City Guide: Three Days in Shanghai

Shanghai is a city that has a lot going on, whether is be from the incredibly busy streets, sparkling skyline or the millions of people that make their way to explore this part of China. It’s home to estimated 24 million people, and was our first stop on our mainland China Tour.

We had three days to explore this metropolis, and were excited to start fighting our way through the crowds to see the top tourist attractions as well as explore the backstreets to find our own hidden gems.

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Our Guide to Shanghai

Getting Around

Shanghai can be daunting when trying to navigate your way around, however the public transportation is extremely reliable. Like we do in most cities, we stuck to the subways and taxi’s and got around with ease.

Navigation App’s to Download: To make getting around even easier, we’d suggest downloading these two Apps: Explore Shanghai Metro Map and China Taxi-Book.

Most taxi drivers don’t speak English and the Taxi-Book has common phrases and popular tourist destinations written in Mandarin which you can show the driver. Also, be sure to get your hotel’s name and address written out in Mandarin to show your taxi driver. Remember, when it comes to navigating a new city, think smart not hard :).

 

Top Attractions: Our Must See and Do

1. People’s Park: When most people think of Shanghai they think of one of the most populated cities in the world and the Financial Center of China… Parks are probably not the first thing to come to mind, but we’re suckers for a nice park in the middle of a big city… People’s Park is just that. It’s located right near People’s Square and towards the south end of Nanjing Road, making it an easy stop along the way. Keep a look out and you might even see some locals practicing their Tai Chi!

2. Shanghai Museum: After you’re done taking a walk through People’s Park, cross the street and check out the Shanghai Museum. It’s dedicated to ancient Chinese art and has some pieces dating back several thousand years! It’s also air conditioned which we were very appreciative of after walking around the park in 90+ degree weather.

3. Nanjing Road: Holding the title of the worlds largest shopping district (roughly 5.5 km long), Nanjing is definitely a place to visit for those who like to shop. The stores range from luxury products to bargain buys making it easy to find pretty much anything you’re looking for. Just be ready to fight through the crowds though as this area is known to attract nearly a million shoppers PER DAY!

4. The Bund: Referred to as the “Heart of Shanghai”, the Bund is located at the end of Nanjing Road on the waterfront region of central Shanghai. It’s known for it’s colonial-era buildings and a great place to take in the spectacular views of the Shanghai CBD, including the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. We visited the Bund both during the day and at night, and it is MUCH busier after the sun goes down, but the views are worth fighting through the crowds.

5. Explore the CBD: After taking some pictures of the CBD from the Bund take the MTR over and explore the Financial District on foot. There is a ton to see, and as mentioned above the highlights include the incredible Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center. If you want a really unique view of Shanghai, check out the observation deck on the top of the Shanghai World Financial Center for a birds-eye view of the city.

Also if you have time stop at Yang’s Dumpling located in the heart of the Financial District. Yang’s specializes in pan fried dumpling and has become extremely popular throughout Shanghai. Just don’t ask for the recipe… it’s top secret!

6. The French Concession: Want to get a taste of Europe while visiting Shanghai? Then head over to the area known as the French Concession. With it’s beautiful tree-lined avenues, interesting architecture, and abundant cafes and local shops, it’s a place you could easily wander around for hours (much like the streets of Paris). The French Concession was established for the French government from 1849 until 1946 and has a unique charm you just can’t find anywhere else. Take a walking tour, grab a bite to eat and enjoy this picture perfect area.

Where to eat in the French Concession: The trendy restaurant, Lost Heaven, is great place to grab dinner while exploring this area. They specialize in Yunnan cuisine and offer some great choices if you’re looking to try something new. It’s definitely a little nicer than your average restaurant and with it’s romantic low lightening it could be considered the perfect date spot too.

Accommodation

While spending three days in one of the most visited (and crowded) cities in China, we happily retreated to the Grand Kempinski at the end of each day. The Grand Kempinski, located in the Financial District, is one of the buildings that lights up the famous Shanghai skyline and truly is a hotel that takes elegance, luxury, and hospitality to the next level.

The Grand Kempinski boasts views that give you the best of both worlds; look out one window and your met with sleek skyscrapers from the financial district, and in the opposite direction you can watch boats pass by The Bund on the Huangpu River.

During our stay, we had the opportunity to get comfy and cozy in the Deluxe Bund View Room. Our room had views of the Huangpu River and combined both luxury and comfort.

In addition to our room, the Grand Kempinski has all the facilities needed to kickback and relax after walking 10+ miles in day (no, that is not an exaggeration). Whether it be taking a dip in the pool, getting a foot massage with views of the Pearl TV Tower, or making your way up to their panoramic bar, Red Passion, and toasting to the incredible view. The Grand Kempinski has plenty to offer guests looking to make the best of their time in Shanghai!

Thank you Grand Kempinski for hosting us during our stay in Shanghai.

As always, our opinions are our own as we Talk Travel.