A blend of old and new Shanghai | A classic 3-day tour of Shanghai

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

Meals: On your own

Accommodation: Shanghai

Welcome to Shanghai! Our tour guide will meet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your selected hotel in Shanghai for check-in. You are free to arrange your remaining time as you wish. If you are tired, you can rest and recharge at the hotel. If you have time to spare, you can explore the surrounding area. Please refer to the free activity suggestions below, or consult your tour guide for travel advice.

Free Activity Suggestions:

1. City Stroll: Explore the surrounding area, admire the exquisite architecture where history and modernity intertwine, appreciate the unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, and experience the diverse charm of this international metropolis.

2. Food Tasting: Find a long-established brand restaurant and savor the most authentic Shanghai cuisine, experiencing the local lifestyle and food culture.

Suggested ways to get there:

1. By Air: Shanghai has two airports – Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), offering numerous direct domestic flights to destinations such as Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Kunming, Harbin, and Hong Kong, as well as direct international flights to destinations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Japan, making transportation very convenient.

2. By Train: Shanghai has five railway stations. You can take high-speed trains from cities such as Beijing (4.5-6 hours), Xi'an (6-7.5 hours), Huangshan (2.5-3 hours), Guangzhou (7-8.5 hours), Suzhou (0.5 hours), Hangzhou (approximately 45 minutes), and Wuhan (3.5-4.5 hours) to Shanghai.

Day 2: Shanghai Day Trip: Shanghai Museum + Yu Garden + Nanjing Road + The Bund (Huangpu River Ferry)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included

Accommodation: Shanghai

After breakfast, you will visit the Shanghai Museum, one of China's four major museums, to admire various exquisite traditional cultural relics and gain a deeper understanding of China's long and profound history and culture. The Shanghai Museum is known as "half of the cultural relics world," its overall architecture being round on top and square on the bottom, conforming to the ancient Chinese concept of "a round heaven and a square earth." The museum houses over 1.02 million cultural relics, encompassing the most precious artworks from China's 5000-year civilization. Among the museum's most noteworthy treasures are: the Da Ke Ding bronze vessel (approximately 3000 years old), the Jin Hou Su Zhong ancient musical instrument from the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Shang Yang Fang Sheng (a relic of Shang Yang's reforms), and the Zi Zhong Jiang Pan bronze vessel from the Spring and Autumn Period, carved with over 30 aquatic animals.

Afterwards, visit Yu Garden, known as the "Crown of Famous Gardens in Southeast China," to admire the classical garden scenery of Jiangnan. Yu Garden was first built in 1559 (the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty), boasting a history of over 460 years. It was originally a private garden built by Pan Yunduan, the Sichuan Provincial Governor of the Ming Dynasty, for his father to spend his later years in comfort. Strolling along the winding paths of Yu Garden, you can appreciate the exquisite garden layout, beautiful classical architecture, and superb craftsmanship in brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, and wood carving. The iconic attractions—the Dragon Wall, the Nine-Turn Bridge, and the Lake Pavilion—are particularly worth admiring.

Afterwards, walk to the Yu Garden Bazaar near Yu Garden to sample authentic Shanghai cuisine, such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), braised pork, and eight-treasure duck. If interested, you can also browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops, such as those selling embroidery, ceramics, and wood carvings.

After lunch, you can stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," to the Bund. The walk is approximately 2 kilometers long, allowing you to appreciate the architectural style of Shanghai from the 1930s and 40s and browse various century-old brand stores.

Then, arrive at the Bund, hailed as the "Paris of the East," and experience the vibrant atmosphere of Shanghai. Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund is one of Shanghai's iconic landmarks, often referred to as an "International Architecture Expo." It boasts 52 buildings of diverse architectural styles, including the Shanghai Club, the Peace Hotel, and the HSBC building. Stepping into the Bund feels like stepping into the golden age of the former Wall Street of the East. Standing on the riverbank, you can also see iconic buildings such as the Shanghai Tower (the world's third tallest building), the Oriental Pearl Tower (Asia's tallest tower), the Jin Mao Tower (Shanghai's fourth tallest building), and the Shanghai World Financial Center (Shanghai's second tallest building).

Afterwards, you will take a public ferry from Jinling East Road across the Huangpu River to the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai. From there, you will walk to the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in Shanghai and even China. Here, you will take the world's fastest observation elevator (73.8 km/h) to the "Shanghai Top Observation Deck" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above the ground, for a 360° panoramic view of the magnificent Shanghai skyline and city skyline, overlooking the surrounding famous buildings. If you are interested, you can also send a special blessing from the clouds to family and friends at the Shanghai Top Sky Post Office, currently the world's highest post office.

Shanghai Nighttime Activities Suggestions:

1. Shanghai Acrobatic Show (7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, 1.5 hours): The Shanghai Acrobatic Show is a favorite nighttime entertainment for tourists from home and abroad. It features thrilling acrobatic performances combined with beautiful dances and humorous storylines, providing a brand-new viewing experience and allowing you to deeply understand Shanghai's rich cultural heritage in a fun way.

The stunning Shanghai Tower

 

The exquisite classical architecture of Yu Garden

 

The bustling Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

 

The exquisite Da Ke Ding from the Shanghai Museum

Day 3: Shanghai City Stroll Tour: French Concession + Xintiandi + Airport/Station Transfer

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included

Accommodation: /

After breakfast, our guide will lead you on a stroll through the French Concession of Shanghai, known as the "Paris of the East." This ancient district, with nearly two centuries of history, was once China's earliest, largest, and most prosperous concession. Here, you can wander through alleys shaded by plane trees, reminiscing about the past, or unexpectedly encounter old villas, cafes, and former residences of literary figures, enjoying a leisurely travel experience.

First, you can stroll along the charming Wukang Road, admiring historical buildings of Western classicism and Art Deco style, feeling the weight of history and the fusion of cultures. Visit the elegant former residences of famous figures; the renowned modern Chinese writer Ba Jin once lived here and wrote his representative works such as *Family*, *Spring*, and *Autumn*. Furthermore, the Wukang Building, a landmark of Wukang Road and even Shanghai, was designed by the renowned Hungarian architect László Hudec. It was Shanghai's first apartment building with an external corridor design, and its unique architectural style is hailed as a "golden name card of Shanghai."

Afterwards, visit Xintiandi, one of the world's top 20 cultural landmarks. This urban tourist attraction perfectly blends traditional Shanghai Shikumen architecture with modern architecture, making it an excellent place to understand Shanghai's history, alleyway culture, and modern fashion. Here, you can leisurely stroll through, admire historical sites, sample local delicacies, and browse various shops representing Shanghai's fashion and tradition. In addition, the Shikumen Houses Museum within the complex is a great place to understand the lifestyle of Shanghainese in the 1920s and 30s.

If you have ample time, you can also visit Tianzifang, known as "Shanghai's most culturally rich creative district," to learn about Shanghai's most authentic alleyway culture and appreciate a rich variety of art pieces—the best place to experience Shanghai's traditional culture and modern art.

After the tour, your unforgettable Shanghai trip will come to an end. Our guide will take you back to your accommodation or to the airport/train station. If you would like to extend your trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc., please contact us to make arrangements.

The magnificent Wukang Building

 

Tianzifang, Shanghai, is rich in artistic atmosphere

 

Shanghai Xintiandi: A fusion of East and West architecture

 

The enchanting autumn scenery of the French Concession in Shanghai