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5-Day Shanghai Itinerary

5-Day Shanghai Itinerary

TL;DR — Five days in Shanghai (上海) is the right amount for a first visit. It covers the Bund (外滩), Yu Garden (豫园), the French Concession (法租界), Tianzifang (田子坊), the Pudong Skyline (陆家嘴), and 2 day trips (Suzhou 苏州 + Zhujiajiao 朱家角 or Hangzhou 杭州). The city is walkable, metro-connected, and most sights are in 3–4 clusters. Best months: April–May and October–November.

Day 1: The Bund + Pudong

Morning (09:00–12:30): The Bund

  • 09:00 — Metro Line 2 or 10 to Nanjing East Road (南京东路), exit 5. Walk 5 min to The Bund (外滩).
  • 09:30 — The Bund (外滩): 1.5 km of 1920s–1930s colonial European architecture along the Huangpu River (黄浦江). The 52 heritage buildings include the Peace Hotel (和平饭店) (1929, art-deco), the Customs House (江海关大楼) (1927, Big Ben-style clock), and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank (汇丰银行大楼) (1923, "from Suez to Shanghai the most imposing building").
  • 11:00 — Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (外滩观光隧道), ¥50 one way. The "noisy kitsch" tourist ride under the river, with neon and lasers. Cheaper alternative: the metro (¥3).
  • 12:00 — Bund Historical Museum (外滩历史纪念馆), ¥20. The Bund's history from 1844 to today. 30 min.

Lunch

  • 12:30 — Lost Heaven (花马天堂) on the Bund for Yunnan food, or M on the Bund (米氏西餐厅) for Western with a view. ¥150–300/person.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Pudong Skyline

  • 14:00 — Bund Tourist Tunnel OR metro to Lujiazui (陆家嘴), Line 2.
  • 14:30 — Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦), ¥180. The 632-m, 128-floor tallest building in China and second-tallest in the world. Skip-the-line ticket online. The 118th-floor observation deck is at 546 m. 1.5 hours.
  • 16:00 — Shanghai World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心), ¥150. The 100th-floor "sky walk" at 474 m on a glass floor.
  • 17:00 — Jin Mao Tower (金茂大厦), ¥120. The 88th floor. Optional, but the view at sunset is the best of the three.
  • 18:00 — Walk to Riverside Promenade (滨江大道) for the Bund and Pudong night view — the famous skyline lit up.

Evening

  • 19:30 — Dinner at Hai Di Lao (海底捞) hot pot (Pudong branch) or Jade Shanghai (苏浙汇) for Shanghainese. ¥120–200/person.
  • 21:00 — Bund Cruise (浦江游船), ¥120, 1 hour. The classic Shanghai night cruise. Book ahead at bundcruise.cn or via hotel.

Day 2: Yu Garden + Old City + French Concession

Morning (09:00–12:30): Yu Garden + Old City

  • 09:00 — Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden (豫园), exit 1.
  • 09:30 — Yu Garden (豫园), ¥40 (peak) / ¥30 (off-peak). A 5-acre Ming-dynasty classical garden (1559), the most visited garden in Shanghai. The Grand Rockery (大假山) is the most famous feature. 1.5 hours.
  • 11:00 — Yu Bazaar (豫园商城), the surrounding area. City God Temple (城隍庙) for snacks: Nanxiang Steamed Bun (南翔小笼), Crab Shell Pastry (蟹壳黄), Sweet Lotus Root (桂花糖藕). ¥50–80/person for snacks.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): French Concession

  • 14:00 — Metro Line 1 to Shaanxi South Road (陕西南路), exit 4.
  • 14:30 — Wukang Road (武康路): the most loved street in Shanghai. Wukang Mansion (武康大楼), a 1924 ship-shaped art-deco building at the corner. Walk the 1.8-km "Most Beautiful Street" between Wukang Road and Hengshan Road.
  • 16:00 — Tianzifang (田子坊), free (some shops charge). A maze of shikumen (石库门) lane houses converted into art studios, cafés, and boutiques. 1.5 hours.
  • 17:00 — Walk Sinan Mansions (思南公馆), free, an open-air museum of restored 1920s villas.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Lost Hell (Lost Heaven on the Bund) or Di Shui Dong (滴水洞) Hunan. Or Commune Social (小聚) for tapas-style modern Chinese. ¥150–250/person.
  • 21:00 — Xintiandi (新天地), a converted shikumen district with bars and restaurants. Drinks at Bar Rouge for the rooftop Bund view (dress code after 22:00).

Day 3: Shanghai Museum + Jing'an Temple

Morning (09:00–12:30): Shanghai Museum

  • 09:00 — Metro Line 1 or 2 to People's Square (人民广场), exit 1.
  • 09:30 — Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆), free (real-name booking, shanghaimuseum.net). 4 floors covering bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, jade, furniture, coins, and Ming/Qing furniture. 3 hours. The bronze gallery is the highlight.
  • 12:00 — Walk 10 min to Nanjing West Road (南京西路) for lunch.

Lunch

  • 12:30 — Da Hu Chun (大壶春) for sheng jian bao (生煎包), the classic Shanghai pan-fried pork buns. ¥30–50/person.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Jing'an + Former French Concession depths

  • 14:00 — Jing'an Temple (静安寺), ¥50. A 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple in the middle of skyscrapers. 1 hour.
  • 15:00 — Jing'an Sculpture Park (静安雕塑公园), free. Modern sculptures, 30 min.
  • 16:00 — Ferguson Lane (高邮路/武康路): a quiet shopping lane with 4 restored 1930s villas. Coffee at % Arabica or Manner Coffee (the local chain that started here).
  • 17:00 — Walk or taxi to Xujiahui (徐家汇) for the Cathedral of St. Ignatius (徐家汇天主堂), free, the largest Catholic church in Shanghai. 30 min.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Jesse Restaurant (吉士酒家) for classic Shanghainese (red-braised pork 红烧肉, drunken crab 醉蟹) or Fu 1088 (福1088) for upscale. ¥150–400/person.
  • 21:00 — Shanghai Acrobatic Show (ERA 时空之旅), ¥280–580. The 90-min acrobatic performance. Highly recommended.

Day 4: Zhujiajiao Water Town (Day Trip)

Full day (08:00–18:00)

  • 08:00 — Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao (朱家角), 1 hour from People's Square, ¥6.
  • 09:00 — Zhujiajiao Water Town (朱家角), ¥80 (combo). 1,700-year-old canal town, 36 stone bridges, gondola rides ¥150/boat. 4 hours.
  • 13:00 — Lunch at the Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥) area: Zongzi (粽子, rice dumplings), Braised Pork Knuckle (扎肉), Yellow Wine Steamed Egg (黄酒蒸蛋). ¥50–80/person.
  • 15:00 — Kezhi Garden (课植园), ¥20. The largest private garden in Zhujiajiao.
  • 16:00 — Yuanjin Buddhist Temple (圆津禅院), ¥10. A 700-year-old temple by the water.
  • 17:00 — Return metro.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Hongqiao Pearl City (虹桥古玩城) or Tianyaoqing Road (天钥桥路) for dinner. Or back to downtown for a farewell meal at Mr & Mrs Bund (外滩夫妇) — the modern French restaurant with a Bund view. ¥400–600/person.

Day 5: Suzhou OR Hangzhou Day Trip

Option A: Suzhou (苏州) — Gardens

  • 07:30 — HSR from Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) to Suzhou (苏州), 25 min, ¥40 second class.
  • 09:00 — Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园), ¥90 (peak) / ¥70 (off-peak). The largest classical garden in Suzhou, 5.2 hectares, UNESCO World Heritage. 1.5 hours.
  • 10:30 — Lion Grove Garden (狮子林), ¥40. Famous for its rockeries. 1 hour.
  • 11:30 — Pingjiang Road (平江路), free. The 1.6-km historic canal street. Lunch here.
  • 12:30 — Lunch: Song He Lou (松鹤楼) for squirrel-style mandarin fish (松鼠桂鱼). ¥80–150/person.
  • 14:00 — Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆), free. Designed by I.M. Pei, the museum itself is the highlight. 1.5 hours.
  • 15:30 — Gusu Old Town (姑苏区) for silk shopping or Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) — the temple of the famous "Night Mooring by Maple Bridge (枫桥夜泊)" poem. ¥20.
  • 17:00 — HSR back to Shanghai. Arrive ~18:00.

Option B: Hangzhou (杭州) — West Lake

  • 07:30 — HSR from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (杭州东), 1 hour, ¥73.
  • 09:00 — West Lake (西湖), free. The 6.4-km lake. Rent a bike (¥20/hour) and cycle the Su Causeway (苏堤) and Bai Causeway (白堤).
  • 11:00 — Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺), ¥75 (incl. Fei Lai Feng). 1.5 hours.
  • 12:30 — Lunch: Lou Wai Lou (楼外楼) for Dongpo Pork (东坡肉) and West Lake Vinegar Fish (西湖醋鱼). ¥150–300/person.
  • 14:00 — Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔), ¥40. Climb for the lake view. 1 hour.
  • 15:30 — Longjing Tea Plantation (龙井村), free. Walk the tea terraces, buy tea at the village. 1.5 hours.
  • 17:00 — HSR back to Shanghai. Arrive ~18:30.

Practical info

  • Airports: Pudong (PVG) for international; Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic. Pudong Maglev: 7 min, ¥50. Hongqiao Metro Line 2/10: 30–60 min.
  • Hotels: Stay in Jing'an, French Concession, or near People's Square. Mid-range: ¥500–800/night. Luxury (Peace Hotel, Peninsula): ¥2,000+.
  • Best season: April–May and October–November. Cherry blossoms in April. Avoid the National Day week (Oct 1–7) — Shanghai is the most-visited domestic city.
  • Metro: ¥3–7 for most trips. Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card at any metro station (¥20 deposit, refundable).
  • Language: Most metro signs and tourist-area staff speak English. Use Pleco dictionary and a translation app for restaurants.

Budget estimate (5 days)

| Item | Per person (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (4 nights, mid-range) | 2,000–3,200 | | Food (5 days) | 600–900 | | Transport (metro + HSR to Suzhou) | 250 | | Tickets (skyscrapers, museums, garden) | 800 | | Shows (ERA acrobatic, Bund cruise) | 400 | | Total (excl. international flight) | 4,050–5,550 |

Verify with: 12306.cn for HSR tickets, shanghaimuseum.net for free-entry booking, and the Shanghai Metro website (shmetro.com) for any service disruptions during typhoon season (August–September).