Shanghai Attractions

If you are thinking of visiting Shanghai, there are some great attractions that you shouldn’t miss. Here are some of them.

The Bund

Located on the bank of the Huangpu River is The Bund, one of Shanghai’s most popular attractions. The Bund is a waterfront that over the years has somehow became a symbol of the city. Often hailed as the Gallery of Worldwide Architecture, architectural styles such as Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classical, and Renaissance can be seen in the many buildings that stand tall along the Zhongshan East Road. Some of these buildings go way back from the 1930s, which makes a trip to the Bund an experience of Shanghai’s rich cultural background. 

The Bund can be reached by the Shanghai Metro Line 2, the station nearest it being the East Nanjing Road. Ferry services and buses are also available.

Shanghai Museum of Natural History

The Shanghai Museum of Natural History houses many great relics of the natural world’s past. Among those, one of the main attractions is the 150 million year-old skeleton of a dinosaur excavated from the Sichuan Province. Also worth seeing are the museum’s collection of thousands of different plant and animal specimens, which lovers of the natural sciences will surely enjoy.

Location: 260 Yan’an Dong Lu, near Henan Zhong Lu (延安东路260号, 
近河南中路).

Opens on Tuesdays to Sunday from 9AM to 5PM
Phone number 6321 3548

Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe

The Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe exhibits their world-class talent every night at the Shanghai Center Theater. The audience gets to see the talented performers do balancing acts, juggle, and other mind-blowing and well-choreographed performances.

Address: 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu (南京西路1376号上海商城1楼, 近西康路)
Phone number: (86-21) 6279-8663
Tickets price: 280 RMB, 200 RMB, and 150 RMB.

Yuyuan Garden

The largest of all of Shanghai’s ancient gardens, the Yuyuan Garden or Garden of Contentment- found in the center of Old Town- is a break away from the fast-paced urbanity of the modern city. It is a 16th Century garden whose temples and halls still showcase architectural designs from the Ming and Qing dynasties. With around 30 pavilions and 5 acres, the garden is a nice, historical place to explore and stroll around.

Address: 218 Anren St, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
Phone: +86 21 6326 0830
Hours: Monday hours 8:30 am–5:00 pm  -

City God Temple

The City God Temple is located near the area of Yuyuan Garden. It is a Taoist monument that is believed to have been around for 600 years. The temple building shows the craftsmanship of ancient sculpturing, woodcarving, and painting. The area has also now become a popular shopping district for local products and goods.

Address: No. 247, Middle Fangbang Rd.,Huangpu District
Hours: 8:30 AM to 4 PM.

Jade Buddha Temple

The Jade Buddha Temple houses two White Jade Buddhas that came from Burma and was brought to Shanghai in 1881. Other Buddhist relics can also be found on display. Many Shanghai locals go to the temple every day to worship, but it is also open for visitors and tourists.

Address: 170 Anyuan Lu, near Jiangning Lu (安远路170号, 近江宁西路).
Hours: 8AM- 4:30 PM, with a fee of 20 RMB.
Phone number: 6266 3668.

Xintiandi

One of the most popular bar and restaurant districts in Shanghai is Xintiandi. The Xintiandi is a historical and cultural hotspot of the city. It is divided into the North and South blocks. The south block is modern. It has the atmosphere of a 21st century urban city at its best with its different shopping centers, restaurants, boutiques, and other establishments. The North block, on the other hand, remains to be a reminder of the past with its Shikumen buildings and 1920s ambience. To get to Xintiandi, one can take Bus 146, Bus 781, Tunnel Line 8, Subway Line 1, Subway Line 10, or a city sightseeing bus.

Address: Lane 181, Taicang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200021, China
Phone number: 021-63112288

Nanjing Lu

Bright with neon lights that are reminiscent of the city of Las Vegas, Nanjing Lu is Shanghai’s most popular shopping street. Restaurants, shops, and other commercial establishments are all over the place, giving it a very lively buzz. If one is looking for a place to shop or buy souvenirs, this is the place to go to. At night, there is a sightseeing train that gives shoppers a tour around the pedestrian streets. To go to Nanjing Lu, one can ride the bus or the subway, particularly subway lines 10 and 2.

Address: Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200000, China

Huangpu River Cruise

With the Huangpu River being situated near the Shanghai peninsula, a ride on the Huangpu River Cruise is a good way to explore the city.   Places like the Bund, Jin Mao Tower, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and the Huangpu Park are part of the view that can be seen from the cruise. There are two different cruise types that one can choose from. The Highlight Cruise lasts for an hour and costs 100 RMB. It operates from 10 AM to 9 PM. The other option is the Classic Cruise, which is 3 hours long, and opens at 2PM to around 5:30 PM. It costs 150 RMB. By taking an evening cruise, the beauty of the whole Shanghai city can be viewed while also being able to experience having dinner under the night sky and the skyscraper lights of the city. To avail of the cruise, one can go to 127 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu (中山东二路127号 近外滩). For inquiries, call 6374 4461.

Shanghai World Financial Center 

The Shanghai World Financial Center offers the best overview of the city. The multipurpose skyscraper has 101 floors and has a height of 492 m. The building’s construction began in 1997 and was completed in 2008. It is currently China’s tallest building.

Address: 100 Shiji Da Dao (世纪大道100号B1楼, 近东台路).
Hours: 8am to 11pm every day.