanjing Road and other cultural institutions; because exhibitions and schedules change, check official channels for current shows and guided tours.

Oriental Pearl Tower (Lujiazui)

The Oriental Pearl Tower in Lujiazui is a distinctive broadcast tower composed of a string of spheres and layered viewing platforms that frame views across the Huangpu River to the Bund.

Visitors can use multiple enclosed observation spheres, a higher “space module” viewpoint and a lower outdoor corridor for sweeping panoramas; a transparent skywalk and high windows convey a strong sense of vertical distance.

The tower’s lower public areas host exhibitions—including displays on Shanghai’s urban development—restaurants and event spaces, making it a mixed‑use entertainment complex as well as a viewpoint. It is easily reached from nearby metro stations; check official sources for current exhibitions, special viewing experiences and visitor services before going.

Official Oriental Pearl Tower (Lujiazui) website →

Shanghai Tower (Lujiazui)

Shanghai Tower is a supertall mixed‑use skyscraper in Lujiazui with a spiralling glass façade and a double‑skin envelope that separates interior spaces. The building combines retail and cultural spaces at its base, offices, a luxury hotel and public observation areas near the top.

Fast elevators and sky lobbies create a processioned visitor experience culminating in panoramic observation decks that overlook the Huangpu River and the neighboring skyline.

The tower also incorporates engineering and sustainability measures—stacked setbacks reduce wind loads and create sky gardens that punctuate the form. Some interior areas and observation platforms are ticketed and services change, so verify current visitor offerings and accessibility on official information before visiting.

Official Shanghai Tower (Lujiazui) website →

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is Shanghai’s historic commercial spine connecting People’s Square and the Bund. The pedestrianised section concentrates historic department stores, modern malls and dense shopfronts along a wide paved corridor, offering a compact view of the city’s commercial evolution from early 20th‑century retail to today’s international brands and LED façades.

The street functions as a social and civic stage as much as a shopping address: neon signs and clustered storefronts create a layered spectacle after dark while daytime crowds show commuters, families and tourists moving through varied retail experiences.

The pedestrian zone is metro‑accessible and easy to combine with nearby cultural sites; check city or tourism sources for temporary events or promotions.

Official Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street website →

Shanghai Disney Resort

Shanghai Disney Resort is a large integrated entertainment complex that includes Shanghai Disneyland, themed hotels, a retail and dining district (Disneytown) and landscaped public spaces. The park presents immersive lands, major attractions, parades and character experiences adapted to local tastes, designed for family audiences and offering both spectacle and immersive architecture.

The resort is organized for single‑day or multi‑day visits with timed‑entry and queueing systems managed via an official mobile app; on‑site hotels extend the resort experience. Operational details, ticket types and seasonal shows change frequently, so confirm tickets, reservation rules and event schedules on the resort’s official channels before planning your visit.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a well‑preserved Jiangnan water town on Shanghai’s western edge, characterized by canals, stone bridges and a compact historic street network.

The town features narrow lanes and waterways, arched stone bridges such as the five‑arch Fangsheng Bridge, merchant houses and small private gardens like Kezhi Garden that illustrate traditional domestic architecture and mercantile heritage.

Boats offer short rides along active quays lined with cafés, shops and teahouses. Walking the town rewards a slow pace and attention to bridgescapes and small museums that preserve local crafts and food traditions.

Seasonal crowding and evolving visitor services are common, so verify arrangements on official local tourism pages before visiting.