Shanghai Travel Guide

Shanghai (上海) is China at its most cosmopolitan — a city of dizzying contrasts where century-old shikumen lane houses sit in the shadow of gleaming supertall skyscrapers, and where the colonial grandeur of the Bund faces the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River. With 24 million residents, it's China's largest city and its most international. The Bund (外滩) remains Shanghai's defining image: a waterfront promenade lined with Art Deco, Neoclassical, and Beaux-Arts buildings from the city's concession era, all facing the otherworldly cluster of towers across the river — the Oriental Pearl, Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. But Shanghai's soul lives in its neighborhoods. The Former French Concession is a leafy grid of plane-tree-lined streets, boutique cafés, art galleries, and some of the best restaurants in Asia. Yu Garden offers a glimpse of old Shanghai with its classical Ming Dynasty garden and bustling bazaar. Tianzifang and Xintiandi show how historic lane houses have been creatively repurposed into cultural and dining destinations. For families, Shanghai Disneyland is a world-class theme park with unique attractions you won't find anywhere else. And for foodies, Shanghai's soup dumplings (xiaolongbao), pan-fried buns (shengjianbao), and scallion oil noodles are worth the trip alone.