1. Classic landmarks (must check in)
1. The Bund (International Architecture Expo)
- Tickets: Free, open all day
- Highlights: 52 century-old European-style buildings, beautiful night views and lights, and a three-piece view of Lujiazui across the river
- Transportation: Metro Line 2/10 Nanjing East Road Station
- Tips: Watch the light show from 19:00–21:00; don’t take the sightseeing tunnel (low cost performance)
2. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Century-old commercial street, where time-honored brands and trendy brands gather, making it a one-stop shop for shopping and eating.
- Transportation: Metro Line 2/10 Nanjing East Road Station
3. Oriental Pearl Tower
-Tickets: starting from 199 yuan (263-meter sightseeing floor + transparent corridor)
- Highlights: 360° overlooking Shanghai, the fully transparent observation deck is exciting
- Transportation: Lujiazui Station of Metro Line 2
4. Lujiazui (three-piece set)
- Tickets: Free (appearance); Shanghai Center "Shanghai Top" 180 yuan
- Highlights: Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, modern skyline
- Transportation: Lujiazui Station of Metro Line 2
2. Old Town and Gardens (ancient charm)
1. Yu Garden (Famous Garden in Jiangnan)
- Tickets: 40 yuan (peak season), 30 yuan (off season)
- Highlights: Ming Dynasty Jiangnan gardens, pavilions, rockery ponds, antique style
- Transportation: Yuyuan Station of Metro Line 10
2. City God’s Temple (Yuyuan Mall)
-Ticket: 10 yuan (temple); free in the mall
- Highlights: Ming and Qing style ancient buildings, Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, Ligao Tang and other snacks gathered here
- Transportation: Yuyuan Station of Metro Line 10
3. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (Jiangnan Water Town)
-Tickets: free (ancient town); combined ticket 60 yuan (including attractions)
- Highlights: small bridges, flowing water, blue bricks and black tiles, taking a hand-cranked boat to visit the water town, away from the hustle and bustle
- Transportation: Zhujiajiao Station of Metro Line 17
4. Qibao Old Street
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Thousand-year-old ancient town, dense snacks (glutinous rice balls, mutton, braised glutinous rice balls), and plenty of fireworks
- Transportation: Qibao Station of Metro Line 9
3. Literary Street (Internet celebrity check-in)
1. Wukang Road (Old Wutong House)
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: The core of the French Concession, Wukang Building (the filming location of "Lust, Caution"), former residences of celebrities, and Internet celebrity cafes
- Transportation: Jiaotong University Station on Metro Line 11
2. Anfu Road + Hengshan Road
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Wutong Avenue, trendy brand buyer stores, and drama art center, with a strong literary and artistic atmosphere
- Transportation: Changshu Road Station of Metro Line 1/7
3. Tianzifang (Shikumen Art Lane)
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Renovation of old Shikumen, handicraft shops, galleries, cafes, and photo shoots
- Transportation: Dapuqiao Station of Metro Line 9
4. 1933 Laochangfang (industrial style)
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Renovation of the original slaughterhouse, concrete dome, spiral staircase, filming location of "Tiny Times", dark photography mecca
- Transportation: Hailun Road Station of Metro Line 4
4. Pudong Modern (technology and future)
1. Shanghai Disney Resort
-Tickets: Starting from 435 yuan (regular days), make a reservation 1 day in advance
- Highlights: fantasy castle, float parade, firework show, a must-see for parents and children and fairy tales
- Transportation: Disney Station on Metro Line 11
2. Shanghai Planetarium
-Tickets: 30 yuan, reservation required
- Highlights: Universe exhibition area, dome theater, astronomical telescope, strong science popularization
- Transportation: Dishuihu Station of Metro Line 16
3. Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park
-Tickets: starting from 334 yuan
- Highlights: killer whale show, undersea tunnel, Ultraman theme pavilion, the first choice for parents and children
- Transportation: Lingang Avenue Station of Metro Line 16
4. Expo Cultural Park
-Tickets: Free (reservation required); Shenyuan 20 yuan
- Highlights: Eleven-hole Bridge ("Shanghai Broken Bridge"), Shen Garden (Jiangnan Garden), Twin Mountains, good cycling and night views
- Transportation: Metro Line 13 Shibo Avenue Station
5. Museums and Culture (mainly free)
1. Shanghai Museum (People’s Square)
-Tickets: Free, reservation required, closed on Mondays
- Highlights: The collection of bronzes, calligraphy and painting, and ceramics is top-notch, and the bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasties are the treasures of the museum.
- Transportation: People's Square Station of Metro Line 1/2/8
2. Shanghai Museum of Natural History
-Tickets: 30 yuan, reservation required
- Highlights: Dinosaur fossils, African animal specimens, interactive exhibition areas, a good place for parent-child science popularization
- Transportation: Natural History Museum Station on Metro Line 13
3. Shanghai History Museum
-Tickets: Free, reservation required
- Highlights: Displaying the history of Shanghai from its opening to modern times, rich in cultural relics and images
- Transportation: People's Square Station of Metro Line 1/2/8
4. Sihang Warehouse Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall
-Tickets: Free, reservation required
- Highlights: Songhu Anti-Japanese War site, bullet hole wall, historical exhibits, patriotic education base
- Transportation: North Tibet Road Station of Metro Line 8
6. Temples and prayers (places of meditation)
1. Jing’an Temple
-Ticket: 50 yuan
- Highlights: Thousand-year-old ancient temples, Golden Buddha and Jade Buddha, a place of tranquility and prayer in the midst of the hustle and bustle
- Transportation: Jing'an Temple Station of Metro Line 2/7
2. Longhua Temple
- Tickets: 10 yuan; Longhua Tower 5 yuan
- Highlights: The oldest temple in Shanghai, a thousand-year-old pagoda, with strong incense and popular for New Year prayers
- Transportation: Longhua Station of Metro Line 11
3. Temple of the Emerald Buddha
-Ticket: 40 yuan
- Highlights: 1.9-meter white jade statue of Sakyamuni, Southeast Asian style architecture, Buddhist art masterpieces
- Transportation: Jiangning Road Station of Metro Line 13
7. Countryside and parks (relaxation)
1. Gucun Park (Sakura)
-Tickets: 20 yuan; Cherry Blossom Festival 30 yuan (March-April)
- Highlights: Spring cherry blossom sea, children's playground, barbecue area, great place for outing
- Transportation: Gucun Park Station on Metro Line 7
2. Guhua Park
- Tickets: Free
- Highlights: Jiangnan garden style, pavilions, rippling lakes, beautiful scenery with few people
- Transportation: Metro Line 5 Huancheng East Road Station
3. Shanghai Wildlife Park
-Tickets: starting from 165 yuan
- Highlights: National treasure giant panda, beast area, animal performances, popular family tours
- Transportation: Subway Line 16 Wildlife Park Station
8. Classic route for 5-7 days (efficient and no detours)
Day1: Classic city center
- Morning: Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street → The Bund (see the International Architecture)
- Afternoon: Yuyuan Garden → City God Temple (visiting the garden + eating snacks)
- Evening: Night view of the Bund → Huangpu River cruise (see the lights on both sides of the strait)
Day2: Literary Xuhui + Jing’an
- Morning: Wukang Road (Wukang Building) → Anfu Road
- Afternoon: Tianzifang → Shanghai Museum (free)
- Evening: Jing'an Temple (night view from the outside) → Shopping on Nanjing West Road
Day3: Pudong Modern
- Morning: Oriental Pearl Tower → Lujiazui (three-piece suit check-in)
- Afternoon: Shanghai Center "Top of Shanghai" → Binjiang Avenue
- Evening: See the night view of Lujiazui across the Bund
Day4: Full day at Disney
- Full day: Shanghai Disney Resort (opening and entry, fun activities + watching floats + fireworks show)
Day5: Water Town Ancient Town
- Full day: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (visiting the water town + riding a hand-cranked boat + eating grandma’s rice dumplings)
Day6: Popular Science + Parenting
- Morning: Shanghai Museum of Natural History → Shanghai Planetarium
- Afternoon: Expo Cultural Park (Eleven-hole Bridge + Shen Garden)
- Evening: Expo Riverside Walk
Day7: Niche ending
- Morning: 1933 Laochangfang → Sihang Warehouse
- Afternoon: Stroll around Wukang Road → Buy souvenirs
9. Food pitfalls (recommended by locals)
- Local dishes: Renhe Guan (rice with crab noodles), Lvbo Lang (dim sum), Nanxiang Xiaolong (Yuyuan store)
- Snacks: Chenghuang Temple pear paste candy, Qibao glutinous rice balls, Zhujiajiao grandma rice dumplings, Xiaoyang fried rice dumplings
- Avoid pitfalls: Don’t go to the overpriced restaurants around the Bund; don’t ride in the sightseeing tunnel; don’t believe in black cars and cheap cruises
10. Practical tips
- Transportation: The subway covers 90% of the scenic spots, and you can get the "Metro Metropolis" ride code with Alipay/WeChat
- Reservations: Popular attractions such as museums, Disney, and planetariums must make reservations 1–3 days in advance.
- Season: March-May (spring flowers), September-November (clear autumn air) are the best; June-August is hot and rainy, December-February is wet and cold
Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qkihbZdIoMwExcNE0UVWyA