240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
The 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows citizens of 54 countries to stay in Shanghai for up to 10 days without a visa, provided they hold a connecting ticket to a third country or region.
How to apply:
- Apply through the National Immigration Administration app before arrival
- Required documents: passport, connecting flight ticket, hotel booking confirmation
- Process your entry at the Shanghai port of entry
- Stay limited to Shanghai municipality — cannot travel to other provinces
Important: If you need to leave Shanghai for Suzhou, Hangzhou, or other cities, you must apply for a regular visa separately.
The Bund: Five Sections, Five Experiences
Most travel guides treat "the Bund" as a single spot, but it's actually a waterfront stretching dozens of kilometers along the Huangpu River.
It's divided into five sections: North Bund, Waitanyuan (The Bund Source), Central Bund, Bund BFC, and South Bund (Old Dock). Each has its own character and best visiting times.
North Bund — Best Views of Lujiazui
Best time: Evening to night
- Shanghai Waterworks Museum: Unique architecture with fortress-like walls and turrets
- SICOM Plaza: Rooftop observation deck opened in 2025, ¥230 entry
- Rainbow Bridge: Popular photo spot, illuminated at night
- Waibaidu Bridge: The most historically significant bridge over Suzhou Creek
Tip: The North Bund offers a completely different angle of Lujiazui compared to the Central Bund — better photo opportunities and far fewer crowds.
Waitanyuan — A Street Through a Century
Best time: 3 PM to night
- Former British Consulate: Well-preserved lawn and building, filming location for the movie "Tiny Times"
- Yuanmingyuan Road West: Row of pre-1949 foreign government offices, now restaurants and auction houses
- Christmas Special: The area explodes with energy during Christmas week — foreign vendors, street performances, the most festive atmosphere in Shanghai
Tip: Stand on Yuanmingyuan Road looking toward the British Consulate, with Lujiazui's skyscrapers behind it — your gaze literally穿越es 100+ years of history.
Central Bund — The Classic
This is where every tour group goes, and where you'll find the most photos online.
Best time: Night (for photos); daytime (for architecture history)
Tip: Daytime photos of Lujiazui from the Central Bund aren't great — come at night instead.
Bund BFC — The Rising Star
Best time: All day
- Cultural Creative Lane (underground): Full of creative products and souvenirs
- Giant Rose: New photo spot added in 2023 (pop-up, sometimes replaced with moon or other installations)
Tip: This is the best-value photo spot for Lujiazui — Shanghai Tower sits right in the center of the frame, and daytime shots far surpass the Central Bund.
South Bund (Old Dock) — The Forgotten Waterfront
Character: No iconic buildings, no bustling commercial district, but the waterfront path undulates in waves with Japanese zen garden styling along the sides.
Note: The Old Dock commercial area closed in 2025 due to its 2km distance from the nearest metro station.
Must-See Attractions
Lujiazui's Three Skyscrapers — Go Vertical
Shanghai Tower:
- 52F朵云书院 (Cloud Bookstore): ¥50/person, Instagram-famous bookstore
- 118F Observation Deck: ¥180/person, China's tallest building
Jin Mao Tower: Only recommended for the 56F Grand Hyatt seafood buffet at ¥388/person.
Yu Garden / City God Temple — Old Shanghai Elegance
Admission: Yu Garden ¥40 (peak season), City God Temple free
How to visit:
- City God Temple: Worth visiting, but don't eat there — overpriced and inauthentic
- Yu Garden: Best in afternoon or evening, beautiful at night
Nanjing Road — Shanghai's Original Bustle
Heritage shops: No.1 Food Store, Shanghai Harbin Food Factory, Kaisiling, Ruby, Shencheng.
Disneyland — Mainland China's Only One
Tickets: ¥399-699 (regular-peak days)
Issue: Crowded every day — holidays, weekends, even weekdays. Express passes still mean queues.
Good news: Facilities are brand new.
Huangpu River Ferry — ¥2 River Cruise
Fare: ¥2/person
Best ferry pier: Lujiabang Road Pier (near Nanpu Bridge).
Museums
Shanghai Museum: 10/10 stars, free, reservation required. East Branch and Main Branch.
Pudong Art Museum: 10/10 stars, Shanghai's top-tier art museum.
Shanghai Postal Museum: 9/10 stars, free, no reservation needed, century-old building.
Citywalk: How Shanghai Youth Spend Weekends
Rating: 10/10 stars
Key streets: Wukang Road / Anfu Road / Julu Road / Yuyuan Road / South Shaanxi Road / Changle Road / Jinxian Road / Fumin Road
If you want to experience "a relaxing Shanghai weekend," just plan a route around these streets.
How to do it:
- Start with brunch
- Browse select shops, designer brands, vintage stores
- Explore markets and galleries
- Coffee, small exhibitions, sunshine, photos
Dinner at Jinxian Road:
- Shanghainese: Lanxin / Maolong
- Fusion: La Maison
- Steak: Nolita / Torres
Drinks at Julu Road / Fumin Road / Changle Road:
- Speak Low: Hidden behind a bookcase in a shop — 4 floors, the magic is on the 3rd
- Lieben: Top bar in Julu 758, perfect for dates, dark ambiance with outdoor terrace
- JZ Club: Jazz bar with different performances nightly (ticket required)
Where to Eat: Local Favorites
Shanghainese Cuisine
Dashuchun (Shengjianbao): ¥30/person. Small but cute pan-fried buns.
Yunhe Noodle House (Crab Roe Noodles): ¥260/person. One of the best crab roe noodle shops.
Rui Fuyuan: ¥160/person. Try: white-cut eel silk, snail-stuffed pork, braised pork belly.
Fu 1088: ¥655/person. Black Pearl one-diamond, Shanghai's legendary high-end Shanghainese.
Aniang Noodle: ¥45/person. Michelin Bib Gourmand, lunch queue king.
Cantonese Cuisine
Xiangjiang Mingyuan: ¥65/person. Try: beef brisket with tendon, rice noodle rolls, egg beef rice.
Heshunfa茶冰室: ¥80/person. Try: osmanthus soy sauce chicken, pineapple bun.
Sichuan Cuisine
Zhuwu Sichuan: ¥130/person. Try: stir-fried chicken giblets, spicy bullfrog pot.
Chongqing Xushanhe Hot Pot: ¥200/person. Shanghai's best hot pot — freshest ingredients, best prices.
Japanese Cuisine
Wanhuo Sakaba: ¥230/person. Try: foie gras, sea bream sashimi. Japanese izakaya packed with Japanese expats.
Sushi Qing (Omakase): ¥880/person. Top Omakase at this price point.
Hyakushou家: ¥90/person. Shanghai's best Japanese tonkatsu (pork cutlet).
Korean Cuisine
Gin Pork: ¥225/person. Korean BBQ, queue king, both photogenic and delicious.
Pado: ¥361/person. Creative Korean, requires WeChat reservation, far superior to most Korean queue kings.
Western Cuisine
Nolita: ¥400/person. Try: M3 filet with foie gras, seafood risotto.
Primotable: ¥600/person. Try: tomahawk, Wellington, ribeye.
Avoid
- Eating inside City God Temple: Overpriced and inauthentic
- Tianzifang: Declined and quiet, skip it
- 1933 Old Millfun: Former slaughterhouse turned creative park, nothing special
Where to Stay
Hotels only — no Airbnbs. Most Airbnbs have poor locations, facilities, and after-sales service.
Under ¥100 (Hostels)
- Duoyuan Hostel: Central, safe, chain brand
- Yijian Senlin Hostel: Central, safe, chain brand
¥100-200
Home Inn Neo: Famous economy chain, great value, many locations.
¥200-300
Orange Hotel: Boutique chain, one step above Home Inn, better comfort.
¥300-600
- Campanile Hotel: Near the Bund, upscale atmosphere
- JI Hotel / Atour: Suite great value, friendly staff
¥600-700
- Orange Crystal: Chain hotel, hard to go wrong at this price
- Jing'an Yipai Hotel: Prime location, new facilities, good service
¥800+
- Jing'an Puyuan: ¥800+
- Grand Hyatt / Pudong Regent / Portman Ritz-Carlton: ¥1,000+
- Waldorf Astoria / Bund W / The Peninsula: ¥2,000+
- Bvulgari / Capella Jiànyèlǐ: ¥5,000+
Getting Around Shanghai
Airport to City
Pudong Airport:
- Metro Line 2: Direct to Pudong Airport Station
- Maglev: ¥50 on-site, ~8 minutes to Longyang Road
- Suburban Railway: Every 15 min, ¥26, 45 min direct to Hongqiao
Hongqiao Airport:
- Metro Line 2 / Line 10: Direct to Hongqiao Airport
City Transport
Metro:
- Shanghai's metro is extremely developed — 20 lines covering the entire city
- Payment: Alipay transit card (Travel → Metro → Shanghai Metro)
- Discount: Electronic transit card — 10% off after ¥70/month
- Fare: Base ¥3 (~4 stops), +¥1 per 10km
- Last train: Most lines around 10:30 PM
Taxi:
- Base fare ¥14 (electric ¥16), first 3km
- After 3km: ¥2.7/km
Bikeshare:
- Shanghai has excellent cycling infrastructure
- Warning: Some roads prohibit cycling (Huaihai Road, Hengshan Road) — fines apply
10-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Nanjing Road + Central Bund
Arrive afternoon, check in. Evening: Nanjing Road → Waitanyuan → Central Bund night view. Night: Waitanyuan Starbucks.
Day 2: North Bund + Sihang Warehouse
Morning: North Bund (Waterworks Museum → SICOM Plaza → Rainbow Bridge). Afternoon: Waibaidu Bridge → Sihang Warehouse. Evening: North Bund waterfront night view.
Day 3: Yu Garden + Xintiandi + Jing'an Temple
Morning: Yu Garden → City God Temple → Jiuqu Bridge. Afternoon: Nanjing Road → Xintiandi → Site of the First CPC National Congress. Evening: Jing'an Temple night view.
Day 4: Lujiazui + Ocean Aquarium
Morning: Shanghai Tower 118F → Cloud Bookstore. Afternoon: Ocean Aquarium → Binjiang Avenue. Evening: Grand Hyatt 56F seafood buffet.
Day 5: Citywalk + French Concession
Morning: Wukang Road → Anfu Road → Yuyuan Road. Afternoon: Julu Road → Fumin Road → Changle Road → Jinxian Road dinner. Evening: Julu Road bars.
Day 6: Disneyland Full Day
Full day: Shanghai Disneyland. Evening: Watch the fireworks before leaving.
Day 7: Museum Day
Morning: Shanghai Museum East → Shanghai Museum Main. Afternoon: Pudong Art Museum → Postal Museum. Evening: Lujiazui dinner.
Day 8: Shopping Districts + Culture
Morning: Architecture Model Museum → Jing'an shopping. Afternoon: Huaihai Road / Xintiandi. Evening: Nanjing West Road dinner.
Day 9: Bund BFC + South Bund + Riverside Park
Morning: Bund BFC → Huangpu River ferry. Afternoon: South Bund waterfront → Riverside Park. Evening: Central Bund night view.
Day 10: Wrap-up + Departure
Morning: Brush Museum or sleep in. Lunch: Final Shanghainese meal. Afternoon: Head to airport, depart.
Practical Tips & Pitfalls
Weather & Clothing
| Season | Temperature | What to Wear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 10-25°C | Light jacket + long sleeves | Rainy season, bring umbrella |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 25-35°C | T-shirt + shorts, sun protection | Hot and humid, watch for heatstroke |
| Autumn (Sep-Nov) | 15-28°C | Light jacket + long sleeves | Best season to visit |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 0-10°C | Heavy coat + sweater + scarf | Damp cold — worse than northern China |
Useful Apps
Transport: Metro大都会 (Shanghai Metro), Amap (Gaode), DiDi (ride-hailing)
Food: Dianping (restaurant reviews), Meituan (delivery)
Attractions: Shanghai Disneyland Resort app, Ctrip / Fliggy
Souvenirs
Food: International Hotel butterfly cookies, Guangmingcun meat mooncakes, Wangjiasha green tea rice cakes
Misc: Wukang Road themed post office, Disney flagship store, Shanghai Museum gift shop
Avoid Crowds
Best times: Weekday mornings, nighttime, off-season (November, March)
Avoid: Weekends and holidays, summer (July-August), Golden Weeks
Budget travel? Absolutely! Shanghai is very safe, and metro + bikeshare can take you anywhere.