Day 1: The Best of Shanghai in 24 Hours
The Bund & Old French Concession
Start with a morning walk along the Bund — a 1.5km waterfront promenade lined with 52 heritage buildings spanning Art Deco, Baroque, and Gothic styles, facing the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. The contrast between colonial grandeur and sci-fi towers is Shanghai's defining image. Then taxi to the French Concession — tree-lined boulevards, independent cafes, and Art Deco apartments that feel more Paris than China.
Yu Garden & Old City
Metro to Yuyuan for Yu Garden (¥40) — a classical Chinese garden from 1559 with rockeries, koi ponds, pavilions, and dragon walls. The surrounding Old City bazaar is touristy but atmospheric, with traditional architecture and snack stalls. Try xiaolongbao (soup dumplings, ¥20–40 for a steamer) at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant — the original since 1900. Walk through the narrow lanes for a glimpse of pre-modern Shanghai.
Pudong Skyline & Nanjing Road
Cross to Pudong via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (¥55, kitschy but fun) or metro. Walk among the supertall skyscrapers — Shanghai Tower (¥180, 632m, China's tallest), Shanghai World Financial Center's Sky Walk (¥120), and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Then return to Puxi for a walk along Nanjing Road — a pedestrianized shopping street that's electric at night. End with cocktails at a Bund rooftop bar.
