China Shanghai Tours

Shanghai Tours explore China's largest city, a Yangtze River Delta metropolis that grew from a modest fishing and trading settlement into one of the world's major financial centers within little more than a century. The Huangpu River divides the city into two distinct faces: the colonial-era waterfront of the Bund on one bank and the futuristic Pudong skyline on the other. Shanghai's mix of nineteenth-century architecture, tree-lined former concessions and contemporary skyscrapers makes it one of the more visually varied cities in China.

Whether visited on its own or alongside other stops on a wider China itinerary, Shanghai offers sightseeing that ranges from riverfront walks and classical gardens to museums and nearby water towns. Its size and transport links also make it a practical base for day trips into the surrounding Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

The Bund and the Pudong Skyline

The Bund is a mile-long stretch of early twentieth-century buildings that once housed foreign banks and trading houses, built when Shanghai operated under international concessions. Across the river, Pudong's skyline includes the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai Tower, which at 632 meters is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Observation decks in several of these towers give views back across the river toward the Bund's older facades, and many visitors cross between the two districts by ferry rather than the metro for a closer look at the water traffic on the Huangpu.

Yu Garden and the Old City

Yu Garden, laid out during the Ming dynasty in the sixteenth century, preserves a classical Chinese garden of pavilions, rockeries and koi ponds within walking distance of the Bund. The surrounding old city streets, centered on the City God Temple, are lined with shops and food stalls selling Shanghai specialties such as xiaolongbao soup dumplings.

The Former French Concession

West of the old city, the former French Concession retains tree-lined streets, low-rise brick townhouses and a slower pace than the rest of central Shanghai. Cafes, boutiques and art spaces now occupy many of the concession-era buildings, and the district is a common stop for visitors interested in the city's early twentieth-century history.

Shanghai Tour Packages

Shanghai Tour Packages typically combine the Bund, Pudong observation decks, Yu Garden and the old city into a single itinerary, often with an evening river cruise included. The 3 Days Shanghai Tour Package is one option covering the city's main sights over a multi-day stay, with time built in for both the historic districts and the modern skyline.

Day Trips from Shanghai

Shanghai's location within the Yangtze River Delta puts several well-known destinations within reach for a day trip. Zhujiajiao, a canal town about an hour from the city center, preserves Ming and Qing dynasty bridges and waterside houses, while Suzhou's classical gardens and Hangzhou's West Lake are both accessible by high-speed rail in under an hour.

Getting to and around Shanghai

Shanghai is served by two major airports, Pudong and Hongqiao, with Pudong connected to the city center by a maglev train capable of reaching 430 kilometers per hour. High-speed rail from Hongqiao station links Shanghai to Beijing in around four and a half hours and to nearby cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou in under an hour, while an extensive metro network covers most areas visitors are likely to explore.

Museums and Local Culture

The Shanghai Museum, on People's Square, holds one of the country's leading collections of bronze, ceramics and calligraphy spanning several dynasties, and serves as a common stop for visitors interested in Chinese history beyond the city itself. Nanjing Road, running from People's Square toward the Bund, remains one of the busiest shopping streets in China, its pedestrian section lined with department stores, historic shopfronts and street performers. Shanghai's cuisine draws on both local Jiangnan traditions and the city's history as an international port, with dishes such as red-braised pork and drunken chicken served alongside the soup dumplings found throughout the old city.

Best Time to Visit Shanghai

Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather to Shanghai, with mild temperatures well suited to walking tours along the Bund and through the old city. Summers are hot and humid with occasional typhoon-related rain, while winters are cool and damp rather than cold, making March through May and September through November the more popular windows for sightseeing.