Our answer
Skyline
Come for the city views; use it as a base for Suzhou and Hangzhou
The short answer
Shanghai is about the city itself: see Lujiazui and the riverside from the Bund at night, then Yu Garden and Jing’an Temple by day. Eat Cantonese dim sum, hotpot or Michelin-starred Chinese cooking. Stay near Lujiazui for the views, or by Hongqiao station if you are going on to Suzhou, Hangzhou or Nanjing.
| Must see | The Bund and Lujiazui at night; Yu Garden; Jing’an Temple |
|---|---|
| Stay for views | Lujiazui or another CBD |
| Stay to travel on | Hongqiao business district, next to the high-speed station |
| Suzhou / Hangzhou / Nanjing | About 23 / 52 / 70 minutes by fastest train from Hongqiao |
| Getting around | Metro and DiDi |
What to see
| Place | Chinese | Why go | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bund and Lujiazui | 外滩 · 陆家嘴 | The classic view: colonial-era buildings on one bank, the Pudong towers on the other | Go after dark; walk the riverside promenade (滨江大道) on the Pudong side for the reverse view |
| Yu Garden | 豫园 | A classical Jiangnan garden in the old city, with a busy bazaar around it | The bazaar streets are free to walk; the garden itself is ticketed. Book through the “Shanghai Yuyuan” WeChat account or at the South Gate office |
| Jing’an Temple | 静安寺 | A gilded Buddhist temple surrounded by shopping malls on Nanjing West Road | Combine with the Nanjing West Road shopping street |
Yu Garden also runs a ticketed evening tour on selected nights; times change by season.
Where we take friends to eat
Our editor’s picks, by budget. Shanghai has branches of many national chains, so these are names you will also see in other cities.[1]
| Budget | Restaurant | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Special occasion | Xin Rong Ji 新荣记 | Taizhou (Zhejiang) cooking; the Nanjing West Road branch holds one Michelin star (2026) |
| Special occasion | Ming Court 明阁 | Cantonese; one Michelin star (2026) |
| Special occasion | Fu 1088 福一零八八 | Shanghainese; one Michelin star (2026) |
| Special occasion | Da Dong 大董 | Peking duck; the Xuhui branch holds one Michelin star (2026) |
| Mid-range | Dian Dou De 点都德 | Cantonese dim sum chain |
| Mid-range | Zuo Ting You Yuan 左庭右院 | Fresh beef hotpot, Chaoshan style |
| Mid-range | Hen Jiu Yi Qian 很久以前 | Lamb skewers and barbecue |
| Mid-range | Chaoshan beef hotpot 潮汕牛肉火锅 | A whole category: look for busy local places |
| Mid-range | Jingyue Nanmen 京悦南门 | Beijing-style copper-pot mutton hotpot (涮肉); the quality of the meat is the draw |
| Mid-range | Qingnian Xingchu 青年星厨 | Shandong (Lu) cooking and roast duck, for less than Da Dong |
| Everyday | Lao Xiang Ji 老乡鸡 | Chinese fast-food chain; quick, cheap, reliable |
Most restaurants take Alipay or WeChat Pay. Use Dianping or Meituan to check opening hours and queues.
If you have a food allergy
Our editor’s advice: most food in China is worth trying, but if you have an allergy, ask about ingredients before you order and tell the staff. These phrases help; show them on your phone.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| I am allergic to ___. | 我对 ___ 过敏。 | Wǒ duì ___ guòmǐn. |
| Does this dish contain ___? | 这道菜里有 ___ 吗？ | Zhè dào cài lǐ yǒu ___ ma? |
| Please don’t add ___. | 请不要放 ___。 | Qǐng búyào fàng ___. |
| peanuts | 花生 | huāshēng |
| nuts | 坚果 | jiānguǒ |
| seafood | 海鲜 | hǎixiān |
| shrimp | 虾 | xiā |
| egg | 鸡蛋 | jīdàn |
| milk | 牛奶 | niúnǎi |
| wheat | 小麦 | xiǎomài |
Where to stay
| If you want… | Stay in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The skyline | Lujiazui, or another CBD such as Jing’an or the Bund | Views and night walks from the door |
| To travel on to Jiangsu and Zhejiang | Hongqiao business district | Next to Hongqiao station and airport; Suzhou North about 23 minutes, Hangzhou East about 52, Nanjing South about 70 by the fastest trains |
Chinese hotel chains our editor recommends: Atour 亚朵 and Ji Hotel 全季 (part of H World 华住). Both are comfortable mid-range options with good breakfasts. International chains and Chinese five-star brands are also widely available.
Getting around
The metro reaches almost everywhere visitors go, and Hongqiao station is one or two metro stops from Hongqiao airport (Lines 2 and 10). For taxis, use DiDi, which has an English version and accepts foreign cards; see our guide to China apps for visitors.[3][4]
Questions readers ask
How many days do I need in Shanghai?
Our editor’s view: the city sights fit into two or three days. Many visitors then use Shanghai as a base for Suzhou or Hangzhou.
Is Yu Garden free?
The bazaar and old streets around it are free. The garden itself needs a ticket, booked through the Shanghai Yuyuan WeChat account or at the South Gate.
Is it safe to eat in Shanghai with a food allergy?
Ask about ingredients before ordering and tell the staff about your allergy. Our phrase table above shows how to say it in Chinese.
Where should I stay in Shanghai to visit Suzhou and Hangzhou?
Near Hongqiao station. The fastest trains reach Suzhou North in about 23 minutes and Hangzhou East in about 52.
Which Shanghai restaurants have Michelin stars?
Many. In the 2026 guide Taian Table is the city’s only three-star restaurant; our picks Xin Rong Ji (Nanjing West Road), Ming Court, Fu 1088 and Da Dong (Xuhui) each hold one star.
Sources
- Rachel Gouk, Michelin Guide Shanghai 2026: full list of starred restaurants (selection announced 9 April 2026) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- Shanghai Municipal Government, Yuyuan Garden unveils new tour experience (29 July 2025) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- China Highlights, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station train schedule · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- Trip.com, How to use DiDi in China as a foreigner (30 October 2025) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
Update log. 25 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 23 January 2027. Suggest a correction