attractions · Shanghai
Skip the filler. These are the sights that make Shanghai worth the flight, ranked by what millions of travelers actually rate highest.
Huangpu · $
This 1.5-kilometer riverside parade of 1920s neoclassical and Art Deco banks is the greatest colonial-era waterfront in Asia. Face east and the Pudong skyline across the water provides one of the planet's most photographed contrasts.
Insider tip: Walk it twice: once at 7am with the tai chi practitioners, once after dark when both skylines are lit.
Old City, Huangpu · $
A Ming dynasty classical garden from 1559, with dragon-topped walls, koi ponds and the famous zigzag Bridge of Nine Turnings at its entrance. The surrounding bazaar's lantern displays during Chinese New Year are a Shanghai tradition.
Insider tip: Enter right at 9am opening; by 11am the garden's narrow pavilion corridors are shoulder to shoulder.
Lujiazui, Pudong · $
The world's second-tallest building twists 632 meters above Pudong, with the 118th-floor 'Top of Shanghai' deck reached by elevators that hit 18 meters per second. From the top, the Jin Mao Tower and SWFC look like models at your feet.
Insider tip: Check the visibility before buying tickets and aim for a post-rain blue-sky day; sunset slots sell out first.
People's Square · $
Shaped like an ancient bronze ding cooking vessel, it holds China's finest collection of bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy, spanning 5,000 years. Entry is free, which is remarkable for a museum of this caliber.
Insider tip: Reserve a free timed slot online a few days ahead with your passport number; the bronzes gallery is the must-see.
Putuo · $
An active monastery housing two jade Buddhas carried from Burma in 1882, including a serene 1.95-meter seated figure carved from a single block of white jade. Saffron-robed monks still hold daily services amid the incense.
Insider tip: Visit mid-morning on a weekday and pay the small extra fee to see the seated jade Buddha up close.
Former French Concession · $
A warren of 1930s shikumen lane houses converted into craft studios, teahouses and bars while families still live above. It is the most atmospheric place to wander Shanghai's stone-gate alley architecture with a coffee in hand.
Insider tip: Go on a weekday morning before tour groups arrive and dip into the side alleys off the main three lanes.
March–May & September–November
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Mandarin, Shanghainese
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
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Good to know
Three full days covers the Bund, Yu Garden, the French Concession and a Pudong observation deck at a comfortable pace. Add a fourth day for a high-speed-rail trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou, both under an hour away.