China
Shanghai
China's financial hub, mixing colonial-era boulevards with a futuristic skyline. Stay 3 days. We have mapped 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- June
4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
from our route notes
32°C / 89°F avg high
8°C / 46°F avg high
about 195 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Shanghai
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around across Huangpu, Old City and Lujiazui. 2 of them are free.
Photo: 钉钉 · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeThe Bund
Riverside promenade of 1920s banks and hotels facing the Pudong skyline.
Tip Walk it twice: early morning for calm, after dark for the lights.
Photo: Stefan Fussan · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeYu Garden
Ming dynasty classical garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city.
Tip Go at opening; the bazaar outside gets crowded.
Photo: aj · GoogleSeeShanghai Tower Observation Deck
Deck on the 118th floor of China's tallest building.
Tip Check air quality; haze can hide the view.
Photo: Simon Nadeau · GoogleSeeShanghai Museum
Bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade at People's Square, with a newer East branch in Pudong.
Tip Reserve free tickets online.
Do
1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Xuhui.
Photo: 陳傑生 · GoogleDoFormer French Concession
Plane-tree streets of villas, boutiques and cafes, centered on Wukang and Anfu roads.
Tip Rent a shared bike to cover more ground.
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Qingpu.
Photo: Valts Vitums · GoogleOutdoorsZhujiajiao Water Town
Canal town with stone bridges and old houses on Shanghai's western edge.
Tip Take Metro Line 17 and go on a weekday.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Shanghai in People's Square.
Photo: Angelo Saponaro · GoogleEatJia Jia Tang Bao
Plain local shop making xiaolongbao soup dumplings to order.
Tip Crab-and-pork filling is the specialty; go before lunch rush.
Photo: ChingHua Chuang · GoogleEatYang's Fried Dumplings
Local chain known for shengjian bao, pan-fried pork buns with crisp bottoms.
Tip Bite a small hole first; the soup is scalding.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Shanghai in Huangpu.
Photo: Kaptain Kerr · GoogleDrinkLong Bar at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai
Restored bar of the 1911 Shanghai Club on the Bund, known for its long counter.
Tip Smart casual dress expected.
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour in Dapuqiao.
Photo: lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0
How to fit Shanghai into a trip
Shanghai is stop 3 of 3 on our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route. Follow it as-is or lift Shanghai into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
Great Wall, Terracotta Army and the Bund
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Best season
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Xi'an
Getting here and onward
- Xi'an to ShanghaiXi'an is about 1,221 km / 759 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Shanghai month by month
Average daily highs run from 8°C / 46°F in January to 32°C / 89°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 195 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan8° / 46°F average high
- Feb10° / 50°F average high
- Mar14° / 58°F average high
- Apr20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- May25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun28° / 82°F average high
- Jul32° / 89°F average high
- Aug31° / 89°F average high
- Sep28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov17° / 63°F average high
- Dec11° / 51°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Shanghai weather and the best time to visit →
Shanghai questions, answered
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
Our route notes suggest 3 days in Shanghai. On our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 10-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 18 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Shanghai best known for?
China's financial hub, mixing colonial-era boulevards with a futuristic skyline. Stay 3 days. Standouts on our list: The Bund (Riverside promenade of 1920s banks and hotels facing the Pudong skyline); Yu Garden (Ming dynasty classical garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city); Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (Deck on the 118th floor of China's tallest building).
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route is best Apr – May, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (32°C / 89°F), the coolest in January (8°C / 46°F) and the most rain in June (about 195 mm).
What are the best things to do in Shanghai?
Start with The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower Observation Deck, Shanghai Museum and Former French Concession. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Shanghai?
Our picks: Jia Jia Tang Bao (People's Square); Yang's Fried Dumplings (People's Square). Crab-and-pork filling is the specialty; go before lunch rush (Jia Jia Tang Bao).
Plan Shanghai with your crew
Open the Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.