Shanghai itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · ChinaJune–September
- 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 June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Bund and Nanjing Road
- Day 2 Yu Garden and the 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 opposite; locals practise tai chi in the morning, and it's free of crowds.
FreeShopping
Nanjing Road East
China's busiest pedestrian street; stop at Shanghai First Food Store.
FreeCulture
People's Square & Shanghai Museum
Bronze and porcelain collections; free entry, reserve with your passport.
FreeFood
Yang's Fry Dumplings
Shengjianbao (pan-fried soup dumplings); Huanghe Road, bite and sip technique.
≈ ¥30 per person- 5 h · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Bund Gece Manzarası
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 BaoThe xiaolongbao legend; Huanghe Road, closes early.
- Huangpu River CruiseNight river cruise; an alternative to the Bund.
Day 2 · 08:30–16:00
Yu Garden and the Old City
Nature
Yu Garden
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
Where xiaolongbao was born, since 1900; sit-down upstairs, takeaway with a queue downstairs.
≈ ¥50 per personCulture
City God Temple
Taoist temple in the middle of the bazaar.
≈ ¥10 per person- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Tianzifang
Workshops and cafes in shikumen alleys; French Concession.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Lin Long FangLocal xiaolongbao; French Concession, no tourists.
- Huxinting TeahouseTeahouse above the Yu Garden lake.
Day 3 · 09:00–16:30
Pudong skyscrapers
Landmark
Shanghai Tower Top of Shanghai
118th floor, 632 m; clear air in the morning, and the world's fastest lift.
≈ ¥180 per personLandmark
Lujiazui Pedestrian Bridge
From the circular bridge you see the Oriental Pearl and the towers.
FreeCulture
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
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 TowerRetro pink tower; an alternative to Shanghai Tower.
Day 4 · 09:30–16:30
The French Concession
Landmark
Wukang Road
Plane-tree-lined avenue 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
French-style park; retirees dance and play mahjong.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Jesse RestaurantThe old Jesse; hongshao rou, book ahead.
- Shanghai Museum of Art PudongNew museum opposite the Bund; an alternative to Xintiandi.
Day 5 · 09:30–15:00Day trip
Zhujiajiao
Landmark
Zhujiajiao Fangsheng Bridge
1 hour on Metro Line 17; five-arch bridge built in 1571; go in the morning before the tour buses arrive.
FreeNature
Zhujiajiao Canal Boat Tour
Gondola along 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 the northern street; roasted chestnuts.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Ah Po Cha Lou ZhujiajiaoTeahouse over the canal; dim sum.
- Qibao Ancient TownWater town close to the city; a shorter 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, UNESCO-listed.
≈ ¥80 per personCulture
Suzhou Museum
I.M. Pei's white-and-grey museum; free entry, reservation required.
FreeLandmark
Pingjiang Road
Old street running along a 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
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 StreetCanal street; an alternative to Tiger Hill.
Day 7 · 09:30–13:30
Jing'an: a gentle farewell
Culture
Jing'an Temple
Gold-roofed temple among skyscrapers; Jing'an.
≈ ¥50 per personShopping
Jing'an Kerry Centre
Shopping centre; souvenirs and coffee.
FreeFood
Xiaoyang Shengjian Jing'an
Shengjianbao; a farewell lunch.
≈ ¥30 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Maglev Longyang Road
Reach Pudong Airport in 8 minutes on the 430 km/h maglev; a fitting farewell.
≈ ¥50 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Wagas Jing'anSalads and coffee; light.
- Jing'an Sculpture ParkSculpture 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 needed; the metro is cheap and extensive (3-7 CNY). The maglev reaches Pudong in 8 minutes.
- Visa: in 2026 many countries get 30 days visa-free (check for Türkiye); set up a VPN beforehand for Google and WhatsApp.
- Summer is 35°C and humid; typhoons occur in July and August. Do the Bund in the morning, museums and shopping centres in the afternoon, and Pudong's lights at night.
- Xiaolongbao costs 30-50 CNY; go to Yang's for shengjianbao; brunch in the French Concession runs 100+.
- Museums are free but need an online reservation with your passport; buy your Shanghai Tower ticket online.
- No tipping; bargaining is expected in markets but 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.
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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 June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.