Top 10 Attractions & Best Things to do in Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the most prosperous cities in China. Its charm has attracted countless young people to come since it is a place oozing with confidence and vitality. Its dazzling Oriental Pearl Tower, romantic Bund, spectacular buildings, and long historical relics are something that attracts kinds of tourists to visit. Here is a list of the ten recommended tourist attractions in Shanghai that you don't want to miss.

The Bund

Walking on the Bund is one of the must-do things for tourists to Shanghai. Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Shanghai. There are some old buildings along the Bund that represent a variety of architectural styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance, which has been known as a “world architectural fair”. The best time to strong along the Bund is during the night when it's all lit up.

The Bund

Yu Garden

It was originally built in Ming Dynasty with an area of more than 20,000 square meters. It is a garden designed by a Ming Dynasty official who wanted to offer a place for his parents to stay during their senior years. As one of the most famous classical gardens in China, Yu Garden is definitely the most beautiful place in the center of Shanghai. Inside that garden, pagodas and dense vegetation have been placed artistically to make the whole place perfect.

Yuyuan Garden

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Shanghai. Located on the banks of Huangpu River and at the tip of Lujiazui in Pudong, it stands out from all the modern buildings in that area. This 468-meter building and the Bund's buildings across the river show tourists a spectacular view of Shanghai as a cosmopolitan city. You will get an amazing panorama view of Shanghai from the top of this tower.

Tianzifang

Tianzifang can show visitors that Shanghai can also be intimate, warm, and noisy. It is easy to appreciate that Tianzifang is a very special place in Shanghai once you choose to pay a visit. You can walk through the maze of alleyways to see some small specialty stores and art workshops there, including tea houses, open-air restaurants, outdoor cafe shops, galleries, as well as lots of well-known studio in Shanghai. You can also purchase some arts and crafts there.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

With a history of 1,700 years, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is one of the best-preserved ancient towns in this area. Located in Qingpu District, close to Dianshan Lake Scenic Area, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a typical ancient town in the south of the Yangtze River with waterways running between the streets and alleys. There are gardens, monuments, as well as many traditional snack bars. Tourists can choose to walk on the old streets of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, or they can also take a boat tour.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Shanghai Disneyland Resort

Shanghai Disneyland is the first theme park that blends Disney style and Chinese cultural elements in mainland China opened in June 2016. Tourists can find traditional Chinese elements in the iconic attraction "Fantasy Fairyland Castle", such as auspicious clouds, peonies, lotus flowers, and Shanghai's white magnolia. The Chinese restaurant is also built in a traditional Chinese architectural style. And the iconic carousel is crafted by Chinese artisans in the "Garden of Imagination". No matter what character you like in Disney cartoons, you can find your favorite one here at Shanghai Disneyland Resort.

World Financial Center

The Shanghai World Financial Center is a skyscraper located in the Lujiazui financial and trade district. This is an innovatively designed building that reaches 492 meters (1,614 feet) with offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls. The grass-bottom observation deck on the 100th floor at 474 meters can get a view at the spire of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which has attracted many people to have a try.

Nanjing Road

As one of the world's largest and most famous business streets, Nanjing Road is the main shopping street in Shanghai. With hundreds of modern commercial buildings, long-established Chinese stores and specialty stores, Nanjing Road has become the largest distribution center for retail goods in China. Here tourists will easily witness bustling Chinese commerce. It is also home to many restaurants and cinemas, offering tourists a way to relax.

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower, with a height of 632 meters (2,074 feet), is the third tallest building in the world and the tallest in China. It is a landmark building located in Lujiazui, mainly served for offices, businesses, hotels, and sightseeing. The 360-degree panoramic view lobby at the top of Shanghai Tower is where tourists can admire the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower and World Financial Center, as well as the World Expo Park in the distance.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art that was founded in 1952. The museum connected nearly 1.02 million pieces of cultural relics, including more than 140,000 precious ones. The four floors of the Shanghai Museum display the best in Chinese history, including bronzes, ceramics, old coins, priceless paintings, traditional lacquer furniture, jade artifacts and art from ethnic minorities. It is a good place to learn about the history of China and modern Shanghai.