Shanghai 3-Day Itinerary: Historic Sites to Modern Marvels
Source:
@The Ultimate Travel Guide
18 places on the map
Explore the map in the DocentPro app18 places in Shang Hai Shi: Shanghai French Concession Needle General Yard Former Site, The Bund, Shanghai Old Street, and 15 more. Every place is verified on Google Maps, featured in a YouTube post by The Ultimate Travel Guide.
Shanghai French Concession Needle General Yard Former Site
Scenic spot
4.6
• Known for its charming, tree-lined streets, cafes, and historic apartment buildings. • Provides a calm and intimate version of Shanghai, particularly around South Shaanxi Road, Changshu Road, or Wukang Road. • Recommended for first-time visitors seeking a balance of convenience and atmosphere.
The Bund
Historical place
4.7
• Offers spectacular views of the Huangpu River and the futuristic Pudong skyline. • Features monumental banks, hotels, and commercial buildings from the city's early 20th-century trading era. • Best experienced by walking along the promenade, allowing for continuous changing views of the skyline and historic buildings.
Shanghai Old Street
Landmark
4.5
• One of Shanghai's most visited districts, especially the area around Yu Garden. • Arriving early in the day provides a better experience before it gets too crowded. • Explore the surrounding lanes and soak in the atmosphere, but avoid spending too much time browsing souvenir stores.
Yu Garden
Botanical garden
4.5
• Features a compact, detailed, and intentionally layered design. • Ponds disappear behind walls, rock formations hide small courtyards, and windows frame different scenes. • Admission costs around $6 during peak season months and about $4.50 during lower season. ✓ Closed on Mondays, except during certain public holidays; check operating hours before visiting.
Dongchang Road Ferry
Ferry service
3.9
• Take a public ferry across the Huangpu River for a river-level view of The Bund and Pudong. • A pedestrian ticket costs about $0.30, a simple money-saving trick to enjoy the view.
Shanghai Tower
Landmark
4.6
• Located on the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower, offering panoramic views more than 1,700 feet above the city. • Admission is around $27, but it's advisable to check visibility (low cloud or heavy haze) before buying tickets to avoid disappointment. • Recommended to arrive an hour before sunset to experience the city in daylight, blue hour, and then the illuminated cityscape at night.
Wukang Mansion
Place
4.4
• A distinctive wedge-shaped building and one of Shanghai's most photographed historical landmarks. • The neighborhood around it, Wukang Road, is an experience in itself with tree-lined streets, historic apartment buildings, old villas, cafes, and small stores. • Visit early in the morning for a much calmer experience.
Wukang Road
Place
• Tree-lined streets with historic apartment buildings, old villas, cafes, and small stores. • Offers a more intimate version of Shanghai compared to the modern skyline. • The neighborhood itself is the experience, encouraging leisurely walks rather than checking off attractions.
Anfu Road
Place
• Features boutiques, cafes, and local residents, creating a lively neighborhood atmosphere. • A good place to slow down, stop for coffee, and observe daily life in Shanghai. • Offers a neighborhood-level perspective of Shanghai, contrasting with the enormous skyline.
Jing'an Temple
Buddhist temple
4.4
• Creates a dramatic contrast in central Shanghai with its traditional architecture amidst modern skyscrapers. • Features incense-filled courtyards and Buddhist halls. • Jing'an Temple is closed on Mondays, except during certain public holidays; check operating hours.
Nanjing Road (W)
Place
• One of Shanghai's busiest commercial streets with shops and bright lights. • Offers an abrupt transition between the traditional and modern aspects of the city. • A place to experience the vibrant atmosphere without needing to spend hours shopping.
Zhangyuan
Point of interest
4.7
• A restored district featuring Shanghai's distinctive Shikumen lane house style, adapted for modern use. • Characterized by brick facades, narrow lanes, and restored historic structures alongside boutiques and restaurants. • Photogenic area, but avoid letting every shop become a long stop; enjoy the architecture and keep moving.
Xintiandi Style Shopping Centre
Shopping mall
4.6
• One of Shanghai's best-known restored lane house districts. • Polished, commercial, and popular, offering brick buildings, pedestrian lanes, and surrounding streets. • Explore beyond the obvious restaurant terraces to discover more interesting parts of the neighborhood.
Zhujiajiao
Place
• One of Shanghai's best-known historic watertowns, featuring narrow canals, stone bridges, tiled roofs, and old waterfront buildings. • Arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds and have a better chance of hearing the water and seeing the bridges before the busiest period. • Take a traditional hand-rowed boat ride: a shorter route costs around $30 per boat, and a longer ride is about $44 per boat; the cost can be shared by multiple passengers. • Do not rush through; follow the canals, walk beside old houses, explore narrow side streets, and cross smaller bridges.
北外滩
Place
• Offers a broader perspective across the Huangpu River, with Lujiazui rising on one side and the historic Bund stretching along the other. • Tends to feel more open and relaxed compared to other viewing spots. • Arrive before sunset to witness the city's transformation from daylight to an illuminated skyline.
Waibaidu Bridge
Landmark
4.5
• Offers a final riverfront walk at night with views of historic buildings, illuminated bridges, and the distant towers of Pudong. • Provides a layered view of the city's contrasting old and new architecture.
West Bund Artistic Center
Place
4.2
• A transformed industrial area along the Huangpu River into museums, galleries, and public waterfront spaces. • Recommended for art and design travelers with an extra day. • Offers a unique urban landscape where architecture meets nature.
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Amusement center
4.5
• A full day is recommended to experience Shanghai Disneyland. • Families and Disney fans should plan a separate day for this attraction rather than trying to fit it into a shorter itinerary.
Save these 18 places to your map
Keep every place on your own map in DocentPro, and add more as you browse.
More featured places in Shang Hai Shi
Shanghai Wholesale Clothing Plaza Bargain Shopping
Qipu Road Clothing and Accessories Commercial Pedestrian Street
Shanghai Itinerary: Attractions, Dining, and Shopping
Shanghai Tower, The Bund, Yu Garden
Shanghai's 24-Hour Spa Features Endless Fruit and Ice Cream
Shuiguo Lane
Explore Shanghai's Skyline, History, and Architecture
Shanghai Old Street, The Bund, Shanghai History Museum
Shanghai's Top 10 Food, Culture & Shopping Destinations
Oriental Pearl TV Tower, The Bund, Nanjinglu Street