How Many Days in Shanghai? A 4-Day Route and How to Get Around

How many days? The 4-day plan and where to stay

The guide puts Shanghai at 3 to 4 days. This plan uses 4 days (3 nights): Day 1 East Nanjing Road and the Bund at night; Day 2 Yu Garden, the former Korean Provisional Government site, Xintiandi, the Former French Concession and Tianzifang; Day 3 the Huangpu River ferry, a Lujiazui observation deck and Zhujiajiao or the Shanghai Museum; Day 4 a shengjianbao breakfast and the airport. A 3-day (2-night) version is under Day 4.

Pick your base to match the route. The Bund and East Nanjing Road suit a first visit, with riverside views and the pedestrian street close together and walkable; there are plenty of hotels, but it is always busy. People's Square is the central hub where several metro lines meet, and the Former French Concession and Xintiandi suit strolling and cafes, close to the former Korean Provisional Government site.

Jing'an suits shopping and stylish dining and is well connected to the Bund and the airport. Lujiazui (Pudong) has high-rise hotels, many looking back at the Bund, and is handy for the airport.

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Day 1: Pudong Airport, East Nanjing Road, the Bund at night

From Pudong International Airport (PVG) there are three ways into town: the Maglev, Metro Line 2 and taxis. The Maglev is a very fast train to Longyang Road station, about 8 minutes, where you change to the metro; allow about 40 minutes to downtown with the change. Metro Line 2 is the cheapest way to East Nanjing Road and People's Square, but it takes a while, and depending on the time you may need to change trains on the way, so follow the station signs.

If you take a taxi, showing your hotel address in Chinese helps. Every metro station has bag checks, so allow extra time.

After checking in, stroll East Nanjing Road to the Bund, a riverside promenade lined with European-style buildings along the Huangpu River. It is best after dark, when the buildings and the skyline across the river light up; lighting hours can vary. On the Bund and Nanjing Road, do not follow friendly strangers to tea houses or art shows, as they may demand high prices.

• Maglev to Longyang Road: about 8 min (about 40 min to downtown with the change), about 40-50 CNY
• Metro Line 2 toward East Nanjing Road and People's Square: about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to downtown, about 7-8 CNY
• Taxi to downtown: about 45-70 min, about 150-250 CNY (official taxi rank only; make sure the meter is on)

Day 2: Yu Garden, the former Korean Provisional Government site, Xintiandi, Tianzifang

Start at Yu Garden, a classical garden next to a bazaar of traditional-style buildings. It is very crowded by day, so go early; if you would rather see the evening lights, swap the order and come in the evening.

Next is the former site of the Korean Provisional Government, the preserved building it used in the 1920s-30s. Check official information on hours, booking, passport checks and indoor photo rules before you go. Some museums and historic sites in Shanghai need advance booking under your passport name and ask to see your passport on entry, so carry it.

In the afternoon, walk Xintiandi and the Former French Concession, quiet streets of plane trees and old villas with cafes to stop at. In the evening, finish in Tianzifang, where old lane houses have been turned into shops and studios and the maze of alleys is fun to get lost in.

Day 3: Huangpu River ferry, Lujiazui, then Zhujiajiao or the Shanghai Museum

Cross to Lujiazui on the Huangpu River ferry, a commuter boat between the Bund side and Lujiazui. It takes a few minutes, costs very little and the river views are great.

In Lujiazui, go up an observation deck at the top of the skyscrapers for views over the whole city. Pick a clear day; around sunset you see both day and night views. If the sky is not clear, try swapping it with the afternoon plan.

In the afternoon, choose one: Zhujiajiao, an old canal town with stone bridges about 1 hour by metro from downtown and busy on weekends, or the Shanghai Museum at People's Square, with ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy, where booking and a passport may be required (check official information). Have xiaolongbao for dinner: put one on a spoon and nibble a hole to sip the hot soup first.

Day 4: Shengjianbao, souvenirs, the airport, and a 3-day version

Start the last morning with shengjianbao, thick pan-fried buns with crispy bottoms and a Shanghai breakfast favorite; the filling is very hot. Then pick up souvenirs and head for the airport.

The guide's route has you leave town at least 1 hour 30 minutes ahead. Choose the Maglev (about 40 min to downtown including the change at Longyang Road), Metro Line 2 (about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes) or a taxi (about 45-70 min) to suit your hotel, and add time for the metro bag checks.

With 3 days (2 nights), keep Days 1 and 2 as they are, then on Day 3 take the ferry to Lujiazui and an observation deck before heading to the airport; Lujiazui is handy for the airport. Zhujiajiao or the Shanghai Museum then waits for your next trip.

Before you go: transport, payment, budget and when to go

The metro is the easiest way around: a dense network with English signs. Transit QR codes inside Alipay or WeChat Pay work on the metro and buses, and you can also buy single tickets with cash at stations. Taxis use meters, and ride-hailing can be booked inside Alipay; have your destination ready in Chinese.

Mobile payment is more common than cash. Foreigners can link overseas cards to Alipay and WeChat Pay, so sign up and verify before you travel. Some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China, so sort out your connection (roaming, eSIM, etc.) and a Chinese map app before you go. There are security checks at every metro station and major sight, so do not carry lighters or knives. Visa rules change often; check the latest official information before you travel.

Per person per day, budget about 400 CNY with a hostel, local food and the metro, about 800-1,200 CNY with a city hotel, restaurants and an observation deck, and about 2,000 CNY+ with an upscale riverside hotel, set-course dinners and taxis. Scallion oil noodles cost about 15-30 CNY at local spots, and hairy crab, in season in autumn (roughly September to November), is priced by size, so always check before ordering.

• Best time: spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November), mild and clear
• Best avoided: June to early July is the rainy season, and July and August are very hot and humid with possible typhoons
• Winters are cold and damp. National Day week (around October 1) and Chinese New Year are extremely crowded
• Normals (Shanghai Baoshan station, 1991–2020; China Meteorological Administration submission · WMO normals collection, NOAA NCEI), highs/lows: about 20/12°C in April, 25/18°C in May, 23/17°C in October, 18/11°C in November
• Monthly rainfall normals: about 77 mm in April, 90 mm in May, 71 mm in October, 58 mm in November, 197 mm in June and 147 mm in July; August is the wettest month at about 210 mm

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