The Bund

This former financial district offers great views of futuristic Pudong and its glittering skyscrapers across the Huangpu River and the old colonial bank buildings along The Bund now house some of the city’s chick restaurants. They’re expensive but the view you’re afforded is stunning.
   

Yuyuan Garden
 
This is a must stop for all tourists. The lovely garden dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is one of the main gathering spots in this bustling city for tourists and locals alike. It has some great local restaurants and the fish pond is a real treat.
 

Fairmont Peace Hotel

Even if you don’t stay at this landmark property – and we strongly suggest you do – drop by for a drink or a meal and marvel at its Art Deco interior which just recently underwent a billion dollar facelift. You’ll get a great view of Pudong from the property’s lavish Chinese restaurant.
   

Oriental Pearl Tower
 
We don’t like most communications towers that cities build but the Pearl Tower on the Pudong side of Shanghai is the best of the bunch. Its unusual design is very unique and the view you get of the Bund from 466 metres up is quite stunning. Try to get there around sundown.

 

Walk Under the River

One of the great thrills is to walk under Shanghai’s Huangpu River in the pedestrian tunnel that was built to connect the Bund with Pudong. It’s 646 metres long and you’re whisked along by high speed people movers. The kids will love it!
   

Visit a Nearby Water Town
 
There’s plenty close to Shanghai and they offer great insight into what life was like hundreds of years ago in China. There are several about an hour’s drive from Shanghai – you can also access them by high-speed trains – and our favourite is Wuzhen, which dates back 1,300 years and looks like it’s locked in time.
 

French Concession

This is the area that the French lived in when they ran things in Shanghai. Now known as the Luwan and Xuhui districts, the area still maintains its Parisian charm with lots of lovely parks. Some of the old French homes are being transformed into chic boutique hotels and they cost much less than the chain hotels in the Bung and Pudong areas. The French Concession is also home to a lot of great restaurants and bars.
   

Nanjing Road
 
This is the action centre of Shanghai and in recent years has been transformed into a great outdoor pedestrian shopping mall. Think of this as Shanghai’s 5th Avenue with a lot more affordable shops. It really comes alive when darkness falls on the city.

 

Food

Make sure you try some of the cuisine that was made famous in this city – Shanghaies food is much different than what you’ll find elsewhere in China and the people here are proud of their food choices. The Xintiandi area of the city offers some great restaurant choices and it’s one of the most historic areas of the city.
   

Climb a Skyscraper
 
The world’s tallest buildings are located in Shanghai’s Pudong District and the view you get from places like the World Financial Centre are really breathtaking.