Shanghai itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · ChinaOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 34
- Per day
- ≈ ¥579
- First stop
- 08:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Shanghai itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 Bund and Nanjing Road
- Day 2 Yu Garden and Old City
- Day 3 Pudong skyscrapers
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥579 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 08:00–20:30
Bund and Nanjing Road
Landmark
The Bund
A row of colonial buildings with Pudong across the river; tai chi practitioners in the morning, no crowds.
FreeShopping
Nanjing Road East
China's busiest pedestrian street; visit the Shanghai First Food Store.
FreeCulture
People's Square & Shanghai Museum
Bronze and porcelain collections; free, but you need to reserve with your passport.
FreeFood
Yang's Fry Dumplings
Shengjianbao (pan-fried soup dumplings); on Huanghe Road, bite and suck the soup.
≈ ¥30 per person- 5 h · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Bund Night View
Pudong lights 19:00-22:00; a Huangpu River cruise (~120 CNY) is optional.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Jia Jia Tang BaoA xiaolongbao legend; on Huanghe Road, closes early.
- Huangpu River CruiseNight river cruise; instead of the Bund.
Day 2 · 08:30–16:00
Yu Garden and Old City
Nature
Yu Garden
A classical Ming-dynasty garden; quiet at the 08:30 opening, with a zigzag bridge.
≈ ¥40 per personShopping
Yuyuan Bazaar
A bazaar around the garden; souvenirs and tea.
FreeFood
Nanxiang Mantou Dian
The birthplace of xiaolongbao since 1900; upstairs has seating, downstairs has a queue for takeaway.
≈ ¥50 per personCulture
City God Temple
A Taoist temple in the middle of the bazaar.
≈ ¥10 per person- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Tianzifang
Studios and cafes in the Shikumen alleys; in the French Concession.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Lin Long FangLocal xiaolongbao; in the French Concession, no tourists.
- Huxinting TeahouseA teahouse over the Yu Garden lake.
Day 3 · 09:00–16:30
Pudong skyscrapers
Landmark
Shanghai Tower Top of Shanghai
118th floor, 632 m; best on a clear morning, with the world's fastest lift.
≈ ¥180 per personLandmark
Lujiazui Pedestrian Bridge
Views of the Oriental Pearl and the towers from the circular bridge.
FreeCulture
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
A 155 m underwater tunnel; good with children.
≈ ¥160 per personFood
Din Tai Fung Pudong
Xiaolongbao and chicken soup; air-conditioned.
≈ ¥100 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Century Park
Pudong's huge park; lake and cycling.
≈ ¥10 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Shanghai Grandma PudongLocal Shanghai cuisine; hongshao rou (red-braised pork).
- Oriental Pearl TowerA retro pink tower; instead of Shanghai Tower.
Day 4 · 09:30–16:30
The French Concession
Landmark
Wukang Road
A plane-tree-lined boulevard and Wukang Mansion; Art Deco villas and cafes.
FreeCulture
Propaganda Poster Art Centre
Mao-era posters in an apartment block basement; hidden and fascinating.
≈ ¥25 per personFood
Fu 1039
Shanghai cuisine in a 1913 villa; drunken chicken and red-braised pork.
≈ ¥200 per personShopping
Xintiandi
Cafes in restored Shikumen houses; the Museum of the First National Congress of the Communist Party is free.
FreeNature
Fuxing Park
A French-style park; retirees dancing and playing mahjong.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Jesse RestaurantThe old Jesse; hongshao rou (red-braised pork), reservation needed.
- Shanghai Museum of Art PudongA new museum across from the Bund; instead of Xintiandi.
Day 5 · 09:30–15:00Day trip
Zhujiajiao
Landmark
Zhujiajiao Fangsheng Bridge
1 hour on Metro Line 17; a five-arch bridge from 1571, best before the tour buses arrive in the morning.
FreeNature
Zhujiajiao Canal Boat Tour
Gondola ride through the canals; 20 minutes.
≈ ¥80 per personNature
Kezhi Garden
The town's classical garden; entry with a combined ticket.
≈ ¥20 per personFood
Zhujiajiao Canalside Restaurant
Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and pork trotters; riverside tables.
≈ ¥60 per personShopping
Zhujiajiao Bei Dajie
Shops along North Street; roasted chestnuts.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Ah Po Cha Lou ZhujiajiaoA teahouse over the canal; dim sum.
- Qibao Ancient TownA water town close to the city; a short alternative to Zhujiajiao.
Day 6 · 09:00–17:00Day trip
Suzhou
Nature
Humble Administrator's Garden
25 minutes by high-speed train from Hongqiao; China's most famous classical garden, a UNESCO site.
≈ ¥80 per personCulture
Suzhou Museum
I.M. Pei's white-and-grey museum; free, reservation required.
FreeLandmark
Pingjiang Road
An old street along the canal; silk shops and teahouses.
FreeFood
Pingjiang Road Noodle House
Suzhou sweet noodle soup.
≈ ¥40 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Tiger Hill
A leaning pagoda and the tomb of the King of Wu; return train at 18:00.
≈ ¥60 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Songhelou SuzhouSuzhou cuisine since 1757; squirrel fish.
- Shantang StreetA canal street; instead of Tiger Hill.
Day 7 · 09:30–13:30
Jing'an: a light farewell
Culture
Jing'an Temple
A gold-roofed temple among skyscrapers; in Jing'an.
≈ ¥50 per personShopping
Jing'an Kerry Centre
A shopping centre; souvenirs and coffee.
FreeFood
Xiaoyang Shengjian Jing'an
Shengjianbao (pan-fried soup dumplings); your farewell lunch.
≈ ¥30 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Maglev Longyang Road
The maglev reaches Pudong Airport in 8 minutes at 430 km/h; a fitting farewell.
≈ ¥50 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Wagas Jing'anSalads and coffee; light.
- Jing'an Sculpture ParkA sculpture park and the Natural History Museum.
Getting around: get a Shanghai Public Transportation Card / Alipay
For metro and buses; the Alipay Transport code also works with foreign cards
Good to know: 6 things that make a Shanghai trip easier
- Alipay and WeChat Pay work with foreign cards, and cash is rarely used; the metro is cheap and extensive (3-7 CNY). The maglev takes 8 minutes to Pudong.
- Visa: in 2026 many countries get 30 days visa-free (check for Türkiye); set up a VPN for Google and WhatsApp in advance.
- October to November is best (18-22°C); winter is damp and cold at 5°C, February is closed for Chinese New Year, April brings cherry blossom.
- Xiaolongbao costs 30-50 CNY; go to Yang's for shengjianbao; brunch in the French Concession is 100+.
- Museums are free, but you need to reserve online with your passport; buy your Shanghai Tower ticket online.
- No tipping; bargaining works in markets, not in shops.
Spending: ≈ ¥4,050 per person for 7 days
- Food¥2,200
- Entry and tours¥1,200
- Local transport¥250
- Other¥400
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
We did the planning. You just pick the dates.
TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Shanghai cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥579 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Shanghai?
The first stop is at 08:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.