Shanghai for First Time Visitors
Shanghai was the first Chinese city I traveled to and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Ten years ago, even though the city wowed me with its architecture, food, and art scene, navigating the city was a bit of a challenge. In recent years, as the city continually improves its infrastructure, it has become incredibly easy to take the subway to different neighborhoods and high speed trains to other cities throughout China. Across the Huangpu River, even more futuristic skyscrapers have been built in the glitzy Pudong Lujiazui financial district, making Shanghai’s skyline look like it’s in the year 3000!
Shanghai is the perfect city in China to explore if you are a first time visitor to the country. It’s easy to get around via the metro system within the city, and Hongqiao railway station connects you to other Chinese cities. If you’re buying or collecting tickets at the station counter, you’ll need to show your passport as a form of identification. Make sure you have it handy and don’t make the same mistake I did!
There are a plethora of things to do in Shanghai depending on your interest. For first time visitors, here are some of the must-see spots to get you started.
Yuyuan Garden
This gorgeous classical garden dates back to 1577, when it was a private garden of the Pan family in the Ming Dynasty. The Chinese word Yu means pleasing and satisfying in English, and the garden was built for the parents of Pan Yunduan, a government official, for them to relax in their old age. The garden has bridges, pagodas, archways, rockeries, and even elaborate carvings of warriors and dragons on top of the roofs.
After finding your way through the massive and bewildering Yuyuan Bazaar, you will buy a ticket at the counter to enter Yuyuan Garden. If you end up going on a weekend, the area will be incredibly crowded with tourists from across China. There are dozens of souvenir shops and restaurants in the bazaar, and right in the heart of it, there’s a famous soup dumplings stall that has a line down the block. Once you get into the gardens though, it will be much more tranquil.
Metro Station: Yuyuan Station (line 10). Take exit 1.
Entrance Fee: April – June & Sept – Nov: 40 RMB. July, Aug and Dec: 30 RMB. Free for kids under 1.3m
Opening Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
I never thought I would put Starbucks down as a worthy attraction to visit, but the Shanghai Starbucks Reserve Roastery is simply spectacular! At 30,000 sq ft, it used to be the largest Starbucks in the world until a Starbucks Roastery in Tokyo dethroned it this year. When you step inside, you’re first greeted by a huge tank with Chinese characters written on it and a gorgeous ceiling composed of 10,000 handmade wooden hexagon-shaped tiles. The ceiling also has tubes transporting beans from one spot to the other, although I’m not sure if they’re actually going to specific spots or they are there purely for decorative purposes.
The first floor has a bakery selling all sorts of European breads and pizzas, and the second floor has specialty bars for cold brews, hot brews, and even tea for non-coffee drinkers. The drinks there are expensive of course, but it’s worth a visit it if you’re able to get a table and relax in coffee heaven.
Metro Station: West Nanjing Road
Opening Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Shanghai Marriage Market at People’s Park
Ten years ago, my friend and I stumbled upon this park on our way to a museum. We were confused as to why there were all these elderly people sitting there with handwritten signs pasted on boards and umbrellas. Turns out it was a literal marriage market – a real-life Tinder event but the parents are the ones doing the swiping! I didn’t think the matchmaking market would still be around in this day and age of online dating, but these relentless parents are still there holding onto tradition! Their children’s names, photos, ages, occupations, and even university degrees are posted for all to see.
The marriage market started in 2004 and parents have to pay a small fee to advertise their children. It only happens on weekends from noon to 5 p.m., not unlike a farmers market, and it was quite lovely to see parents mingling with one another. Perhaps it’s just an excuse for them to have a social life and get out of the house! There are other things to see at this park besides the marriage market. There are ponds, statues, and even an interesting sound-proof container where you can rent the space by the hour and play the various instruments. If you’re an art lover, The Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated in the park.
Metro Station: People’s Square Station
Opening Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. (Marriage Market)
Sun-Thu, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fri – Sat, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Museum of Contemporary Art)
The Bund
The Bund, a mile-long stretch of waterfront promenade, encapsulates the magnetic personality of Shanghai. On the promenade side of the Huangpu River lies the colonial past of the city housed in 52 buildings of Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical styles. Known as the “museum of buildings,” you can learn about Shanghai’s colonial history by visiting the Astor House Hotel, or enjoy a drink and live jazz music at Peace Hotel. This side of the river shows you the history of Shanghai whilst the other side shows you the future. Futuristic skyscrapers reach for the heavens in a massive display of modernity and enterprise.
The best time to visit the Bund is actually right before the sunset. You can secure a good spot along the promenade to watch the sunset and wait for the light show from the skyscrapers that comes on after it becomes dark. It does get really crowded around 8 p.m. so plan accordingly!
Metro Station: East Nanjing Road Station
Opening Hours: 24 hours, but skyscraper lights shut off at 10 p.m.
Pudong Lujiazui (Financial District)
To get to the glittery futuristic buildings, you can take a ferry from the Bund to the other side of the river. Buy your tickets at the counter by the Bund Ferry Wharf (or Dongjin Ferry Line Pier) and they cost only 2 yuan a ticket! The ride lasts 5 minutes and drops you a 15 minute walk away from the heart of Lujiazui.
Shanghai Tower
At 632 meters (2,073 ft) with 128 stories, Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the second tallest building in the world, next to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The observation deck is on the 118th floor and has a 360-degree dizzying view of the entire city. The also tower boasts the fastest elevator in the world that will take you to the 118th floor in 55 seconds! Tickets are 160 RMB for adults and 120 rmb for students and seniors. The tower is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Standing at 420 meters (1,380 ft), the 88-story Jin Mao Tower is the third tallest building in Shanghai. The observation deck on the 88th floor has a feature for daredevils to partake in – a glass-bottomed skywalk at the edge of the building! Tickets to the deck itself costs 120 RMB for adults and 60 RMB for children, but the skywalk prices are much higher at 388 RMB!
If you prefer to relax indoors, you can get drinks and snacks at the Grand Hyatt’s Cloud 9 bar on the 87th floor. If you go early enough, you might be able to secure a table right next to the window for a gorgeous view of the city. If you’re not a hotel guest, you will have to pay a cover charge of 150 RMB per person, which will go towards paying for the drinks and snacks you order. Considering it’s almost the same price for the observation deck tickets, it’s a bargain to get food and drinks as well.
Starting on the 58th floor, the Grand Hyatt has a dramatic golden barrel-vaulted atrium that extends from the 56th floor to the 87th floor. Jin Mao means golden prosperity in Chinese, and the interior of the Grand Hyatt absolutely exemplifies the overall “bling” theme of this magnificent building.
Metro Station: Lujiazui
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