There’s plenty of things to see or do in China, especially in their biggest city - Shanghai. Originally a small agricultural village, Shanghai has seen massive transformation into the metropolis that we know now. Here are 7 must-see attractions for those who will be heading to Shanghai for their next vacation!
Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔)
Like how Taiwan has its Taipei 101, Shanghai has its Oriental Pearl Tower. With a height of 468m, it was once the tallest building in China from 1994-2007. The tower provides breathtaking views of the city at its observatory decks of different altitudes!
Needless to say, the Oriental Pearl Tower is most well known for its glass floor observatory deck! Not for those with a fear of heights, the glass floor gives an illusion that visitors are floating above the city. If you are brave enough, go ahead and challenge yourself to conquer the 150m long glass walkway!
If you think the observatory deck is the only attraction in the Oriental Pearl Tower, you are wrong! There is also a Municipal History Museum, game city, Flower Bar, a revolving restaurant and a space capsule sightseeing floor. But the most innovative attraction in the Pearl Tower is no doubt the indoor VR roller coaster! Even though it is only a short ride, participants will be immersed in exploring Lujiazui from a birds-eye view. With so many activities to do in the Pearl Tower, it's unlikely that you will get bored!
Address: 1 Century Ave, Lu Jia Zui, Pudong, Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 5879 1888
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm daily
The Bund (外滩)
Strolling by glittering lights while caressed by the gentle lake breeze is a great way to end a long day. Being the perfect location for a romantic stroll and examining Shanghai’s unique architecture, it's no wonder that The Bund attracts thousands of visitors daily.
Also known as Waitan (外滩), The Bund faces Shanghai’s iconic Huangpu River. Interestingly, The Bund is lined with 52 international building styles of gothic, baroque and neoclassical colonial buildings from the 1800s! These buildings once formed the financial centre of Old Shanghai and were under the British administration. Local Chinese were forbidden to enter the compounds of the British concession, making it pretty exclusive. But now, these buildings represent the pride of Shanghai.
Even though the most popular time to visit The Bund would be during the evening, it's still a great place to head to at different times of the day. In the morning, The bund will be full of locals exercising in public! This might come as a cultural shock for most but having mass exercises in public is an integral part of the Chinese’s culture. Feel free to join in the locals from exercises ranging from Tai Chi to kite flying! During the afternoon, The Bund is a great location to take memorable pictures. But don’t just go to The Bund for picture taking, treat yourself as well! There are many exquisite restaurants or cafes to be found where you can indulge in lunch, brunch or afternoon tea!
Address: Zhongshan East 1st Rd, Wai Tan, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心)
Another building that’s perfect for admiring the beautiful cityscapes of Shanghai would be the World Financial Center. Opened in 2008, the World Financial Center beat the Oriental Pearl Tower in terms of height and clinched the title of China’s tallest building until 2014! As the skyscraper has an interesting trapezoid hole at the top, it has earned its nickname of “the bottle opener”.
This unique building is integrated with a mall, the Hyatt Regency hotel, a business section and observatories! There are 3 observatories for visitors to sightsee at level 94, 97 and 100. All 3 provide fantastic views of the city, but the skywalk at level 100 is the most popular observatory among visitors as the floor is made out of… glass!
Instead of going to the observatory decks, visitors can choose the option of dining at restaurants or bars in the Hyatt Regency between levels 79 to 93. What can be better than eating good food while accompanied by great views?
Address: Financial Trading District Z4-1, Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai
Telephone: +86 21 3867 2008
China Art Museum (中华艺术宫)
Built for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, the China Art Museum displays modern and contemporary artworks making it perfect for art enthusiasts who seek to learn through different cultures! They also collaborate with famous museums worldwide to showcase modern art from different countries! The Art Museum is free for entry but visitors will have to reserve a ticket online 2 days prior to their visit.
Covering a total area of 160,000 square metres, the museum is the largest in Asia. There are 27 exhibition halls and a whopping number of 1200 pieces of artworks of different art forms such as oil painting, calligraphy and Chinese paintings! Since there’s such a huge number of artwork to go through, you can expect your visit to be 3-4 hours long.
If you are interested in history, the lower levels of the museum are for you! It is full of Mao-era and neo-socialist propaganda artwork that commemorates historical Chinese events. For visitors that do not speak the Chinese language, audio guides can be rented with just 20 yuan and 200 yuan deposit.
Address: 205 Shangnan Rd, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 200010
Telephone: +86 400 921 9021
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm from Tuesday to Sunday
Nanjing Road (南京路)
An overseas trip is never completed without a little shopping. With that said, make your trip down to the famous fashion street in Shanghai - Nanjing Road. This 5.5km long street has been through many developments from the traditional stores to the current modern malls. There are many speciality stores, historic stores, cinemas, and shopping malls on both sides of the street.
Although Nanjing Road is famous for their variety of fashion products, visitors can also find many other products such as photography equipment, commodities and home appliances! It’s literally a shopping paradise.
Other than stores for shoppers, there are also restaurants for foodies. The pedestrian street has a mixture of cuisines from all over China and the world! Definitely try the Xie Ke Huang (Yellow Crab Shell) pastry from Zhen Lao Da Fang cake store.
Address: Nan Jing Lu, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi
Chenghuang Miao (城隍庙)
There are many kinds of temples to be found in Shanghai which are different in terms of its architecture and the god that’s worshipped. The types of temples are mainly, the Confuscious Temples, Buddhist Temples and Taoist Temples. The Chenghuang Miao is a famous Taoist Temple in Shanghai for its magnificent architecture and the variety of shops. Built in ancient China during the Yongle Reign of Ming Dynasty, Chenghuang Miao have been worshipped by generations of Chinese.
Now, Chenghuang Miao has become a popular tourist destination. Renowned snacks, souvenirs, boutique stores and local delicacies can be found in and around the vicinity of the temple. The popularity of the temple continues to attract vendors and shopping centres, expanding the region of Chenghuang Miao.
Even though the majority of Chenghuang Miao has become a tourist attraction, traditions are still retained through displays of cockfighting, acrobatics and penmanship performances. Not to mention, many festivals such as the Lantern Festival and tea ceremonies are celebrated in the temple!
If you are going to Chenghuang Miao, don’t forget to eat their famous michelin starred Xiao Long Bao and visit the Yu Garden for a more immersive experience!
Address: No.249 Fangbang Zhong Road, adjacent to Yuyuan Garden, Huangpu District, Shanghai
M50 / Moganshan Road Art District (莫干山路50号)
Similar to Beijing’s 798 Art Zone, the Monganshan Road Art District of Shanghai was once an old textile mill. The building has since then become home to over 50 gallery spaces for showcasing Shanghai’s contemporary art. The district is now filled with galleries, studios and workshops.
It’s the one of the best locations in Shanghai for inspiration by looking at the artworks for free! Visitors can find sculptures, photographs, experimental works and paintings from emerging artists while exploring the district. A famous graffiti wall can also be found at M50 which is perfect for taking creative pictures!
Address: 50 Moganshan Rd, Putuo, Shanghai, China
Telepone: +86 21 6266 7125
