1 Day in Shanghai, a Detailed Travel Guide for You
As the largest city in China, Shanghai offers thousands of things for travelers to experience, from historic sites to witnessing the lifestyles of southern Chinese people. Don’t be frustrated by its dull, tall buildings and fast-paced atmosphere. You’ll find enjoyment when you delve deeper into Shanghai’s corners and see the hundred-year-old architectural structures. Not sure how to start your trip in Shanghai? With options that include the Bund, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Chenghuang Temple, and Zhujiajiao Water Town, it seems almost impossible to enjoy your trip fully in just 1 day. Plan your trip according to our classic 1-day Shanghai itinerary to make the most of your time.
Top Things to Do in Shanghai in 1 Day
- When the neon lights flare in Shanghai’s night, ramble along the Bund and listen to stories about the hundred-year-old architectural structures.
- Experience a unique style of residences in Zhujiajiao — the local houses are surrounded by rivers and lakes. Many tourists called it “Oriental Venice”.
- Hunt for old Shanghai’s atmosphere, and capture the modern and flourishing Shanghai with your camera.
- See a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai from a tall building — the Shanghai World Financial Center.
- Don’t miss the most glorious nighttime view in China.
- Taste Shanghai cuisine at popular local restaurants.
- Explore a quaint and ancient private garden — Yu Garden. It’s smaller and more exquisite than the Summer Palace in Beijing.
- Have a nighttime stroll or dance with the locals after dinner. Dancing is a popular activity for Chinese people, especially elderly women.
- Taste Shanghai snacks on Nanjing Road — the most popular business road with both tourists and local people.
- Have a cocktail and enjoy Shanghai’s nightlife in a bar.
Itinerary for Your 1-Day Trip in Shanghai
From walking along the classic Bund to seeing the jaw-dropping panoramic view from the Shanghai World Financial Center, your 1-day trip in Shanghai can be colorful and entertaining. Here we go:
7am to 8am: Enjoy a Shanghai-Style Breakfast
Shanghai is in the east of China, which means the sun rises early every day. Usually, daylight starts at 6am. You’ll be eager to get up and start your wonderful trip in Shanghai. Having a Shanghai-style breakfast is the first step to discovering this city. Chinese people believe that breakfast is very important and enjoy a big breakfast. Shanghai offers a lot of choices for breakfast: pan-fried buns stuffed with pork, steamed buns stuffed with juicy pork, salty and sweet large flatbreads, fried sticks, sweetened soy milk, and glutinous rice balls.
Shanghai famous breakfast - Xiaolongbao8am to 11am: Drive to Zhujiajiao Water Town and Explore Oriental Venice
Zhujiajiao Water Town is about 50 kilometers southwest of Shanghai. You’ll arrive there after about an hour’s drive. Surrounded by rivers and lakes, Zhujiajiao’s houses seem like they are floating on the water. Paddling in boats used to be the main form of transportation there. It’s also a popular experience for travelers today. Take a boat to travel across the town and enjoy a relaxing morning under the gentle sunshine. Houses that are hundreds of years old, ancient bridges, and the kind local people welcome tourists from all over the world. Many local residents have lived there since they were born. Therefore, it’s common to see elderly people in this ancient town and you’ll have the opportunity to explore the most authentic local lifestyle.
- Address: North Street, Zhujiajiao, Qingpu District
- Admission ticket: 64 yuan
- Reason to visit: the closest water town to Shanghai
Zhujiajiao Water Town11am to 12:30pm: Have Lunch at a Local Restaurant
There are plenty of restaurants in Zhujiajiao Water Town. When you feel hungry, just walk along the main commercial street and pick a popular restaurant to enjoy lunch. You can determine which ones are popular by the amount of customers. Dining on the second floor of the restaurant you choose is better for admiring the view of this elegant town. Order several specialty dishes and enjoy a quiet lunch. Just let the waiter/waitress recommend some dishes for you if you don’t know which ones to order. Have a rest before continuing with your afternoon activities.
12:30pm to 4pm: Visit an Exquisite and Ancient Private Garden — Yu Garden
Yu Garden was a private garden, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Different from the Summer Palace in Beijing, Yu Garden is a small yet well-designed classical example of Chinese architecture. Keep in mind that it’s better to hire a professional guide if you want to learn more about Chinese culture and the lifestyles of the ancient people. It’s not very interesting to spend time in Yu Garden if you don’t know very much about Chinese history and culture. Adjacent to the City God Temple, taste some local snacks around Yu Garden if you want to.
- Address: 218 Anren Street, Huangpu District
- Admission ticket: 40 yuan from April to October; 30 yuan from November to March
- Opening hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm from March to October; 8:30am to 5pm from November to February
Yu Garden4pm to 5:30pm: See the Panoramic View from the Shanghai World Financial Center
The Shanghai World Financial Center has 100 floors. The walkway on the 100th floor is 474 meters above ground level, making it the highest observatory in the world. Seeing the view across Shanghai from such a perfect platform is exciting: the scenery of both sides of the Huangpu River fills your eyes. When the weather is fine, look up and you’ll see the blue sky and white clouds.
- Address: 100 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area
- Opening hours: 8am to 11pm
- Admission ticket: 150 yuan to access the 100th, 97th, and 94th floors
5:30pm to 7pm: Have Dinner in Downtown Shanghai
It’s dinnertime. After a whole day of exploring the city, you must be tired and desire a big meal. Shanghai is a large city that can satisfy your dietary preferences, whether you want to taste original Chinese dishes or eat Western food. Here are the most popular foods in Shanghai. Eating the local cuisine is also a good way to understand the local lifestyle.
7pm to 9pm: Have a Romantic Nighttime Stroll Along the Bund and Taste Local Snacks
Nighttime in Shanghai is charming and glorious. In summer, having a nighttime stroll along the Bund after dinner is enjoyable. The Bund, the Huangpu River, and Chenghuang Temple are close to each other. Seeing the night views, enjoying the cool breeze from the Huangpu River, and tasting snacks at Chenghuang Temple (also called the City God Temple) are the most recommended things to do at night. If you don’t want to walk anymore, booking a cruise ticket for a trip on the Huangpu River is a good idea.
The nightview of the Bund9pm to 11pm: Enjoy a Cocktail in a Local Bar
There are many bars in the Bund. Drinking a cocktail before going to bed helps you have sweet dreams.
Travel Tips
Hotels near the Bund in Huangpu District are convenient for travelers as many famous attractions are located there. Try to stay close to the metro lines.
If you want to try local dishes, go to the restaurants filled with lots of locals. Take note of the restaurants’ ranks on TripAdvisor to find other restaurants if you don’t like Chinese food.
- Public transportation is very convenient in Shanghai. Within the downtown area, taking the metro is fast and means you avoid the traffic jams.
- If you don’t like taking the subway, you can take a taxi. It’s 14 yuan to take a taxi within 3 kilometers, and 2.4 yuan for each extra kilometer.
- If your destination is a little further away, such as Zhujiajiao Water Town, taking a bus is a suitable option.
- If you want to visit nearby cities, such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, or Nanjing, you can take a high-speed train from Shanghai.
For most of China’s cities, April, May, September, and October are comfortable times to travel. Summer in Shanghai is horribly hot while winter is wet and cold.
Related Tours
