10 Things To Do In Shanghai: Don’t Miss Out!

Shanghai, a city defined by it’s large scale international business, florescent skyline and fast paced society.

A city inhabited by a mix of unimaginable wealth and forgotten maze-like alleyways. With a place as enormous and diverse as Shanghai, it may be quite hard to narrow down a list of things to see, so we’ll do it for you. Here are 10 things to do in Shanghai:

Stroll Down The Bund

The Bund is the riverwalk overlooking the skyline, and is the most photographed spot in Shanghai. Go at night to see the fluorescent buildings light up the sky. The farther you walk toward the right, the less crowded it will be for optimal viewing pleasure.

Find Your Peace at Yu Yuan Garden

Yu Garden was one of my favorite areas and is located in Old Shanghai. Complete with endless shopping and food stands, the traditional chinese buildings also hold an outdoor oasis away from busy downtown Shanghai. Go during the day for the garden, and at night for the shopping and to see the roofs festively glowing in the dark.

Take in the View from A Rooftop Bar

Most people recommend to visit the viewing decks at the Shanghai Oriental Tower or the Shanghai Financial Building. Personally, I would rather view downtown Shanghai from a bar, where my money at least pays for a cocktail. The World Financial Building and the Jin Mao Tower both have bars worth visiting on their top floors. You can buy a cocktail here cheaper than a viewing deck entrance fee. The World Financial Building is currently the 3rd tallest building in the world, and going there was the first time I had my ears pop on the way to a bar.

Attend the Shanghai Circus

I know this sounds super cliché, but the Shanghai Circus is actually pretty entertaining if you can afford it. Most of the acrobats are young kids, who prove to be pretty talented, not to mention fearless. I’ll add some videos of this when I’m out of China and can use Youtube.

Make Your Way To Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road can be described as China’s Times Square, a strictly pedestrian street adorned in plenty of fluorescent lighting and hosting most of the high end stores. It’s definitely a tourist target, but similar to Times Square, it’s also a must see.

Eat Local Shanghai Cuisine

The Chinese food in America isn’t a good representation of the actual food in China. Make sure to eat some traditional Shanghai dishes, such as crab xiao long baos (soup dumplings) and Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls)..both are SO GOOD. There is a particularly famous place for dumplings located in Yu Yuan Garden called Nan Xiang. Be prepared to wait in line. The most interesting dish is the giant xiao long bao where you can drink the soup with a straw.

Nan Xiang Address:

No. 218 Anren St Huangpu, Shanghai, China Daily opening hours 8:30 am–5:00 pm

Grab A Drink in Xintiandi

Xintiandi is the posh area of the city, filled with pedestrian streets, traditional stone gate houses and narrow alleyways. It is also the home to expensive shopping, eating and entertainment options, as well as outdoor cafes. Xintiandi is known as the bar and party district, so if you’re a fan of this blog, you probably want to head here. Although expensive, this area is more laid back than others found in Shanghai and I felt most at home here. It’s also great for people watching.

Go to a Local Village

Outside of Shanghai, there are several options for more traditional villages to get a sense of “Old China”. Do some research beforehand to see which ones you would like to visit. I went to Qibao and although I had an interesting time exploring the packed streets, trying out the street food, and taking a cruise on a river boat, it was a little touristy for my taste (I also went on a Saturday). This is the closest one to downtown Shanghai, about a half hour depending on traffic. If you have more time, you may want to visit one of these villages instead.

Dance at one of Shanghai’s “It Clubs”

Shanghai is famous for it’s crazy and high end club scene, so take yourself out for a night on the town at M2, M1nt, Muse, or any one of the many spectacular bars.

Discover the Backstreets of Old Southern Shanghai

Don’t let the distraction of sky scrapers and high end shops distract you from seeing Old Shanghai. Find your way through the mazelike backstreets to discover neighborhoods that will give you a better sense of how the locals live. These areas will soon be destroyed due to new developments, so go see them now.

Check Out the Crafts at Tianzifang

Tianzifang is known as the “artsy area”, holding a mix of galleries, coffee shops, tea houses, cafes and boutiques. It’s a charming neighborhood and the most creative part of the city. Although this area is trendy like Xintiandi, it doesn’t have the overly touched up exterior. Electricity cables are still strung overhead, and air conditioning units hang from the outside of buildings, adding to it’s overall appeal.