Essential Tips for a Solo 2-Day Shanghai Weekend Getaway in May

Duration: 2 days Time: May Average Cost per Person: 2500 RMB Company: Solo Traveler Visited Location[...]

Duration: 2 days
Time: May

Average Cost per Person: 2500 RMB
Company: Solo Traveler
Visited Locations: Shanghai Kangbo Hotel Bund, The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Wukang Road, Huangpu River, Chenghuang Temple, Lujiazui, Tianzifang
Published on 2021-06-01 15:22

Let me first outline the overall itinerary (photos at the end):
On Friday afternoon, May 28th, I departed from Xi’an and arrived in Shanghai in the evening, staying at Kangbo Hotel Bund. On Saturday, May 29th, I visited Yu Garden in the morning with an entrance fee of 40 RMB. Shanghai Tower at noon with a viewing ticket of 180 RMB. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in the afternoon. And took a Huangpu River cruise in the evening from Pier 16, with a cruise ticket of 120 RMB. On Sunday, May 30th, I visited the wax museum in the morning with a ticket of 190 RMB. And Tianzifang and Wukang Road in the afternoon before returning to Xi’an. The costs included a round-trip flight of 1400 RMB, two nights’ accommodation of 725 RMB. And then the expenses for the sightseeing tickets and meals, not exceeding 2500 RMB per person.

Now, let me share my overall impressions and insights: Opt for a hotel near The Bund. The one I booked was nearby, and within a range of over 1 kilometer, attractions such as Nanjing Road, The Bund, Yu Garden, and the wax museum can be reached on foot or by cycling, which is quite convenient. The best time to visit Shanghai is before mid-May; it gets hotter afterwards. The season I visited was already late May, and it was indeed a bit hot on the day of my return. Moreover, with luggage after checking out, one should consider the travel time in advance. The cruise should be taken at night, as the night view of both banks of the Huangpu River is very beautiful. If you are traveling on a budget like me, download and register the Metro Master app in advance, as it is needed for the subway. WeChat’s transport code can only be used for buses, not for the subway.

Here is the detailed travelogue: On Friday afternoon at 5:30 PM, the flight from Xi’an took off with Spring Airlines, which surprisingly did not provide meals. I arrived at Hongqiao Airport at 7:30 PM and took the Line 10 directly to Yu Garden Station, walking less than 10 minutes to the hotel. The environment was acceptable, and the bed was comfortable. On Saturday morning, I woke up early and did not have breakfast at the hotel, walking to Yu Garden, which took about 20 minutes. Yu Garden and Chenghuang Temple are adjacent, offering many snacks and a food court with a variety of local delicacies to try. Chenghuang Temple is a characteristic small market in Shanghai, which is worth a stroll. The entrance fee for Yu Garden is 40 RMB, and it is quite large with narrow paths and exquisite gardens, especially the classical furniture in each room, as well as the calligraphy and paintings inside, which are quite particular. However, you cannot enter to view them, only glancing from outside. Their official account offers free audio guides for those interested. The garden is so large that one can easily get lost; it’s full of twists and turns. You can use a map to check which points you haven’t visited yet, and it can be toured in about one and a half hours at most. Shanghai Tower is on the east bank of the Huangpu River. I took a bus there, which took 10 minutes, and arrived at the Lujiazui Financial Center area, full of skyscrapers, no wonder it’s called the Magic City. After having lunch on the first floor of Shanghai Tower, I bought a ticket to the 118th floor observation deck. The ticket price is 180 RMB, and it takes just one minute to reach the 118th floor, offering a bird’s-eye view of the entire Lujiazui and Huangpu River, which is fantastic. After leaving Shanghai Tower, I took the subway to Nanjing East Road Station, which leads directly to the pedestrian street. One end of the street leads to The Bund, and the other end is the New World of Shanghai, where you can visit the Madame Tussauds wax museum. I didn’t know this at the time, so I walked to The Bund. Along the Bund’s viewing path, you can see the skyscrapers of Lujiazui acrossAfter a satisfying meal, it was just past 10 AM. The first floor houses the ticket office for the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, with an admission fee of 190 yuan. You can also pre-purchase tickets on the official WeChat account for a 10 yuan discount if bought before 8 AM. With the electronic code from the WeChat purchase, you can enter without waiting in line.

The wax figures are incredibly lifelike, including celebrities, sports stars, singers, politicians, and classic characters—plenty to see. Visitors are allowed to touch and take photos, and there are designated spots, props, and costumes for picture-taking, which would delight those who enjoy photography.

After an hour, I returned to the hotel to check out, collected my luggage, and since my flight was at 6 PM, I had time to visit one more attraction. I chose Tianzifang, which was just four subway stops away. It’s filled with distinctive small shops, crowded yet interesting, where you can find intriguing trinkets.

Leaving Tianzifang with time to spare, I made another stop at Wukang Road, which I had to pass on my way to the airport, so I got off midway. Wukang Road is suitable for artistic young people to take photos, with many famous former residences and characteristic buildings along the way.

This was my last stop before leaving Shanghai, followed by a ride on Line 10 to Hongqiao Airport. I flew with Juneyao Airlines, which offered meals and good service, safely returning me to Xi’an.

Lastly, a suggestion: you can plan your itinerary around the Huangpu River. After viewing the river in the afternoon of my first day, I should have visited the wax museum, as it was nearby. I hadn’t researched in advance, so my plan was not comprehensive. However, Shanghai’s metro system is well-developed, and with good time management, you can visit more places in two days. I wish you all a pleasant trip. If you have any questions, please leave a message, and I will respond promptly.

– Update on June 2nd: As requested, I’ve included a few photos for your appreciation. This is Yu Garden: This is the Lujiazui skyline, with the Shanghai Tower on the left, the tallest in Asia and the second tallest in the world: This is one end of the pedestrian street: This is the Bund scenery: This is the cruise schedule: This is the Bund at night: This is the wax museum: This is the last stop – Wukang Road: