Shanghai is certainly one of the most fascinating cities in the world at this point, with an explosion in modern buildings that have made its once humble skyline into one of the planet’s finest. This fast expansion has brought the tourists, as well as millions of new residents.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit mainland China, but you didn’t want to have to learn Mandarin, Shanghai is the place to go. This is by far China’s most international and English-friendly city, mainly due to its former life as a separate trading zone.
The skyline is among the world’s most spectacular and it’s almost worth a visit by itself. The food scene in Shanghai is also exceptional, and it’s more English-language-friendly than elsewhere in China.
| Population | 19,000,000 |
| Area | 19,000,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+8 |
| Currency | Chinese yuan |
| Airports | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) |
While Shanghai doesn’t have the big checklist attractions that Beijing does, it’s got plenty to see and do. The Bund is the riverside street that lines the historic Puxi district with amazing views of the Pudong district and its enormous and weird-looking skyscrapers.
Shopping in Shanghai is a sport in itself and you’ll find all of the international chain stores in various malls and along the main pedestrian street.
Believe it or not, Shanghai also has a traditional “Chinatown” similar to ones you’d find in other large cities elsewhere. It’s very popular with Chinese tourists visiting Shanghai.
There are plenty of attractions that are free or cheap so once you have a room you can get by on a limited budget. If you are going to do the hop-on, hop-off bus tour and a few of the other main attractions you should check our Go Shanghai Card review as a way to save money.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 10.00 - 35.00 |
| 18.00 - 64.00 |
| 25.00 - 78.00 |
| 39.00 - 126.00 |
| 87.00 - 296.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 8.00 - 13.00 |
Food and drink prices vary wildly, with street food and simple restaurants mostly patronized by local workers being quite cheap, while tourist-oriented restaurants can be pricey.
| Budget breakfast | Small shops where locals go are great bargains for breakfast. | $1.84 - $4.24 |
| Budget lunch | There are plenty of casual restaurants and street stands, with good local food at reasonable prices. | $2.83 - $4.95 |
| Budget dinner | You can eat in nearly any price range in Shanghai. Those on a budget are still in luck. | $5.37 - $9.90 |
| Beer (pint) | Posh bars can cost far more than this, but local bars can still be cheap. | $2.26 - $4.24 |
| Cocktails (glass) | Again, it all depends on where you drink. | $4.24 - $7.07 |
| Beer (can, retail) | Local beer (3% to 4%) in stores is a good bargain for those on a budget who still like to drink. | $0.57 - $0.85 |
The hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Shanghai is a great way to see the main sights quickly and get oriented. It goes down almost the full length of the Bund, which provides excellent views of both sides of the river.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47 | 34 | 2.0 |
| February | 49 | 36 | 2.2 |
| March | 55 | 42 | 3.9 |
| April | 66 | 52 | 3.5 |
| May | 75 | 61 | 4.0 |
| June | 82 | 69 | 6.7 |
| July | 89 | 77 | 6.2 |
| August | 88 | 77 | 6.2 |
| September | 81 | 69 | 5.4 |
| October | 73 | 59 | 2.5 |
| November | 63 | 48 | 1.8 |
| December | 52 | 37 | 1.5 |
Shanghai’s weather changes dramatically through the seasons, with summers that are usually muggy and hot, to winters that sometimes freeze. Both extremes make for travel difficulties, so the mild seasons of spring and autumn are best for most visitors. Rain is most common in summer and spring, as autumn and winter tend to be fairly dry.
| 21 Mar | 5:58am | 6:06pm |
| 21 Jun | 4:50am | 7:01pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:42am | 5:43pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:49am | 4:56pm |
Compared to most of the rest of China, Shanghai is quite expensive. Still, travelers on a budget can find decent hotels at prices well below those in Europe, and on a similar level with much of the rest of larger Asian cities.
Shanghai hotels tend to stay quite busy all year round as the city is always a popular business destination. High season for hotel prices is usually April and May plus September through November, but many places also consider the high season to run all summer. The best time for hotel bargains is therefore the winter months from December through March.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| 10.00 - 35.00 |
| 18.00 - 64.00 |
| 25.00 - 78.00 |
| 39.00 - 126.00 |
| 87.00 - 296.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 8.00 - 13.00 |
Most tourists will arrive into Pudong International Airport (PVG), which is huge and modern.
The airport is hooked up to the main Metro system so getting into the city is fast and easy. For a very worthwhile thrill you can (and should) take the Maglev train, which is the fastest train in the world as of now, running at 431 km/h (267 mph). At that speed the whole ride only takes 7 minutes, and you are only at top speed for a minute or two.
The Shanghai Metro system is modern and easy to use, even for English speakers. It goes everywhere tourists would want to go.
The city is mostly flat and there are many pedestrian-friendly zones, including along the Bund and elevated walkways between the skyscrapers in Pudong.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 22.63 - 29.00 |
| Maglev train from airport to city | 7.07 |
| Metro from airport to city | 1.13 |
| Bus from airport to city center | 0.57 - 1.13 |
| 3km taxi ride in Shanghai | 2.55 - 3.11 |
| Metro ride in Shanghai | 0.42 - 1.13 |
| Bus ride in Shanghai | 0.14 - 0.28 |