THINGS TO DO

Attractions | Day Trips | Photographic Spots

ATTRACTIONS

The Bund
The most iconic image that comes to mind when people mention Shanghai.

Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, Huangpu District
黄浦区中山东一路

Yu Gardens
Old city of Shanghai and usually on most vistors’ list of must-see places. Famous for Xiaolongbao dumplings.

249 Fangbang Middle Road, Huangpu District
黄浦区方浜中路249号

Fotografiska Shanghai
Fotografiska Shanghai is the 5th location for Fotografiska after Stockholm, Tallinn, New York and Berlin. Taking up 4600 square meters of space, it is a photography museum with a shop, rooftop lounge, café bar and restaurant (called Mona) in the same building on the north bank of Suzhou Creek. Exhibits are constantly rotating, showcasing both local and foreign artists. It's a great place to spend a few hours looking at the exhibits and then grabbing a bite to eat or a coffee or a glass of wine.

Incidentally, Fotografiska is right next to the Sihang Warehouse, the site where, in 1937, Chinese soldiers famously resisted multiple waves of Japanese attacks to allow Chinese troops to retreat to the west. You can see the side of the warehouse riddled with over 400 bullet holes, a permanent reminder of some of the darker days in Shanghai's history. If you do visit Fotografiska, it's well worth taking a quick peek next door, even if you just view the building from the outside. It's a fascinating story and if you'd like to know more about it, there's a lot that's easily found on Google, but here's a series of videos which is as good a place to start as any.

127 Guangfu Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai
上海市静安区光复路 127号

Pompidou Center West Bund Museum
Located in a newly developed section of the Bund, making it a great spot to explore, especially on a sunny day. The area has been completely redeveloped, offering a pleasant waterfront walk that pairs perfectly with a visit to the museum. There's also a dog park, rock climbing, basketball nets and a skateboard park. Nearby, Gate M is also worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood, adding to the vibrant mix of art and culture in this part of the city.

Address:
2600 Longing Avenue, Xuhui District
徐汇区龙腾大道2600号

Shanghai Disneyland
Needs no introduction. You can combine Disneyland with a shopping trip to Bicester Village, which is right next door. There is even a boat that takes you between Disney and Bicester Village at certain times of the year. Don't leave too early, there is a fireworks display every night before the park closes. Exact times depend on the season.

No. 310 Huangzhao Road, Chuansha Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
上海市浦东新区川沙镇黄赵路310号

Xintiandi
When I first moved to Shanghai in 1999, Xintiandi was still under construction. Since then, it has grown into one of the city’s most popular destinations, attracting both tourists and locals alike. Its success has inspired countless similar retail and entertainment complexes, not just across Shanghai but in cities throughout China. Yet, despite being widely imitated, none of these copies have quite matched the original’s appeal.

As a long-term resident, Xintiandi isn’t my go-to spot—it’s pricey and a little too touristy for my taste. But for those who haven’t been, it’s definitely worth a visit to experience its unique atmosphere and see what all the buzz is about.

Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu, Huangpu District
新天地太仓路181弄, 近马当路

DAY TRIPS

There's a lot to do in Shanghai, but if you want to take a side trip to neighbouring areas, there are also many options available. Most of these places can be done in a day, although in some cases, time permitting, you might want to stay overnight so you can see more and have a more relaxed schedule. Here are just a few of them:

Suzhou

Famous for its classical gardens, Shanghai's close neighbour Suzhou is just 30 minutes away by fast train, making it an ideal day trip destination.

Hangzhou

Around 175km from Shanghai, Hangzhou is known for the West Lake as well as tea plantations. The fast train gets you there in an hour or more.

Zhujiajiao

This ancient water town is located on the western outskirts of Shanghai, around 45km from the city centre, making it a very comfortable day trip.

Wuzhen

Signifcantly further away from Shanghai than Zhujiajiao (around 130km), this traditional water town is still an option for a day trip excursion.

Moganshan

Around 220km from Shanghai, this is a very popular getaway destination for Shanghai expats, Moganshan offers lots of outdoor activities including hiking in the Bamboo Forest, cycling, barbecues, kayaking or just chilling and being pampered in one of the luxury retreats (my personal choice).

Huangshan

Perhaps more suited for an overnight trip, Huangshan boasts stunning mountain views from above the clouds (weather permitting). There's even an hotel at the peak for those who want to wake up to see the sunrise from the top of the mountain. The train takes 2.5-3 hours to get to the nearby Huangshan city.

Nanjing - Historical Significance

Although distance-wise, Nanjing is quite far from Shanghai (approximately 300km), modern train connections mean that you can be in Nanjing in as little as 90 minutes, depending on which train service you select.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SPOTS

The Bund is by far the most popular tourist spot for stunning photographs, whether you are looking at the buildings in Puxi or across the river towards the more modern Pudong skyline. It needs to be visited at night and during the day as the view is very different at different times of the day. The photo above is taken from the Puxi side facing towards the modern skyline on the Pudong side of the river in the late afternoon, before sunset.

Yu Gardens is another great spot for taking photos. The old town lights up at night to offer some impressive images. Bring a tripod if you can for longer exposures like the one above.