How I Spent 3 Days in Shanghai, China [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Shanghai, home to more than 24 million people, is one of the world’s largest cities and one of the most influential in Asia. Initially a fishing village and later a treaty port during the First Opium War, Shanghai has become one of China’s largest cities and a global financial, economic, and trade hub.

Today, Shanghai is best known for its impressive and futuristic skyline, world-class shopping, innovative technology, incredible nightlife, and fantastic food scene. The city also blends Eastern traditions with Western influences, evident in its cuisine, architecture, art, and fashion.

Although I have visited Shanghai once before (when I was living in China after graduating from university), it has been nearly a decade. When the opportunity arose to visit Shanghai while my wife and I were bouncing around Asia, I immediately took it.

Here’s an in-depth look at how we spent 3 days in Shanghai, China, one of the best cities in the world.

Arriving in Shanghai

Shanghai is served by 2 international airports: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is much closer to Shanghai and serves mostly domestic and regional international flights within East Asia. Meanwhile, Shanghai Pudong International Airport serves both domestic and international flights, including all flights from the U.S.

You can fly nonstop between several U.S. airports and Shanghai (PVG) on 4 different airlines:

Where To Stay in Shanghai

Shanghai is a massive and spread-out city covering more than 6,000 square kilometers (about 2,300 square miles). Although the city is divided into 16 districts, there is no single downtown district. However, many consider Huangpu to be the center of Shanghai.

The city has many accommodations ranging from budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses to luxurious 5-star hotels, including many Western hotel chains (across Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and many more).

My wife and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo. Putuo is another Shanghai district, in the northwestern part of the city. While the hotel was fine, I wouldn’t stay in the area again, as there wasn’t much to do and it was a bit too far from most of Shanghai’s tourist attractions.

The Bund

The Bund is a riverside promenade in the Huangpu district of Shanghai that offers spectacular views of the city skyline. It is the heart of historical Shanghai and features many historic buildings. The area also has numerous shopping malls, restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Of course, numerous luxury hotels are in the Bund area, including the Peninsula Shanghai, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, W Shanghai—the Bund, Hyatt on the Bund, Regent Shanghai on the Bund, Hotel Indigo on the Bund, and Westin Bund Center, Shanghai. Although not right on the Bund, the Shanghai EDITION is just a few blocks away.

Lujiazui Area

Lujiazui is Shanghai’s Central Business District in Pudong, east of the Huangpu River, home to many international banking institutions and Fortune 500 company offices.

You will find many of Shanghai’s most iconic towers here, including its 4 most famous towers: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Shanghai Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Lujiazui has many of the city’s best and most luxurious hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, Park Hyatt Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, and Regent Shanghai Pudong.

People’s Square and Nanjing Road

Nestled in the Huangpu area, People’s Square is within walking distance of major attractions, such as the world-famous Nanjing Road shopping street. The area is home to some of Shanghai’s best shopping malls and restaurants.

Of course, the area around People’s Square has numerous hotels, including many luxury properties. Western hotel chains include Conrad Shanghai, JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square, Shanghai Marriott Marquis City Centre, and Crowne Plaza Shanghai Nanjing Road.

Jing’an Area

Many consider Jing’an to be the heart of Shanghai. The area has restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping malls, and nightlife venues. Its grid-style layout makes it very walkable.

The area has many tourist attractions, including the Jing’an Temple, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Jing’an Sculpture Park, and the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

Luxury hotels include the Sukhothai Shanghai, an SLH hotel, the St. Regis Shanghai Jingan, Hotel Indigo Shanghai Jingan, Alila Shanghai, and the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai.

Day 1

After arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Tokyo, my wife and I were ready to explore Shanghai. However, before we could get to the city, we needed to purchase transportation cards.

At the airport, I purchased 72-hour transportation cards at the airport metro station ticket booth for ¥45 (about $6). With these cards, we could take all the metro lines in Shanghai without limit for 72 hours after the first use. 

After purchasing our transportation cards, we were ready to use Shanghai’s world-class metro system. Currently, 20 subway lines are in operation.

Jing’an Temple

Our first stop in Shanghai was Jing’an Temple, a Tangmi Buddhist temple commonly called the Temple of Peace and Tranquility. It is one of China’s most famous and historically significant Buddhist temples.

The original temple was first built in the Wu Kingdom in 247 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms period. Originally located beside Suzhou Creek, it was relocated to its current site in Jing’an in 1216 during the Song dynasty.

The temple was destroyed in the 1970s during the Cultural Revolution. The temple was built in its current form in 1983.

The temple featured 3 main halls: the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, and Three Sage Hall. All of the halls were lined with impressive Buddha statues. The Mahavira Hall contained a nearly 30-foot, 15-ton silver Buddha.

Each hall also contained artwork depicting traditional Buddhist scriptures. These artworks conveyed the teachings, values, and stories of Buddhism through visual form.

Jing’an Temple also had upper walkways that we could explore. From these platforms, we got excellent views across the temple grounds and numerous modern buildings in the background.

Jing’an Temple sits on top of Jing’an Temple Station, a major hub of the entire metro system, and is a stop on lines 2, 7, and 14. The temple is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has a ¥30 ($4) admission fee.

Hot Tip:

You’ll find lots of guided tours and excursions in Shanghai on Viator, an activity booking platform that’s part of Tripadvisor.

Jade Buddha Temple

Fascinated by the Jing’an Temple, we visited another important temple not too far away: the Jade Buddha Temple, one of Shanghai’s few active Buddhist monasteries.

The temple was built in 1882 during the Qing Dynasty by a Buddhist monk named Huigen. He returned to China after traveling to Tibet, India, and Burma, where he acquired 5 jade Buddha statues. Huigen built the temple to store 2 of the jade Buddha statues.

The original temple was largely destroyed during the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which ended China’s last imperial dynasty (Qing dynasty). The current temple was built in 1918.

The temple’s hallmark was the 2 jade Buddha statues. The Sitting Buddha statue depicted the Buddha in meditation and enlightenment, and the Reclining Buddha represented the Buddha’s death.

The temple featured 3 main sections: the Chamber of Four Heavenly Kings, the Grand Hall, and the Jade Buddha Chamber. Each section contained numerous Buddhist statues, paintings, sculptures, and artworks.

Since the temple is still active, many local Chinese Buddhists were there burning incense and praying.

The Jade Buddha Temple is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a ¥20 ($3) admission fee to enter the temple grounds. Tourists must pay an additional ¥10 ($1.50) to see the jade Buddha statues. The temple is a short walk from Changshou Station and Jiangning Road Station.  

People’s Park

Next, we headed to People’s Park, a public park in the Huangpu District. The park is built on the grounds of the former Shanghai Race Club, which was established by the British in 1862 and served as a horse racing arena and popular gambling spot.

Today, the park is a serene place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. It has various walking trails and lakes, and my wife and I spent nearly 2 hours people watching.

People’s Park is home to the Shanghai Marriage Market, a weekend marriage market where the parents of unmarried adults gather in the park to matchmake for their children.

People’s Park is a short walk from People’s Square Station, a stop on metro lines 1, 2, and 8.

The Bund

Along the western bank of the Huangpu River in the Huangpu District, the Bund is arguably Shanghai’s most iconic and scenic spot. It stretches just under a mile and is lined with more than 50 historical buildings in various architectural styles, including neo-Gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and art deco.

However, the Bund is best known for offering the best views of Shanghai’s modern skyline across the river in Pudong. From the Bund, you can see many of Shanghai’s landmarks, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Jin Mao Tower.

However, the Bund is even more magical when the sun begins to set and both sides of the river light up. I remember coming to Bund every night on my first trip to China nearly 10 years ago, as the views are just incredible.

The Bund is a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience the best views of Shanghai.

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

To end the day, we headed to Nanjing Road, China’s premier shopping street. It starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west near Jing’an Temple, serving as a bridge between 2 of Shanghai’s most important districts: Huangpu District and Jing’an District.

Nanjing Road is widely regarded as the most commercial street in all of China, similar to the Champs-Élysées in Paris or Fifth Avenue in New York City. The street has numerous modern, multilevel shopping malls, flagship stores, specialty stores, theaters, international hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

I was interested in visiting specialty stores, including the showroom for Stelato, a premium Chinese electric vehicle brand.

If these cars were ever brought to the U.S., they would absolutely dominate the market. No manufacturer in the U.S. can combine advanced technology, refined design, and incredibly competitive pricing like this.

Nanjing Road is an incredibly long street in China. To reach East Nanjing Road, take lines 2 or 10 and get off at East Nanjing Road Station. To reach West Nanjing Road, take lines 2, 12, or 13 to West Nanjing Road Station. Most of the shops on Nanjing Road are open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Day 2

After a great first day in Shanghai, we wanted to learn more about the city’s (and by extension, the country’s) history.

China Art Museum

The China Art Museum in Shanghai was formerly known as the Shanghai Art Museum and was established in 1956. In 2012, the museum moved to its current home, the iconic China Pavilion of the 2010 World Expo.

The China Pavilion building is 63 meters (206 feet) tall and features traditional architectural details. 

The China Art Museum exhibitions cover 64,000 square meters (nearly 16 acres) and house over 14,000 pieces of artwork, including oil paintings, prints, Chinese paintings, sculptures, and modern Chinese art.

The museum is extensive and spread across several levels. Since there was so much on display, we spent our time looking at the larger art pieces.

The China Art Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Mondays (except on national holidays). Admission to the museum is free, but guests must pay to access special exhibitions.

The museum is within walking distance of Yaohua Road Station on Line 7 and China Art Museum Station on Line 8.

Longhua Temple

Next, we headed to Longhua Temple, another Buddhist temple and Shanghai’s most historic and largest ancient temple complex dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha, also known as the Future Buddha.

The temple was first built in 242 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms period. According to legend, Sun Quan, king of Wu, obtained Buddha’s cremated remains. To house the relics, he ordered the construction of several pagodas, and Longhua Pagoda was one of them.

The temple features the 131-foot-tall Longhua Pagoda, which consists of 5 halls built according to the Sangharama Five-Hall Style of the Chan Buddhist sect.

Although the temple complex was destroyed and later reconstructed in the Northern Song dynasty, it preserves a Song dynasty architectural style. The temple was again renovated in the mid-20th century.

One of the highlights of the temple is the massive Maitreya Buddha statue.

The temple has over 100 other Buddha statues, as well.

The Longhua Temple is open daily between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and has a ¥10 ($1.50) admission fee. It is easily accessible via Longhua Station, a stop on metro lines 11 and 12.

Longhua Martyrs’ Memorial Hall

Next, we went to the Longhua Martyrs’ Memorial Hall, less than a 5-minute walk from Longhua Temple. This is a memorial built for the communist victims of Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the site where the Longhua Martyrs’ Memorial Hall stands was the Kuomintang Prison, where hundreds of communists were executed. It was later a large Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Today, the Longhua Martyrs Memorial Hall is somewhat of a shrine to those who fought for communism before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China and those who suffered in the Japanese internment camps.

Longhua Martyrs’ Memorial Hall is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge to enter the memorial hall. It is a short walk from Longhua Station, a stop on lines 11 and 12 on the metro.

Day 3

For the last day in Shanghai, I wanted to visit a part of the city that was relatively unknown to tourists on my prior trip and end the day in a familiar part of the city.

M50 Creative Park

We started the day by visiting M50 Creative Park, a contemporary art district in Shanghai that is home to numerous art studios and some of the best street art in the city. The name refers to its actual address, 50 Moganshan Rd., and is often shortened to M50.

The area used to be a major textile factory but today there are more than 120 art galleries and studios.

I was more interested in graffiti, as I think it is the best way to see a city’s creative side. Best of all, the graffiti is created by many artists, which allows them to showcase their vision.

Most art galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and most are closed on Mondays. M50 Creative Park is less than 10 minutes from Jiangnin Road Station and Zhongtan Road Station.

1000 Trees Shanghai

Next, we headed to 1000 Trees Shanghai, a mixed-use development that opened in 2021. The complex boasts many shops, restaurants, cafes, museums, art galleries, and public spaces, and is next to M50 Creative Park along scenic Suzhou Creek.

The complex contains 2 massive structures with over 1,000 columns supporting the structure covered in trees (hence the name).

1000 Trees was created to become a 1-stop retail entertainment destination. It resembles tree-covered mountains, paying homage to Huangshan Mountain, from which its developers drew inspiration.

1000 Trees Shanghai is less than 10 minutes from Jiangnin Road Station and Zhongtan Road Station.

Lujiazui

To end our final day in Shanghai, we headed to Lujiazui, the heart of Shanghai’s financial district and commercial center. Here, we found numerous modern skyscrapers, which give the city its distinct skyline.

Lujiazui is in the heart of the Pudong District, on the east side of the Huangpu River and directly across from the Bund, the city’s old financial and business district. In 1992, Lujiazui was allocated as a special investment zone, which led to its becoming Shanghai’s new financial district.

Today, it is one of the world’s busiest and most prosperous neighborhoods and is often called the Wall Street of China. Lujiazui is home to the headquarters of numerous multinational companies and some of the world’s largest banking and financial institutions.

We spent the majority of 2 hours walking around Lujiazui, looking for spots to capture up-close pictures of the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower and to see if we could find fun things to do.

While Lujiazui’s many iconic towers make for some great photo opportunities, there aren’t many tourist-friendly activities in this neighborhood, since it’s essentially a business district.

Walking the streets of Lujiazui, you can really begin to appreciate how modern Shanghai has become, with some of the world’s tallest and most iconic skyscrapers.

To reach Lujiazui, take Line 2 to Lujiazui Station.

Shanghai’s Famous Foods

Shanghai is well-regarded worldwide for its delectable cuisine and refined style. It is best known for its sweet and savory flavors, thanks to Shanghainese cuisine’s use of soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. Dishes also emphasize a variety of seafood and vegetables.

You can book different types of food tours in Shanghai through Viator.

Xiao Long Bao

Xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, are arguably Shanghai’s most famous food. They are filled with minced pork (sometimes other meats like crab or shrimp) and a rich broth inside a steamed dumpling. They are often seasoned with ginger, green onion, and sesame oil.

Sheng Jian Bao

Sheng jian bao is a famous street food in Shanghai. It consists of pan-fried buns containing minced pork and pork aspic, which becomes a broth when cooked. It is similar to xiao long bao, but with thicker and crunchier buns.

Hong Shao Rou

Hong shao rou is braised pork belly in a red sauce made mainly of soy sauce, sugar, and wine. It is another iconic Shanghai dish. The dish is typically served with cinnamon, scallions, and cloves.

Final Thoughts

Shanghai is a fantastic megacity known for its striking contrast between old and new. The city does an incredible job of blending traditional Chinese culture with modern innovation.

The city has so much to offer, including one of the most iconic skylines worldwide. I cannot wait to revisit Shanghai soon. I hope I don’t have to wait nearly a decade to visit again.