10 Things to See in Shanghai in 2024

1. Shanghai Astronomy Museum: This is a recent addition to the city’s list of megaprojects, also known as the Shanghai Planetarium. It is the world’s largest planetarium and one of Shanghai’s newest marquee museums. The museum features numerous hands-on exhibits covering a range of astronomical and astrophysical topics, including a significant section on China’s history of space exploration with a replica module from the Tianhe space station. It also boasts an enormous 8K ultra-high definition dome theater and over 120 collections of artifacts from scientific luminaries like Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler. Located in the Lingang Special Area in Pudong District, visitors can reach it by taking Metro Line 16 to the Dishui Lake terminal station. The museum is a great place to visit, especially in combination with the nearby Dishui Lake, which is surrounded by parks and walking paths, making it a wonderful place to visit during the spring, summer, or fall.


2. Xintiandi: Speaking of trendy neighborhoods, Xintiandi is one of Shanghai’s most popular and fashionable areas. Located near Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum, and People’s Square, it has undergone several years of consistent redevelopment, attracting numerous businesses, restaurants, cafes, and upscale hotels. The neighborhood’s tree-lined streets are characteristic of the Former French Concession and provide an extremely pleasant place for an afternoon or evening stroll. Xintiandi is also notable for containing some of Shanghai’s best examples of preserved historic residential buildings, known as shikumen. The Shikumen Wulixiang Museum offers a fantastic look at these dwellings during Shanghai’s Golden Age in the 1920s. Walking through the streets today, you can almost sense how it must have felt to belong to Shanghai’s upper classes during those heady interwar years when cabaret dominated.


Make sure to take a stroll along Madang Road and visit nearby Taipingqiao Park. The park offers a nice foreground for taking attractive photos of the surrounding upscale high-rise apartments.


You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to shop. Xintiandi is home to dozens of high-end retailers such as Tiffany & Co and Leica Camera. We know you’ll enjoy a visit to this bustling and trendsetting neighborhood. Xintiandi has a rating of 4.7/5 and 1,579 reviews. It is featured in #Featured Neighborhoods and #Nighttime sightseeing. I guess Xintiandi is one of the most popular places that travelers would love to visit when they come to Shanghai. I love this place too!


Details: Guangfulin Relics Park. Have you been in Shanghai for a while? Ever wonder where it all began? Are you someone who really likes to delve into the history of the places you visit? If that’s you, pay a visit to the Guangfulin Relics Park in Shanghai’s outer Songjiang District. The area is reachable via Metro Line 9 to Songjiang University Station. Guangfulin Relics Park is a combination of museum, archaeological site, and preserved ancient town. You can learn about the earliest known human settlements in the region, explore artifacts from the period, and take a journey through Shanghai history. Impressively, parts of the museum are housed in what look like underwater houses. The whole scene is quite stunning, especially at night. The park has numerous preserved buildings and is a great place for a casual stroll, especially during the summer. Be sure to visit the Duoyun Bookstore location where you can enjoy a coffee, tea, or snack in the café. The bookstore’s setting inside the historic buildings there makes it a great place for some photos. Guangfulin Relics Park has a rating of 4.6/5 and 5,821 reviews. It is featured in #Historical Sites and #Nighttime sightseeing. Guangfulin Cultural Site Travel Tips: Overall introduction of tourism-related features. Guangfulin Cultural Site, known as the “Root of Shanghai”, is located in Songjiang District, Shanghai. It is a comprehensive scenic spot integrating historical culture, natural ecology and leisure tourism. It not only has rich historical and cultural heritage, but also has unique architectural style and beautiful natural scenery. The discovery of Guangfulin Site fills the gap in the cultural spectrum of the late Neolithic period in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is an important part of Shanghai’s history and culture.


Popular attractions and introductions & suitable time to go. 1. Guangfulin Cultural Exhibition Hall. Introduction: The exhibition hall is located in an underwater building complex, showing the 4,000-year history and culture of Songjiang, and is an important window to understand Guangfulin culture. Suitable time: Open all day. It is recommended to visit in the morning or afternoon when the light is better, and the photo effect is better.


2. Zhiye Zen Temple. Introduction: It is an imitation Tang Dynasty building with a mountain gate hall, bell tower, drum tower, etc.


It is beautiful both during the day and at night, and is a great place to take photos and check in. – **Suitable time**: Open all day. It is recommended to go in the evening to enjoy the beautiful night view.


3. **Jisifang-Zhuangyuanmen** – **Introduction**: A typical Huizhou-style building with a unique horse head wall. It is a good place to take photos. – **Suitable time**: Open all day. It is recommended to visit during the day to better appreciate the details of the building.


—### Suggested travel plan


**Day 1**:


– Morning: Visit the Guangfulin Cultural Exhibition Hall to learn about the historical background and development of Guangfulin culture.


– Afternoon: Visit Zhiye Zen Temple. Feel the charm of imitation Tang Dynasty architecture and have tea and rest in the temple.


– Evening: Take photos and check in near Jisifang-Zhuangyuanmen to enjoy the unique charm of Huizhou architecture.


**Second day**:


– Morning: Visit the core area of the site. Learn about the contents of the archaeological site exhibition hall and feel the charm of ancient civilization.


– Afternoon: Free activities in the Guangfulin Scenic Area. You can go to the Fulin Lake for a walk and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery.


– Evening: Choose a restaurant in the scenic area to taste local food, such as Linfeng Japanese Teppanyaki or Pulin Kitchen.


—### Location suggestions


It is recommended to live in a hotel near the Guangfulin Cultural Site. For example, a lake view room next to Fulin Lake can directly face the architectural landscape of the scenic area and enjoy the beautiful scenery of sunrise and sunset. The room is equipped with facilities such as a round bathtub, indoor swimming pool and gym, which is convenient for tourists to relax after playing.


—###?️ Local food recommended to try


1. **Linfeng Japanese Teppanyaki** – Recommended dishes: grilled eel, baked crab with cheese, French red wine with foie gras, etc.


– Address: 3088 Guangfulin Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai


Details


7. Lujiazui


Located across the Huangpu River from The Bund is Lujiazui, the epicenter of the world’s fifth-largest financial industry. The only place where you can find three adjacent super tall skyscrapers: the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower. The latter currently stands as the world’s second-tallest building. Take a ride on the world’s second fastest elevators as you rocket up to the Top of Shanghai and enjoy panoramic views from the Shanghai Tower observation deck. Explore the exhibition detailing the tower’s planning and construction. Alternatively, head for Jin Mao Tower where you can see the tower’s spectacular internal atrium at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai. Those with a penchant for adventure can try the Skywalk Experience, an outdoor glass walkway on the 88th floor! All three skyscrapers are linked by a lovely elevated walkway and host an impressive range of shopping and dining options. Families will want to visit the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium where they can explore magical wonders beneath the waves.


The Shanghai Natural Wild Insect Kingdom next to the Oriental Pearl tower is a great place for kids. As night falls, the skyscrapers in Lujiazui light up, creating a breathtaking backdrop. This is the best place to see modern Shanghai and is one of the city’s top 10 attractions. Lujiazui Central Greenland, with a rating of 4.7/5 and 12,892 reviews, is a city park and a great place for nighttime sightseeing. Shanghai Lujiazui Central Green is an open lawn in the core area of Lujiazui Financial and Trade Center in Pudong New Area, covering about 100,000 square meters. Known as Shanghai’s “urban green lung”, it provides a quiet leisure space for the surrounding financial district and is an oasis in the city. The design is mainly green, supplemented by artificial lake waterscape. The terrain is undulating and well-proportioned. The lawn area is 65,000 square meters, planted with cold-season grass seeds from Europe for year-round greenery. The green space is dotted with plants like weeping willows, white magnolias, ginkgo, and cedars, full of vitality and vigor. At the entrance, there is a sculpture with the theme of “Spring”, consisting of eight blooming steel structure “flowers”, symbolizing vitality and vigor. The winding road outlines the pattern of white magnolia flowers in Shanghai. In the middle is the 8,600 square meter central lake, designed in the shape of a Pudong map plate. There is a 28-meter-high landscape tent on the lakeside, with a white conch shape like a sail, giving people endless reverie. In the center of the artificial lake, there is a 40-meter-high main fountain, surrounded by auxiliary fountains. When the water column sprays out, the double-layer circular auxiliary fountains surround the towering main water column, which is very spectacular. To the south of the artificial lake is a hydrophilic platform with a group of white European-style pergolas. There are stone round tables and stools under them, surrounded by low wooden fences, reflecting the pastoral style of the combination of Chinese and Western styles. In addition, to the south of the green space, there is a two-story house with four entrances and three courtyards, named Yingchuan Xiaozhu, reflecting the typical style of the fusion of Chinese and Western architectural cultures. This building has been studied and renovated many times during the construction of the green space and is now the location of the Wu Changshuo Memorial Hall. Lujiazui Central Green is open from 05:00 to 22:00 all year round, providing a free leisure place for the public and is a good place for citizens and tourists to enjoy nature and relax. Stay at Grand Hyatt Shanghai, with a rating of 4.6/5 and very good reviews. Near Jin Mao Tower in Lujiazui Area, Shanghai. $206. Today’s Deal. Details. 8. 1933 Old Millfun is a trendy arts and culture space in Shanghai’s Hongkou District not far from the Bund with a sort of macabre legacy.


1. 1933 Old Millfun: A Blend of Art and History

The former slaughterhouse, now an art hub, 1933 Old Millfun, boasts unique Gotham-Deco architecture. With its concrete, glass, and steel structures, it’s a haven for photographers. The maze-like walkways and staircases, originally designed for livestock, add to the charm. Visit at night for avant-garde performances and dining amidst art galleries. Easily accessible via Metro Lines 4 and 10 to Hailun Road Station.


2. 1933 Old Changfang: Unique Art and Culture

1933 Old Changfang stands out for its distinctive architectural style and clever space layout. It’s a vibrant area filled with creative shops, restaurants, and art exhibitions. Perfect for leisure, entertainment, and soaking in the culture, it’s also an ideal spot for capturing unique photos.


3. World Expo Park: Urban Green Oasis

Shanghai’s urban greenspace, World Expo Park, is situated on the site of the 2010 Expo. Spanning over five square kilometers, it offers vast lawns, bike and walking paths, and children’s play areas. It’s part of a larger greenspace development along the Huangpu River, making it an excellent place for relaxation, jogging, or outdoor enjoyment. You can rent bicycles to explore connected parks or use the Shanghai Ferry to cross the river and visit museums and galleries in the West Bund area.


4. China Art Museum

With a 4.6/5 rating and 5845 reviews, China Art Museum is highly recommended. It offers a wealth of knowledge and engaging narratives that keep visitors, especially children, captivated for hours.


5. World Expo Museum

Also rated 4.6/5 with 5597 reviews, the World Expo Museum is expansive, well-organized, and informative. It features a 4D movie in Chinese about environmental importance and impressive creative displays. The museum highlights sustainable and innovative global technologies, offering a light show for an enhanced experience.


Discover the top 10 things to see in Shanghai in 2024, with a focus on Yu Garden, a must-visit classic Chinese garden.


1. Yu Garden


Yu Garden, a classic Chinese garden located in Huangpu District, is just south of The Bund. Originally a private garden for Ming Dynasty officials, it stands as the only classic garden in the central city. Covering roughly two hectares, it features pathways, pavilions, and a variety of flora. It’s an ideal escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Yu Garden is nestled within the former Old City, a Chinese settlement dating back to the 16th century. Here, you’ll find hundreds of plaques and inscriptions by well-known individuals, as well as a collection of stone carvings. Meander through the paths and admire the ponds filled with lotus and koi.


Adjacent to Yu Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar offers a touristy experience for antique and souvenir shopping. Cross Jiuqu Bridge and stop at a teahouse for a refreshing cup of jasmine tea. The Old City area is also home to several important temples, including the Shanghai City God Temple, a Taoist place of worship. Don’t miss out on sampling authentic Shanghai snacks. At night, the golden lights on the ancient-style buildings make the bazaar a perfect spot for photography, giving the impression of a Ming-era market.


2. Shanghai’s Dynamic Business Environment


Shanghai is a city that recognizes its importance and acts accordingly. With a dynamic business environment, it’s always evolving, featuring new stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. It boasts a large and vibrant international workforce, making it a welcoming place for foreign visitors. Whether you’re new to China or a seasoned traveler, Shanghai, known as the Paris of the East, always has surprises in store.


I have visited Shanghai many times, and my first visit to Yu Garden was a memorable experience. I entered the garden early in the morning on a weekday, and it was quiet with few tourists. The natural and cultural landscapes merge cleverly, offering a captivating experience. With gardens within gardens, the scenery changes as you move, making it a great place to explore.


Admission to Yu Garden is reasonable, starting from $4.11. It’s rated 4.7/5 based on 54,464 reviews and is categorized under #Gardens and #Nighttime sightseeing.


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