Shanghai in brief
Shanghai sits on the Huangpu River near the mouth of the Yangtze. On the west bank, the Bund is a mile of stone banks and trading houses from the early 20th century. On the east bank, the towers of Lujiazui rise straight out of the water. Most first-time visitors spend their time between those two views, a walled-garden old town a short walk south, and the leafy residential streets to the west.
It is an easy city to start a China trip in. The metro is large, signed in English and accepts foreign contactless cards. Distances between the main sights are short. Three days covers the classics at a calm pace, and a fourth lets you take a fast train to Suzhou or Hangzhou.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons. The city government describes spring (March to May) as the best season for visiting, with averages of about 11–21°C. Autumn runs from about 25°C in early September down to about 15°C by late November, and it suits long walks along the river.
Summer is hot and humid. Plum rain season, a long spell of cloud and rain, runs from mid-June to early July, and peak heat in July and August can pass 35°C. Typhoons are most likely from late August to mid-September. Winter is damp and cold, with averages of about 3–11°C.
Crowds matter as much as weather. The national holiday from 1 to 7 October fills the Bund and Yu Garden, pushes up hotel prices and sells out trains weeks ahead. Late October and November are quieter and still mild.
Three days in Shanghai
Day one: the Bund and Lujiazui. Arrive at the Bund in the late afternoon and walk north along the raised promenade toward Waibaidu Bridge. Stay through sunset into the blue hour, when the lights come on across the river. If you have energy left, cross to Lujiazui by metro and look back at the Bund from the Pudong side.
Day two: Yu Garden and the old city. Go early to Yu Garden, which opens at 9:00 and closes on Mondays. Allow about two hours inside the garden, then walk out through the bazaar, past the zigzag bridge and the old teahouse on the pond. Lunch on dumplings nearby. In the afternoon, rest, or go back to the river for a second look in daylight.
Day three: the Former French Concession. Spend the day on foot in the Former French Concession. Start at Jiaotong University station, see Wukang Mansion at the corner of Huaihai Road, walk north up Wukang Road and finish along Anfu Road. Add Fuxing Park in the afternoon if you want a quiet bench under the plane trees. The evening is for a long Shanghainese dinner; our Shanghai food guide lists what to order.
Suzhou and Hangzhou by train
Two of China’s best-known garden and lake cities are close enough for a day trip. Suzhou, with its classical gardens and canals, is the nearer. The fastest high-speed trains take about 21 minutes and most take about 30, with hundreds of trains a day. Get off at Suzhou station for the old town.
Hangzhou and its West Lake take a little longer. The fastest trains from Shanghai Hongqiao reach Hangzhou East in about 45 minutes, and most take about an hour. Hangzhou also works as an overnight stop on the way to other cities. Book seats on 12306 or a trusted agency and bring the passport you booked with; our high-speed trains guide explains how.
Getting around
The metro is the simplest way to reach every sight in this guide. Since June 2025, every line accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards tapped at the gate. Your card must support contactless payment without a PIN for small amounts. Taxis are plentiful, and ride-hailing apps work too; see apps and internet for what to install.
From Pudong airport, Metro Line 2 runs from between the two terminals to Jing’an and East Nanjing Road. It is the cheapest way in and the slowest. The Maglev train covers the 30 km to Longyang Road station in about eight minutes for ¥50, and it also accepts contactless foreign cards; you then change to Line 2. A taxi from Pudong to People’s Square takes about 50 minutes.
Hongqiao airport is closer, about 13 km from the center, and Lines 2 and 10 serve Terminal 2. Shanghai Hongqiao railway station is next door, one stop away on Line 10. If you land at one airport and leave from the other, the Airport Link Line connects them in about 40 minutes.
Practical notes
- Check the entry rules for your passport before you book. Our visa-free entry guide explains the current rules and where to confirm them.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive. Small shops and noodle bars often take nothing else, and foreign cards and cash are not always accepted. Our paying in China guide covers the setup.
- Yu Garden is closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Plan Monday for the Bund and the Former French Concession.
- On national holiday evenings the police may set one-way routes on the Bund and close some metro exits. Allow extra time, or go on another night.
- On the city’s winter schedule, the riverside lights go off at 22:00, and holiday schedules run later. Plan dinner after your walk, not before.
Checked on 29 October 2026.
