Itinerary Shanghai

April is one of the best times to visit Shanghai: the weather is mild, spring flowers are blooming, and the city’s top sites are pleasant to visit before the hot, humid summer.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	2,000 USD
🏨 Accommodations	1,300 USD
🧳 Gear	100 USD
🗺️ On-site	600 USD
Total	4,000 USD

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇨🇳 Shanghai - 5 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏙️ The Bund (Waitan) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Shanghai’s most iconic riverside promenade with Art Deco and colonial-era architecture; best early or at sunset.

• [ ] 🏙️ Lujiazui Skyline & Observation Decks (SWFC / Jinmao / Shanghai Tower) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • See Shanghai’s futuristic skyscrapers—Shanghai Tower offers the highest observation deck, but the SWFC gives a unique "bottle-opener" view.

• [ ] 🎨 Power Station of Art ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Contemporary art in a converted power plant; edgy Chinese artists and rotating international exhibitions.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shanghai Museum (People’s Square) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Superb collections of ancient bronzes, ceramics, jade, and calligraphy—free entry, often with minimal queue.

• [ ] 🏛️ China Art Museum ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Largest modern art museum in Asia, housed in the former China Expo building—impressive architecture.

• [ ] 🛕 Yuyuan Garden & Old Town ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Exquisite Ming-era garden, intricate pavilions, and bustling bazaar—early visits are less crowded.

• [ ] 🌳 Fuxing Park & Former French Concession ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Leafy old-world charm, art deco mansions, and locals practicing tai chi.

• [ ] 🏙️ Nanjing Road (East & West) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • China’s premier shopping street, with both luxury brands and trendy boutiques.

• [ ] 🏙️ Tianzifang ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Historic alleyways turned creative quarter: artisan shops, design stores, street art, and cafés.

• [ ] 🏛️ Propaganda Poster Art Centre ⭐ (~1h)

  • Underground museum with a private collection tracing Mao-era popular art—quirky and unique.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum ⭐ (~1h)

  • Poignant WWII history in the Hongkou District; traces the lives of Jewish refugees in Shanghai.

• [ ] 🌳 Century Park ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Shanghai’s largest park: boating lakes, shaded trails, and gardens.

• [ ] 🏙️ Xintiandi ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Chic pedestrian zone with stylish boutiques, bars, and galleries set in renovated shikumen houses.

• [ ] 🏙️ Qibao Ancient Town ⭐ (~2h)

  • Ming and Qing-era lanes by scenic canals—less touristed than Zhujiajiao.

• [ ] 📸 M50 Art District ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Urban art hub with contemporary galleries, artist studios, and graffiti.

• [ ] 🛕 Longhua Temple ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Shanghai’s oldest temple, serene pagoda and gardens—a respite from the city bustle.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Bar Rouge (The Bund) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Legendary rooftop bar with dazzling river views—dress sharp, ideal for sunset or night skyline.

• [ ] 🍽️ Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Immersive 3-Michelin-star dining experience—blending gastronomy, art, and performance.

• [ ] 🍽️ Lost Heaven on The Bund ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Yunnanese cuisine in a stylish colonial villa—exotic spices and atmospheric vibes.

• [ ] 🍸 Speak Low ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Stylish speakeasy, ranked among Asia’s top bars—multi-floor, innovative cocktails.

• [ ] 🎭 Shanghai Grand Theatre ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Spectacular venue for classical music, opera, and modern performance—check schedules.

• [ ] 🌃 Huangpu River Night Cruise ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • See Shanghai’s skyline sparkle from the water—photogenic, book premium upper-deck seats.

• [ ] 🎤 Jazz at Peace Hotel ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Historic 1930s hotel; daily live jazz, especially atmospheric for couples.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Jia Jia Tang Bao ⭐⭐⭐

  • Legendary soup dumplings (xiaolongbao)—cash only, cheap and packed with locals.

• [ ] 🍜 Nanxiang Mantou Dian (Yuyuan Garden) ⭐⭐

  • Historic dumpling shop with massive steamed buns—great for a snack during sightseeing.

• [ ] 🍜 Fu He Hui ⭐⭐⭐

  • Acclaimed vegetarian fine dining in Changning—creative tasting menus, Michelin-starred.

• [ ] 🍜 HaiDiLao Hotpot (multiple branches) ⭐⭐

  • High-end Sichuan hotpot with attentive service and tableside noodles.

• [ ] 🍜 Wu Fang Zhai (Qibao/elsewhere) ⭐

  • Traditional zongzi (sticky rice parcels)—good for sampling a local snack.

• [ ] 🍜 Din Tai Fung (Jingan/if time permits) ⭐⭐

  • Taiwan’s world-renowned chain for superlative xiaolongbao in a refined setting.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Zhujiajiao Water Town (~4h, half-day)

  • 1,700-year-old canal town outside the city—picturesque, touristy but beautiful.

• [ ] 🌳 Chenshan Botanical Garden (~2h)

  • Massive outdoor gardens, less crowded and very photogenic.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center (~1.5h)

  • Spectacular city models and urban future—fascinating for architecture and urbanist fans.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shanghai History Museum (East Nanjing Rd) (~1h)

  • Quick primer on the city’s wild past.

🎬 Films & series to watch

🇨🇳 Shanghai

• [ ] 🎬 Shanghai Triad (1995) — ⭐ 7.1 — Zhang Yimou’s lush tale of 1930s crime, vivid period sets — Amazon Prime
• [ ] 🎬 Empire of the Sun (1987) — ⭐ 7.7 — WWII in Shanghai through the eyes of a child — Apple TV
• [ ] 📺 Midnight Diner (China) (2017) — ⭐ 7.1 — Heartwarming urban tales set in a Shanghai eatery — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 Street Angels (1937) — ⭐ 7.2 — Classic romance depicting pre-war Shanghai — YouTube

🍜 Local specialties

🇨🇳 Shanghai

• [ ] Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)
• [ ] Shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns)
• [ ] Shanghai-style braised pork belly (hong shao rou)
• [ ] Hairy crab (seasonal speciality; late autumn best)
• [ ] Smoked fish slices
• [ ] Steamed river shrimp

📍 Maps - places to pin

🇨🇳 Shanghai

1. 🌤️ The Bund
2. 🌙 Bar Rouge
3. 🛍️ Nanjing Road
4. 🏨 Fairmont Peace Hotel
5. 🍽️ Jia Jia Tang Bao

✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Shanghai
• [ ] ✈️ Shanghai → London

🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Shanghai	5	Fairmont Peace Hotel (The Bund)	1,300 USD
Total	5 nights		1,300 USD