Last updated: March 2026. Hours and prices subject to change—verify before visiting.
Shanghai deserves three days. Not because it has so many "must-check-in" spots, but because this city needs time for you to understand its rhythm—the neon of the Bund and the clotheslines of longtang alleys, the coffee aroma of the French Concession and the cooking smoke of the old city, skyscrapers and shikumen coexisting on the same street.
This itinerary doesn't pursue "seeing all attractions," but helps you build an overall perception of Shanghai: Day 1 sees the collision of past and present, Day 2 experiences local life, Day 3 deep-dives into one theme.
At a Glance
| Day | Theme | Core Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The Bund & Lujiazui | Historic architecture vs. skyscrapers, Shanghai's visual core |
| Day 2 | French Concession & Old Town | Plane tree Shanghai vs. smoky-quartier Shanghai |
| Day 3 | Deep Theme Day | Art Deco architecture tour / Food deep-dive / Art district walk (choose one) |
Suggested Budget: ¥400–800/person/day (mid-range, excluding accommodation)
Day 1: The Bund & Lujiazui—Seeing Shanghai's Past and Present
Theme: Understanding Shanghai's core visual metaphor—historic Bund buildings facing off against Lujiazui skyscrapers across the river
Morning: Bund Historic Architecture (2–3 hours)
7:00–8:00 Sunrise Bund
- Why early: Avoid crowds, see the Museum of International Architecture in morning light
- Route: Start at Waibaidu Bridge, walk south to Jinling East Road Pier
- Key buildings:
- Waibaidu Bridge (classic photo spot for the "three-piece suit")
- Shanghai Mansions (former Broadway Mansions, Art Deco)
- Peace Hotel (lobby free entry, green roof is iconic)
- Customs House (bell tower chimes on the hour)
- HSBC Building (now Shanghai Pudong Development Bank)
Key Experience: Don't just stand on viewing platforms taking photos. Walk into Peace Hotel lobby, sit awhile, feel 1920s Shanghai luxury. This is free.
Noon: Nanjing East Road to People's Square (1.5 hours)
12:00–13:30 Lunch + Walking
- Lunch options:
- Dexing Hall (Guangdong Road)—Old-name local noodle shop, signature is fried fish noodles
- Shen Dacheng (Nanjing East Road)—Rice cake shop, double-filled and strip rice cakes
- Walking route: Nanjing East Road pedestrian street → People's Square
- Sights: Nanjing Road historic architecture (Yong'an Department Store, Sincere Building)
Key Insight: Nanjing East Road is a tourist street, but the historic architecture on both sides is worth looking up. These department stores were Asia's most modern shopping centers in the 1920s–30s.
Afternoon: Lujiazui Skyline (3 hours)
14:00–17:00 Cross River + Ascend
- Ferry: Bund Jinling East Road Pier → Lujiazui Dongchang Road Pier (¥2, better value than tourist tunnel)
- Ascend—choose one:
- Shanghai Tower (China's tallest, 118-floor observatory)
- Oriental Pearl (classic landmark, but most crowded)
- Shanghai World Financial Center (100th floor, glass skywalk)
Recommended: Shanghai Tower
- Why: Tallest, best views, relatively shorter queues
- Timing: Go up 1 hour before sunset, see sunset + night view
- Price: ÂĄ180 (118th floor)
17:30–18:30 Lujiazui Circular Pedestrian Bridge
- Free, best ground-level photo spot for the "three-piece suit" (Shanghai Tower, SWFC, Jin Mao)
- Low angle shots, smartphone works fine
Evening: Bund Night View + Dinner (2–3 hours)
19:00–20:00 Bund Night View
- Return to Bund from Lujiazui by ferry or metro
- Lighting time: 19:00 summer, 18:00 winter
- Focus: See Lujiazui lights across the river, contrast with morning's historic buildings
20:00–21:30 Dinner
- Option 1: Hyatt on the Bund·Xiang Hui (riverside restaurant, reservation needed, pricey)
- Option 2: Lao Zheng Xing (Fuzhou Road)—Old-name local cuisine, affordable
- Option 3: Yunnan Road Food Street—Food stall style, Xian De Lai pork chop with rice cakes
Day 1 ends. Return to hotel, rest up for Day 2.
Day 2: French Concession & Old Town—Two Kinds of Shanghai Life
Theme: Experiencing Shanghai's two sides—refined life under plane trees vs. smoky-quartier life in the old city
Morning: French Concession Walk (3–4 hours)
8:00–9:00 Breakfast: French Concession Café
- Recommendation: % Arabica (Wukang Road) or any independent café
- Experience: Like a local, drink coffee under plane trees, watch street life
9:00–12:00 French Concession Walking Route
- Start: Wukang Building (Metro Line 10/11 Jiaotong University Station)
- Route: Wukang Road → Anfu Road → Yanqing Road → Fumin Road → Changle Road
- Highlights:
- Wukang Road: Ba Jin's former residence, Huang Xing's former residence, various old villas
- Anfu Road: Independent bookstores, cafés, boutiques
- Turn into any alley: See real Shanghai residential life
Key Experience: The French Concession's charm is in "wandering aimlessly." Don't just walk main roads—turn into any interesting-looking longtang (alley), and you'll discover clotheslines, old-style toilets, neighbors chatting—the real Shanghai.
Noon: Huaihai Road Lunch (1 hour)
12:00–13:00
- Option 1: Guang Ming Village (Huaihai Middle Road)—Old-name restaurant, fresh meat mooncakes always have queues
- Option 2: Shanghai Old Restaurant (near Yu Garden)—Authentic local cuisine
- Option 3: Any mall food court on Huaihai Road—Convenient but ordinary
Afternoon: Yu Garden + Old Town (3 hours)
13:30–15:00 Yu Garden
- Ming Dynasty private garden, representative of Jiangnan gardens
- Admission: ÂĄ40
- Highlights:
- Grand Rockery (Ming Dynasty relic)
- Jade Exquisite (one of Jiangnan's three famous rocks)
- Dianchun Hall (Small Sword Society uprising headquarters)
15:00–17:00 Old Town Walk
- Exit Yu Garden, don't leave directly, head toward Xiao Dong Men, Dajing Road
- Sights:
- Dajing Pavilion (last remaining old city wall)
- Confucian Temple Road (used book market, weekends)
- Any small alley: See disappearing old city life
Key Insight: The old city is Shanghai's birthplace, now facing demolition and renovation. The chaos, crowding, and smoky-quartier atmosphere here is another Shanghai. Strong contrast with morning's refined French Concession.
Evening: Xintiandi or Tianzifang (2–3 hours)
18:00–21:00
- Xintiandi: Shikumen-renovated commercial district, Western food and bars, touristy but good atmosphere
- Tianzifang: More artsy, more crowded, small shops, cafés, galleries
- Dinner: Both areas have plenty of options, or return near hotel
Day 2 ends. Today you walked two completely different Shanghais.
Day 3: Deep Theme Day (Choose One)
Choose based on your interests:
Option A: Art Deco Architecture Tour
For: Those interested in architecture, history, design
Route:
- Morning: Bund historic architecture (Peace Hotel, Customs House, HSBC Building)
- Noon: Fuzhou Road lunch
- Afternoon: Wukang Road–Anfu Road area old villas
- Evening: Shanghai Exhibition Center (former Sino-Soviet Friendship Mansion, Stalinist architecture)
Option B: Food Deep-Dive
For: Foodies wanting deep understanding of Shanghai cuisine
Route:
- Morning: Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Road (xiaolongbao) → Xian De Lai on Yunnan Road (pork chop with rice cakes)
- Noon: Lao Ji Shi (Tianping Road)—Hongshaorou, reservation needed
- Afternoon: Rest at French Concession café
- Evening: Yuan Yuan (Huaihai Road) or any local restaurant
Key: Today's focus is "understanding sweetness." Shanghai cuisine's sweetness isn't sugar—it's soy sauce + sugar caramelized to enhance umami.
Option C: Art District Walk
For: Those interested in contemporary art, creative industries
Route:
- Morning: M50 Creative Park (Moganshan Road)—Galleries, artist studios
- Noon: Changshou Road or Jiangning Road lunch
- Afternoon: 1933 Old Millfun (former slaughterhouse, Art Deco industrial architecture) → North Bund riverside
- Evening: Yangpu Riverside (industrial heritage renovation, fewer people, good views)
Practical Information
Transportation
Getting Around:
- Metro: Covers all attractions, recommend buying transit card or using mobile payment
- Taxi: DiDi is convenient, but rush hour congestion is severe
- Walking: French Concession and Bund areas best for walking
Airport to City:
- Pudong Airport: Metro Line 2 (1 hour) or Maglev (8 minutes to Longyang Road, then transfer)
- Hongqiao Airport: Metro Line 2 or 10 (30–40 minutes)
Accommodation Suggestions
First Visit:
- People's Square/Nanjing East Road area—Most convenient transport, but noisy
- Huaihai Road/Shaanxi South Road area—Edge of French Concession, good atmosphere
- Near the Bund—Expensive, but good night views
Avoid:
- Lujiazui in Pudong—Boring at night, crossing river is hassle
- Remote suburbs—Daily commute wastes time
Avoiding Pitfalls
Don't:
- Eat at City God Temple snack street—Tourist prices, mediocre taste
- Queue 2 hours for Oriental Pearl—Shanghai Tower or SWFC is better
- Buy souvenirs on Nanjing East Road—All Yiwu goods
Do:
- Get up early for Bund sunrise—Worth it
- Walk into any alley—Most authentic Shanghai
- Give French Concession enough time—Needs slow walking
Three-Day Summary
In three days you'll see:
- Day 1: Shanghai's visual symbols—temporal dialogue between Bund and Lujiazui
- Day 2: Shanghai's two kinds of life—French Concession refinement vs. old city smoky-quartier
- Day 3: Deep dive into one theme—architecture, food, or art
After three days, you won't have "seen all" of Shanghai, but you'll begin understanding this city—it's not traditional China, not a Western copy, but its own thing.
Related Guides:
- Shanghai City Guide — Detailed accommodation, transport, food info
- Shanghai Street Food — Food guide for Days 2/3
- French Concession Walk — Detailed Day 2 morning route
- The Bund & Lujiazui — Detailed Day 1 guide
