How Many Days in Shanghai Is Enough?
Three to four days are ideal for an authentic and relaxing Shanghai experience. Most of the city's top attractions are centrally located, such as the Bund, Yu Garden, and Oriental Pearl Tower.
If you have more time, consider extending your trip to nearby destinations like Hangzhou, Suzhou, or Huangshan. Here, we've put together four Shanghai itineraries, covering both Shanghai itself and easy side trips to surrounding cities.
Yu Garden in Shanghai
Classic Shanghai Tour: 3-5 Days Flexible Itinerary
Night view of the Oriental Pearl Tower
This itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors to Shanghai. If you have more time, consider adding some immersive experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the city.
| Day | Highlights |
| 1 | Arrival |
| 2 | Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, and Shanghai Tower |
| 3 | Explore the French Concession; departure |
- Day 1: Arrive in Shanghai. You can have a good rest in the hotel and adjust to the jet lag.
- Day 2: On the second day, you can visit The Bund, where you'll see many European-style buildings, and Yuyuan Garden, a classic Chinese garden hidden among modern structures. Then take a ferry across the Huangpu River to the skyline of skyscrapers and go up Shanghai Tower for a panoramic view of the city.
- Day 3: On the last day, visiting the Former French Concession will take about half a day. You'll find many art shops and cafes there, with a quiet atmosphere that's perfect for a city walk.
Optional Experiences:
If you plan to spend a few more days in Shanghai, you can consider adding the following experiences to your itinerary.
Latest High-Tech Experience: Shanghai hosts many of China's leading AI and robotics companies. If you're interested in cutting-edge technology, it's worth setting aside half a day to explore these experiences. You can enjoy hands-on experiences such as testing DJI drones or playing chess with robots. For families traveling with children, consider visiting the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. There are interactive exhibits and activities related to energy, aviation, and future technologies.
Shanghai Disneyland: Great for families with kids and young travelers. Plan to spend a full day here. Shanghai Disneyland is unique because it's the only Disney park with a Zootopia-themed land.
Zhujiajiao: A good choice if you want to see a traditional water town. Zhujiajiao is perfect for relaxing and taking photos. You can ride a boat along the canal and visit the old post office and Kezhi Garden. Generally, half a day is enough to explore Zhujiajiao.
Imperial Banquet: This is an immersive dining show. You can enjoy food while watching traditional Chinese music and dance. There are lunch and dinner options, and the performance will last about 1 hour. We suggest arriving about 2 hours early so you have time for a costume and makeup. After that, you can take photos on the decorated sets outside the restaurant.
Shanghai Day Trip or Layover Tour
City view of Shanghai
- Time Needed: 6 to 10 hours (travel time included)
If you only have one day in Shanghai or are just passing through on a layover, you can consider a quick visit. With about 3-5 hours, you can explore 1 or 2 of the city's well-known landmarks.
Plan A: Stroll around the Bund and Yuyuan area. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the Bund to Yuyuan. After sightseeing, you can browse the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar and visit the City God Temple.
Plan B: Explore the French Concession, including places like Tianzifang and Wukang Building. This area is known for its unique art spaces, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. It's a perfect place for a relaxed half-day visit. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Sinan Mansions to Tianzifang, and around 20 minutes by car to reach the Wukang Building.
We recommend allowing at least 3 hours in total for round-trip travel to and from the train station or airport, as well as check-in time. These attractions are about a 40-minute drive from the train station and roughly 1.5 hours from the airport.
Explore Chinese Water Towns: Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou
Shanghai Disneyland
If you're looking for a relaxing journey at a slower pace, this itinerary is a great choice. It combines the modern metropolis of Shanghai with the scenic, laid-back cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Travel between the three destinations is very convenient, with high-speed trains taking within 1 hour.
| Day | Highlights |
| 1-2 | Shanghai: The Bund, Shanghai Museum, Bourgogne Lane, and Oriental Pearl Tower |
| 3-4 | Suzhou: Lingering Garden, Pingjiang Old Street, and Tongli Water Town |
| 5-6 | Hangzhou: West Lake and Lingyin Temple on the Feilai Peak |
- Day 1: This is your arrival day. You can rest well and get ready for the journey ahead.
- Day 2: A Shanghai city tour awaits you. You will visit the Bund, Shanghai Museum, Bugaoli, and Oriental Pearl Tower, experiencing Shanghai's blend of Eastern and Western culture and its highly modern skyline.
- Day 3: After breakfast, you will travel to Suzhou. On this day, you will visit Lingering Garden, a classic Chinese garden, and Pingjiang Road, where you can find many teahouses and experience Suzhou's tea culture.
- Day 4: On this day, you will visit Tongli Water Town first. After that, you will continue your journey to the next destination, Hangzhou.
- Day 5: Today, you can start with a relaxing boat ride on West Lake. Then admire ancient Buddha statues and experience the traditional incense ritual in Lingyin Temple. End your day enjoying the sunset view of the West Lake.
- Day 6: This is your last day in Shanghai. You can enjoy a slow and relaxing time at your hotel and head to the airport for your departure.
Optional Experience:
Hengdian World Studios: If you are interested in Chinese TV dramas, consider visiting this site. Many famous Chinese dramas have been filmed here, including Empresses in the Palace. You can explore different film sets and rent traditional Chinese costumes to take photos of these scenes. It is located in Jinhua and is only about a 1.5-hour high-speed train ride from Hangzhou.
Discover Scenic Beauty: Shanghai & Huangshan
Cite Bourgogne, also called Bugaoli
If you want to experience both a modern city skyline and natural scenery in one trip, this itinerary works perfectly. In addition, both Shanghai and Huangshan are excellent for photography, making this itinerary particularly attractive to photography lovers.
| Day | Things to Do |
| 1-3 | Shanghai: The Bund, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Museum, Yuyuan Garden, and city walk at Tianzifang or Bugaoli; |
| 4-7 | Huangshan: Hongcun Village or Nanping Village, Mt. Huangshan, and Tunxi Old Street |
- Day 1: You will arrive in Shanghai. After checking in to your hotel, you can relax or stroll around your hotel.
- Day 2: Shanghai's most famous attractions are concentrated on this day, including the Bund and Yuyuan Garden. Plus a visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. In the evening, we recommend taking a night cruise on the Huangpu River to enjoy the beautiful riverside scenery.
- Day 3: Take a bullet train to Huangshan after your city walk at Tianzifang or Bugaoli in the Former French Concession.
- Day 4: On this day, you can visit Hongcun Village or Nanping Village; both are Hui-style villages. Hongcun Village is better restored, but it is also more modernized. If you prefer a more tranquil experience, Nanping Village will be better with fewer people.
- Day 5: On the fifth day, you will spend two days exploring the Yellow Mountain Scenic Area. You can choose to take a cable car or hike up the mountain, then stay at a hotel on the mountain.
- Day 6: On day six, you can wake up early to watch the sunrise from one of the viewing platforms in Huangshan. After that, you can continue exploring the scenic area at your own pace. And you caan visit nearby Tunxi Old Street and try a traditional incense-making workshop.
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Day 7: On the last day, you're free to explore Huangshan City or head to your next destination.
Recommended Tour Itinerary
Plan Your Shanghai Tour With Us
Shorter trip? Longer exploration? Shanghai caters to all paces. Let us craft your perfect itinerary - contact us or email trip@odynovotours.com for a personalized Shanghai experience.
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