Are you planning a trip to Shanghai but not sure how much time you need to explore the city and its surroundings? Let us help guide you with our ultimate Shanghai itineraries.
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How Long to Spend in Shanghai
Generally speaking, we recommend spending one to three days in Shanghai. For the city highlights in Shanghai, one day is enough.
Two or three days will give you a more varied and relaxed itinerary. Besides the must-see attractions, you could also have some unique experiences like food hunting or interacting with locals. Additionally, you could relax in a water town in the suburbs or have fun with kids in Disneyland.
If you have a more extended holiday (over three days), you could consider an extended trip from Shanghai. There are many options to explore, such as Hangzhou, Huangshan, Suzhou, Jingdezhen, and Hengdian.
Shanghai in 1‒3 Days
Here is a classic 3-day itinerary to experience various aspects of Shanghai, including historical buildings, skyscrapers, Disneyland, and a pleasant water town:
- Day 1: One-day city highlights tour (the Bund, Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden, food experience, etc).
- Day 2: Have fun in Disneyland.
- Day 3: Zhujiajiao Water Town (bridges, gardens, and a leisurely afternoon tea time).
On the city tour, you could walk around the Bund and embark on a Huangpu River Cruise to take a time travel trip from seeing the old buildings to the skyscrapers. It is like fast-forward from the 1920s Shanghai to the present Shanghai.
Walk through the alleys to hunt for Shanghai's most typical snack with a glimpse of the daily life of the local people.
Wander around the former French Concession where you could learn about the history of Shanghai’s colonial past.
If you have a big interest in Shanghai’s history, we recommend a visit to Shanghai’s Former Jewish Settlement. Discover the memories of elderly Jews by visiting a Jewish ghetto and other old buildings.
98.8%Positive Customer reviews among 10,000+
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One day trip to Shanghai with Martin
I liked beautiful riverfront with skyscrapers, especially in the evening. The garden is very nice, lots of walkways makes it feel really big. Thanks to the guide the schedule was very flexible. Instead of waiting in a huge queue for the tv tower we went to nearby skyscraper, we also were able to meet with our friends who also visited Shanghai on the same day. more
Aug 2023, Dmitry
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We had an amazing trip with China Highlights!
Kris was an excellent tour guide in Shanghai and flexible with our travel plans. Mervyn has impressive knowledge of history and culture in Xi'an and did a stellar job navigating the crowds of tourists seeing the Terra-cotta Army. Cactus brings a depth of historical knowledge to the tours that is super interesting, and she has great enthusiasm that makes the tour enjoyable. All our drivers were very good and helped ensure that we got from one destination to the next as safely and quickly as possible. The air conditioning in the comfortable cars during the exceptionally hot summer was appreciated, as well. Our itinerary included Shanghai, Xi'an, and Beijing, plus a few days trips such as a small water town outside Shanghai and the Terra-cotta Army outside Xi'an. We took high speed trains between all our destinations, and the China Highlights team did everything they could remotely to pre-arrange those logistics and also escorted us as far as they were able to at each train station. We traveled first class whenever the tickets were still available, and we stayed in quality hotels that were clean and centrally-located for most tourist activities in each city. It was maybe the greatest culinary trip of our lives. :) more
Aug 2023, Brett N
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Kris from China Highlights in Shanghai was wonderful
We toured Shanghai with Kris from China Highlights as our guide, he was friendly, helpful and made the trip a lot of fun! He also went above and beyond when we traveled to my daughter’s birthplace helping to get information and connect with people from the orphanage where my daughter was adopted from.Highly recommend!! more
Aug 2023, Rita A
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Personalized and very memorable!
Kris with China Highlights was friendly and personable during our trip. He told us the history of Shanghai in an interesting way, and gave us great recommendations to avoid crowds but still see the highlights of Shanghai. He also traveled with us to the city I was born and was very helpful in helping us communicate with locals. He made sure we had a memorable and very special experience. more
Aug 2023, Annie A
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短但伟大的访问上海with Kris
We spent a day touring Shanghai with Kris as our tour guide. Kris was very knowledgable about Shanghai and was great at sharing that knowledge with us. He also made great suggestions on how to enhance our visit and make it even more interesting. We visited the Yu Garden in the morning, super interesting, very beautiful and Kris was able to share the history of the Garden and buildings with us make the visit that much more interesting. We then went up the Shanghai tower, an exhilirating trip with stunning views! Lunch was in a local restaurant and was super tasty. In the afternoon Kris suggested that we take a boat tour down the river to see the Bund from the water. A great suggestion and we enjoyed an hour floating on the river admiring the amazing views!! Thank you Kris for showing us parts of Shanghai that we would never have found ourselves and making our stay very memorable. more
Aug 2023, Sandra
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Unusual places in Shanghai with Martin
我们有机会参观优质柞丝绸马蒂n. It was the second time for us in the city but I must say that Martin made our experience great. We were looking for something different, I love art and Martin inserted in the schedule extra spot to visit such us M50 district. We are used to travel a lot for work, and I can tell that by far Martin is one of the most professional tour guide I have ever met. He was extremely passionate about is work, prepared to talk about topics not only related to the city itself but on different cultures. Super. Strongly recommend a tour with him. more
Aug 2023, Isabella L
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Excellent Guide makes an enjoyable tour
My husband booked a two day guided tour with China Highlights for our family whilst in Shanghai. Our guide Jessie was extremely knowledge and professional and made both our days very enjoyable and insightful. I highly recommend booking a trip with Jessie. more
Aug 2023, Sue
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Shanghai from many perspectives with Kris!
Our first stop was in Shanghai where we were blessed to spend a few days exploring the city with Kris, our amazing tour guide. He is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and committed to curating the trip you want. There were a few things that were not on our original itinerary and Kris went out of his way to rearrange the schedule and make sure we got to see and do them all. He made excellent recommendations for evening activities after our tours were complete. It was fun to get to know one another and share our stories of cross-cultural travels and adventures. I plan to recommend China Highlights's tour with Kris to everyone I know heading to Shanghai! more
Jul 2023, Kaila W
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Shanghai & Suzhou.
My friends and I, group of four pax visited Shanghai, Hangzhou and Huangshan in June. We had 3 tour guides for the various cities. Our first guide, Martin was indeed very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. He was our guide for Suzhou. His explanation and description of Suzhou in English is very good. In Shanghai, he helped us locate the places we wanted to go for our shopping and restaurants to go to. He was very helpful when picking us at airport and train stations and also helping us check in for our train departure at the ever busy Hongqiao station. Martin is highly recommended if you’re looking to visit Shanghai. more
Jul 2023, CindyBeezeebee
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Wonderful Shanghai Experience
We took a tour in Shanghai and Kris was our guide. He has a lot of knowledge on the sights we went to, such as the Yuyuen garden, Shanghai tower, French neighborhood. He was very friendly and flexible. If you visit Shanghai ask for Kris, he is a great guide that gave us a wonderful experience . Enrique Marin more
Jul 2023, 840enriquem
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Fantastic guide - Kris in Shanghai
I traveled with a friend to Shanghai got 1 day visit and we were very lucky to have Kris as our guide. He was fantastic and very accommodating to all our needs, he spent most of the day with us which was very much appreciated during the crazy heatwave and large crowds during Dragon boat festival. His English was also excellent and we learnt a lot about Chinese culture (thank you for sharing!) We’ll be be very happy to recommend Kris for future trips in Shanghai! more
Jul 2023, Dreamer47605491007
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Private Shanghai Tour during Dragon Boat Festival 2023
我和一个朋友在Jun2023前往中国,我们had Kris as our private tour guide in Shanghai. He was extremely professional & entertaining and spent the entire day with us supporting a flexible itinerary. He was very knowledgeable about the sights and relevant history and of course current affairs. He greeted us early morning at our hotel lobby and helped transport us (with a private driver) throughout the day. Though we were meant to see the bund during the day, he was willing to join us into the evening during the Dragon Boat Festival so that we felt safe and supported. We really enjoyed our day with Kris and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him or request his services again when we we are back! more
Jul 2023, Ankita K
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Shanghai with teens
我们的导游马丁很崇拜,但很酷。我们学习t a lot about the city, totally recommended. It was a great experience for us and our teen children. Our guide Martin was flexible cult and cool. Our family of 2 adults and 2 teens were very happy. Martin helped us solve some issues we had at the airport when leaving Shanghai. more
Jul 2023, gilberto b
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Places a must to visit
很长一段路要走,但天气的昆仑(ex Hilton ) hotel fabulous and well situated , whilst shanghai fast becoming my favourite city in the world , fabulous resteraunts , fabulous shopping , go to the Bund , people’s square , shanghai museum , indoor market , Jade Temple , yuan gardens , West Nanjing road and Bar Rouge at night. more
Jul 2023, Peter R
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Shanghai - expert local tourguide, Kris
Had the most amazing time in Shanghai, thanks to our nice and helpful expert local tourguide, Kris! more
Jun 2023, Lilla L
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Shanghai Tour with China Highlights
We recently had the pleasure of going on a tour of Shanghai with China Highlights, and our guide, Ryan! This experience was wonderful, we were able to visit some of Shanghai’s most iconic locations, such as The Bund, the French Concession, and even got to try some famous Xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao. Overall, really recommend China Highlights. more
May 2023, Francesco
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Shanghai 1/2 day Tour
上海是一个现代化的大城市和一些脱颖而出architecture modern and from the past. Ryan was again my guide for Shanghai City tour. We started with Yu Garden which was already flocked with domestic tourists! Yu Garden is the highlight of my Shanghai tour. Ryan explained and pointed out what makes it so special.The next thing we did was go to the Bund and Ryan #chinahighlights, explained some of the prominent old banking buildings and the clock tower tgat was made by the same person that did Big Ben in London. Also pointed out and we entered in disguise, was Peace Hotel. That was another highlight being an Art Deco style original and the Old Men Jazz Band. Then we walked a bit and our driver took us to The Shanghai Tower. Before you go up there is a whole display of Skyscrapers so you can see how the Shanghai Tower ranks. Going up was easy and you would never know you were going so high. It was a rainy morning but visibility was ok. You can walk all the way around to get a view of Shanghai. There were locks you can buy, marketed a "lucky", so you can lock your wishes up there. There is also a metal tree where you can ties a wish ribbon. We then went to the French Quarter which are some old buildings now occupied by modern venues and shops. I was told the area was a night spot so things were just opening. Nanjing Rd is the Retail Heaven thoroughfare, pedestrian only traffic. If you are shopping for name brand you will find it there, just like any other major city. Chinese tourists were out and about, I know they are happy! more
May 2023, JeanneC
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Speak about travel in China means speak about China Highlights!
Chris, in Shanghai; Alice, in Lijiang; Lee, in Dali; May, in Kunming; and others that we have previously known no less efficient and friendly. My greetings and respect to all of them and also to the drivers. They all have a very good command of the English language and strive to make one dedicate themselves to enjoying what China offers us. Thank you, China, and thank you China Highlights!! Just tell you: SEE YOU IN OUR NEXT TRIP!!! more
May 2023, Horacio S
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Our consultant Roger Li did a wonderful…
Our consultant Roger Li did a wonderful job of making a great private tour plan for my husband who wanted to add on a few days in China. He incorporated everything my husband wanted to see and made a great tour based on our needs and wants.Roger Li was very easy to get in touch with and was always available and accessible when we had questions. more
Apr 2023, Brian
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Shanghai's Best
My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by exploring China ; and first in our bucket list was Shanghai and Beijing.We booked this trip via China Highlights, and we had a tour guide , named Ryan, who made our trip memorable by not only sending us to Shanghai's best spots but most of all his rich knowledge on all these places. One of the best part is that he communicates very well, fluent in English, made us understand China's culture, its stories behind those buildings and sceneries. No doubt will recommend this travel site to our friends, "High Five" to China Highlights and again kudos to our tour Guide, RYAN, see you again !! more
Mar 2023, Jocelyn So G
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We cantailor-make your itineraryaccording to your interests. Check out some of our other popular Shanghai itineraries for inspiration:
Side Trip Itineraries from Shanghai
There are many worthwhile destinations around Shanghai that are easily accessible by high-speed trains. The tours range from 2 days to 1 week.
1. 5-Day Shanghai, Huangzhou, and Suzhou Itinerary
Hangzhou and Suzhou are the most classical choices for a trip from Shanghai. They are three of the most important cities in the Yangtze Delta region. They feature exquisite Chinese gardens, water towns, and tea experiences.
A trip combining Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou will take about 4 to 5 days: two days in Shanghai, one day in Hangzhou, and one day in Suzhou.
- Days 1‒2: Shanghai city exploration.
- Day 3: Hangzhou (West Lake and tea experience).
- Day 4: Suzhou (visiting gardens and a water town).
- Day 5: Back to Shanghai.
Don't miss West Lake in Hangzhou. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride and immerse yourself in its beauty. Visit a tea village and learn about the process of tea making while tasting China's most-adored tea.
In Suzhou, visit Lingering Garden, take a rickshaw through Suzhou's old town, and walk around Tongli Water Town to admire its ancient architecture.
2. A Trip to Huangshan from Shanghai
Huangshan is also a popular destination located about three hours from Shanghai by high-speed rail, especially if you are looking for a place to relax and get away from the busy city.
Spending three or four days in Huangshan is suitable:
- Day 1: Visit Bishan village.
- Day 2: Go up to the Yellow Mountain and stay a night.
- Day 3: Go down the mountain, enjoy a hot spring, and return to Shanghai.
Bishan village is a quiet and quaint village where you could enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the unspoiled natural beauty. Take a stroll through the village to see the Hui-style architecture and cycle around the field to breathe in the freshness of the air.
Go up to Yellow Mountain to see the stunning sunrise and sunset views. Experience the magnificence of the mountain amid the changing sea of clouds. Finally, enjoy a cozy hot spring to refresh yourself.
3. A Tour to Jingdezhen from Shanghai
If you are interested in China's porcelain and want to know the story behind this craft, Jingdezhen is the best choice. A journey of about 4 to 6 hours by high-speed trains will take you into the world of Chinese porcelain. You may need about three days in Jingdezhen:
- Day 1: Visit a museum and ceramic galleries for a basic understanding.
- Day 2: Visit the studios of reclusive artists and try to make your own ceramic.
- Day 3: Go to Yaoli Ancient Town, where you could find the secret ingredient of porcelain.
If you are looking for lovely and delicate porcelain, you could pay a visit to a local porcelain market. An afternoon tea in a cafe converted from a 40-year-old porcelain factory will also be an interesting experience.
4. A Hengdian Tour from Shanghai
If you love watching Chinese costume TV series or movies and want to walk into the scenes, Hengdian World Studios, China's largest movie and television base, is recommended. To tour the highlights of Hengdian World Studio, you may need about 2 days:
- Day 1: Visit 2 popular studios and enjoy a fun night at an amusement park.
- Day 2: Visit 3 popular studios with cycling experience.
The five studios we selected are the most common scenes in movies and TV shows. You could try on different ancient costumes and take wonderful photos. If you're lucky, you could watch filming in action and meet a Chinese superstar.
Tour China with Us
All our tours can be adjusted as much as you like. We aim to create an ideal itinerary based on your interests, group size, budget, and other requirements. Feel free tocontact us for personalized travel consultation.