14 Best Things to Do and See in Shanghai
Exploring Shanghai on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Shanghai, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Shanghai. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower is one of Shanghai’s most recognizable landmarks on the banks of the Huangpu River. This iconic tower attracts visitors with its futuristic architecture and distinctive spheres, offering spectacular views over the city, Pudong and the surrounding skyscrapers. Inside, visitors can usually find observation areas, tourism facilities and a very urban atmosphere, ideal for admiring Shanghai by day or night. It is an essential stop for understanding the energy of China’s great metropolis.
2. Bund
The Bund is one of Shanghai’s most iconic landmarks, famous for its riverside promenade along the Huangpu River and its panoramic views of the modern city. Here you’ll find a collection of historic buildings in Western architectural styles, reminders of the city’s commercial past, set in striking contrast to the Pudong skyline visible across the river. It is a pleasant place to walk, admire the architecture, photograph the waterfront, and experience Shanghai’s unique atmosphere, where historic heritage meets contemporary energy.
3. Yuyuan Garden
Located in the heart of Shanghai’s Old Town, Yuyuan Garden is an elegant traditional Chinese garden that invites visitors to stroll and reflect. It features pavilions, ponds, curved bridges, rockeries, and carefully maintained greenery, all arranged in a refined composition typical of classical gardens. The whole site offers a peaceful escape in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle, with plenty of architectural and landscape details to admire. It is a favorite spot for its serene atmosphere and authentic charm.
4. Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland is a vast theme park located in Shanghai, China, that immerses visitors in the Disney universe with attractions, shows, and immersive themed lands. Visitors can enjoy roller coasters, family-friendly rides, colorful parades, and encounters with iconic characters. The park also offers restaurants, shops, and well-designed walking areas, making it suitable for visitors of all ages. It is an ideal leisure destination for a fun-filled day in a magical, modern setting.
5. Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower is one of Shanghai’s most iconic skyscrapers, located in the Lujiazui district. With its slender, twisted silhouette, it stands out in the city’s modern skyline. A visit focuses on the observation decks, which offer spectacular views over the nearby towers, the Huangpu River and, on clear days, much of the metropolis. The building also impresses with its contemporary architecture and its role as a major landmark in Shanghai’s skyline.
6. Tianzifang
Tianzifang is a lively artistic district in Shanghai, set in the narrow lanes of the former French Concession. It features a maze of tight lilong lined with traditional houses, now home to craft shops, cafés, galleries, studios, and small restaurants. The atmosphere feels both local and tourist-friendly, with a more intimate feel than the city’s large shopping malls. It’s a great place to wander, observe neighborhood life, and find original souvenirs.
7. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is a major science museum in Pudong, in one of the city’s modern districts. It features exhibitions on a wide range of scientific and technical themes, presented in a way that is easy for visitors to understand. Travelers can explore nature, technology, innovation and the world of science. Thanks to its scale and location, the museum is one of Shanghai’s key cultural attractions.
8. Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourist Zone
Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourist Zone reveals the atmosphere of an old water town in Shanghai’s Qingpu District. Visitors can explore canal-lined traditional houses, stone bridges, narrow lanes and a cityscape shaped by water. The site reflects a historic landscape where local architecture, river travel and walking routes create a distinctive heritage setting.
9. Waitan Sightseeing Tunnel
The Waitan Sightseeing Tunnel is one of Shanghai’s most unusual tourist sights, linking the Bund area to Pudong beneath the Huangpu River. More than a simple passage, it offers an immersive crossing with light effects, colorful projections, and a futuristic atmosphere that turn the ride into a small attraction in its own right. It’s a unique way to experience Shanghai from another perspective, between two iconic riverbanks, while enjoying a fast and fun transfer. The tunnel is especially popular with visitors looking for an offbeat experience in the heart of the city.
10. Century Park
Located in Shanghai’s Pudong district, Century Park is one of the city’s largest green spaces and offers a pleasant escape from the bustle of urban life. Visitors will find wide lawns, lakes, shaded paths and landscaped gardens, ideal for walking, cycling or having a picnic. The park attracts both locals and visitors looking for peace and quiet, with varied scenery and beautiful viewpoints to relax in nature in the heart of the metropolis.
11. Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai Museum, located in the heart of Shanghai, is one of China’s major art museums. Its collections offer a broad overview of Chinese culture, with ancient bronzes, ceramics, porcelain, sculptures, calligraphy, paintings and jade objects. A visit lets you discover the evolution of the arts and craftsmanship through different periods, in a modern and well-organized setting. It is an ideal stop to better understand the richness of China’s heritage while enjoying one of the city’s must-see cultural attractions.
12. Jing’an Temple
Jing'an Temple offers a striking view of Shanghai, where a Buddhist place of worship rises in the middle of one of the city’s busiest areas. Visitors can admire traditional roofs, richly decorated facades, prayer spaces and a peaceful atmosphere that contrasts with the nearby shopping avenues. The site is as valued for its religious significance as for its role as a heritage landmark in the urban center. It is a place where architecture, spiritual practice and modern Shanghai meet very visibly.
13. People’s Square
Located in the heart of Shanghai, People's Square is a large public and landscaped space that offers a pleasant break in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle. Visitors will find wide pathways, lawns, carefully maintained flower beds, and shaded areas ideal for walking or relaxing. The park is surrounded by major cultural and administrative landmarks, making it a central reference point in the city. Popular with both locals and visitors, the square invites you to observe the rhythm of Shanghai in an open and lively setting.
14. Fuxing Park
Fuxing Park is an urban park in Shanghai where visitors discover a green space set within the dense Huangpu district. Its paths, trees, and lawns create a peaceful place for a walk, popular with locals. The park is as much about its atmosphere as its place in the historic and residential fabric of central Shanghai. It offers a simple, authentic glimpse of everyday neighborhood life in Shanghai.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
