top of page
Search

My top 8 things to do in Shanghai

  • Writer: Aube Vandingenen
    Aube Vandingenen
  • Mar 30, 2024
  • 3 min read

A girl with jeans, a white tshirt and black jacket and sunglasses, smiling in front of a yellow, orange, chinese temple

Asia is not always easy to travel to, especially China. Thanks to my sport, I have seen a lot of Shanghai, and I will share my favorite things to do in Shanghai with you. If you only have a few days or even a day, make sure to visit a temple and the Yuyuan Garden!





1. Yuyuan Garden

The most magical place in Shanghai for me is definitely the Yuyuan Garden. It's a place where you can simply enjoy the beauty of traditional buildings or eat the best dumplings. It's also the place to be if you want to buy some souvenirs. Honestly, this is a place I often visit when I'm in Shanghai, as you always come across new things each time.



A view from a tower at night, there are several tall buildings with with lights, there is one big tower with a ball in the middle, the tower is red

2. Shanghai Tower

For 180 Yuan or 120 Yuan (23 and 15 euros) for seniors or students, you can visit the second tallest building in the world. The view is spectacular, and the speed at which you go up in the elevator is incredible. Is it worth the money? If you enjoy such a view and have always wanted to visit one of the tallest buildings in the world, then definitely! I would go in the evening because that's when the view is the most beautiful with the lights. You can also eat or drink something there, but these prices are naturally more expensive.


3. The Bund

A major attraction for tourists in Shanghai, but you have to see it once. There are a lot of restaurants on the Bund with very good ones, but again the prices are higher here. If you have a smaller budget, you can simply enjoy the view for free by the water, that's what I did too.



4. The Powerlong Museum

This museum has fantastic exhibitions that change every time. Check if there's one that interests you, but if you're a museum freak, this is definitely a must-visit.


5. Shanghai Qibao Town

Unfortunately, I couldn't visit this as I arrived too late, but this village is very nice and traditional. If you're already visiting the museum, it's great to combine. Make sure you're on time, the village closes at 5 pm.


6. Jing'an Temple

A wonderfully beautiful temple in the middle of the biggest shopping street in Shanghai, Nanjing Street. The entrance costs about 50 Yuan (6.30 euros), and it's definitely worth it. The temple is cozy, and many local people also come here to pray, which is cool to see.



7. Jade Buddha Temple

This temple is a bit larger and not in such a busy area. We didn't pay an entrance fee, but online I found that it costs 20 Yuan (2.6 euros) in some seasons. The temple, just like Jing'an Temple, is fantastically beautiful, and if you have the time, I would visit both, but if you have to choose, I would go for the other one.





Strawberries with sugar: 5 girls holding up a stick with strawberries

8. Enjoy the local street food

Enjoy, but be careful at the same time. I got sick after eating at a small local restaurant. If you're sensitive to your stomach, make sure you always eat food that is well-cooked or where you see enough local people present.



Tips:

  • Download Alipay but beware: After my trip to China last year, my card was blocked by my bank, so discuss this with your bank.

  • If you don't want an app associated with your card, make sure you have enough cash, as many places do not accept international cards.

  • Download Wechat for communication without a VPN.

  • Download a VPN: I use the 'Astrill' VPN, but it's quite expensive. Free VPNs sometimes work, but without certainty.

  • Download a translation app.

  • Get a SIM card or eSIM with data.

  • Download a taxi app 'Didi'.

  • When taking a regular taxi, make sure the meter is on.

  • Be careful with eating from certain places.

  • Negotiate the price!


Transport:

  • The metro works very well in Shanghai and is super cheap, between 3 and 5 Yuan (around 50 cents). On iPhone, you can easily see which metro to take with the 'Maps' app, otherwise, there are also metro apps in every station.

  • Taxis are also very cheap. Make sure you have the adress in Chinese letters, most taxis drives don’t know where to go otherwise.


Food:

  • Brut Eatery: When you're craving European food.

  • Nanxiang Steamed Bun restaurant in Yuyuan Garden for delicious dumplings.

  • The Xintiandi Area has many good restaurants (especially Western).

  • Kangning Peaceful Place: More expensive, but you won't get this quality in Europe for this money.

Comments

bottom of page