Carry the passport used to book
Train, hotel, museum and some attraction bookings use real-name details. Carry the original passport and make every English name match its machine-readable page.
Official foreign-traveller guide →Cross the river once, then stay in one neighbourhood.
Shanghai is easy by metro but exhausting when every day zigzags across the Huangpu. These routes group Old City and the Bund, Pudong, the former French Concession, Hongkou and the western districts into clear walks, with ticketed museums and observatories booked first.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
One city-walk map before you choose
The Bund is the central river anchor. Lujiazui is directly east across the Huangpu; Yu Garden lies south; People's Square and Jing'an run west; Hongkou sits north and the former French Concession spreads south-west.
TOP SIGHTS
What to see in Shanghai
The Bund (外滩)
The Bund in Shanghai: the colonial waterfront with the Pudong skyline across the river, best at night, how to…
Read guide →Former French Concession (上海法租界)
Former French Concession guide: plane-tree lanes, the Wukang Mansion, cafés and boutiques, how to get there…
Read guide →Jing'an Temple
A detailed Jing'an Temple guide for foreign visitors: metro access, admission, Buddhist etiquette, photography…
Read guide →Lujiazui Skyline
A detailed Lujiazui guide for foreign visitors: choose one observatory, walk the Pudong skyline, ride the…
Read guide →Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum guide: free world-class bronzes and ceramics on People's Square, timed tickets, how to get…
Read guide →Nanjing Road (南京路)
Nanjing Road guide: the car-free neon shopping street linking the Bund and People's Square, how to get there…
Read guide →Tianzifang
A detailed Tianzifang guide for foreign visitors: the best walking loop, Line 9 access, payment, respectful…
Read guide →Xintiandi
A detailed Xintiandi guide for foreign visitors: shikumen architecture, metro access, restaurant reservations…
Read guide →Yu Garden (豫园)
Yu Garden guide: a 400-year-old classical garden inside the old town bazaar, how to get there, tickets, and…
Read guide →Zhujiajiao Water Town
A detailed Zhujiajiao day-trip guide for foreign visitors: Line 17, free old-town access, boat pricing, a…
Read guide →BEFORE YOU GO
Shanghai essentials for foreign visitors
Shanghai is China's easiest large city for a first visit, but the correct passport booking, museum branch, airport and payment method still matter.
Tap a supported card on the metro
Shanghai's network accepts supported contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay cards. Keep one card per passenger and tap the same card in and out.
Official metro payment update →Confirm the museum branch
Shanghai Museum exhibitions and booking can involve different venues. Check the full address, opening day and passport procedure before navigating—“Shanghai Museum” alone is not enough.
Open the museum guide →Choose one Pudong observatory
Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl are separate paid experiences. Buy only after checking visibility; low cloud can erase the view even when the attraction stays open.
Open the Lujiazui guide →Use the metro, not the sightseeing tunnel
Line 2 and the public ferry are practical ways to cross the river. The sightseeing tunnel is an entertainment ride, not the fastest transport between the Bund and Lujiazui.
See the river-crossing plan →Know PVG from SHA
Pudong (PVG) is the main international airport east of the city; Hongqiao (SHA) is beside the main high-speed-rail hub in the west. Save terminal and airport code before booking a car.
Official airport-rail service update →Stay by Line 2 or Line 10
People's Square/Nanjing Road is simplest for a first trip; the former French Concession is quieter. Show the original passport at check-in and confirm the hotel can complete guest registration.
Official accommodation guidance →Set up phone payment plus backup
Link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, keep a physical bank card and carry small RMB cash. Test one small payment before relying on the apps for dinner or DiDi.
Official overseas payment guide →Keep one rain or museum-swap day
Typhoons, heavy rain, Monday closures and poor tower visibility can change the plan. Move free neighbourhood walks around the fixed museum, show or water-town booking.
Open the flexible seven-day plan →Planning information checked 10 Aug 2026. Reconfirm live exhibitions, opening days, ferry service, weather and ticket rules before travel.