The Bund at dawn, art-deco lanes, and Pudong's towers across the river. China's easiest first city — English-friendly, and the world's largest metro stitches it all together.
Tip The Bund at dusk with the Pudong skyline is unmissable; Yu Garden is calmest right at opening. The Maglev reaches Pudong airport in about 8 minutes.
Route guide
The easy first-timer loop: the Bund at dawn, Yu Garden and the old town, a French Concession afternoon, and Pudong's towers at night — all on Metro Line 2 and 10.
Practical guide
Shanghai Tower vs SWFC vs Oriental Pearl, compared on height, price and queues — plus the sunset slot that books out and the cheaper bar-with-a-view alternative.
Practical guide
The Maglev — up to 430 km/h — in 7 minutes, Metro Line 2 for half the price, or a flat-rate taxi — with times, costs, and which makes sense from each airport.
Hongqiao branch runs reduced service this weekend — trains every ~10 min. For the airport, leave a buffer or take Line 2.
Individuals walk in free on regular days. Weekends, holidays, school breaks and hot special exhibitions still need the official mini-program (passport works); slots release 7 days out.
Jun 15, 09:30. Meet at Shanxi Rd S. station, exit 4. Plane-tree lanes, café stop halfway. Just show up.
Riverside art mile open till 21:00 Thursdays through summer. Most shows free; the walk between venues is the best part.
1 DAY · ¥ BUDGET · METRO 17 TO END · CANAL BOAT + LANES
Open the route →Alipay/WeChat Metro QR works at every gate. Shanghai also accepts contactless foreign Visa/Mastercard straight at the turnstile.
Maglev to Longyang Rd hits up to 430 km/h in 7 min (¥50, or ¥40 with a same-day boarding pass), then Line 2 into town. Total under ¥60 and faster than the taxi in traffic.
Here three nights and the top deck is gone for my dates. Is the SWFC "sky walk" a good swap, or just go to a Bund-side bar for the view? Budget's flexible.
Wukang Mansion, the plane-tree lanes off Anfu Rd, a courtyard café, ending at a rooftop for the skyline. Map pinned in the thread — all flat, all walkable.