Things to do in Shanghai
Clustered around People's Square are a host of top museums like the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Pudong is the place to scale huge modern buildings like the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower. The Yu Yuan Garden in the Old City offers a glimpse of Ming Dynasty China.
Museums and Galleries
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1. ShanghART - Museums and Galleries
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The ShanghART warehouse and gallery are situated in Shanghai's cutting-edge artistic hub in Jingan, which houses over 100 galleries. The ShanghART gallery is the oldest modern art space in Shanghai, while the warehouse hosts bigger works and installations.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Daily 10am-6pm
Address
50, Moganshan Lu, Shanghai 200060
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6359 3923
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2. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum - Museums and Galleries
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The enormous futuristic space of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in Pudong contains 12 exhibition areas, all with interactive displays including laser musical instruments. As well as an IMAX 3D cinema, there's a '4D' cinema, where seats move and wind blows through the auditorium.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB60 (IMAX costs extra)
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 9am-5.15pm
Address
2000, Century Avenue, Shanghai 200120
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6862 2000
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3. Shanghai Museum - Museums and Galleries
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The Shanghai Museum on People's Square is one of the city's must-sees. More than 120,000 exhibits show Chinese history from the Neolithic Age to the present. The collections of jade, calligraphy, sculptures and coins are among the best in China.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free; special exhibitions RMB20
Opening hours
Daily 9am-5pm
Address
201, Renmin Da Dao, People's Square, Shanghai 200002
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6372 3500
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4. Museum of Contemporary Art - Museums and Galleries
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Shanghai's coolest museum is an airy all-glass space in the middle of People's Park. The temporary shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) are always fresh, exciting and accessible, and worth a visit for panoramic views across the city.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB20
Opening hours
Daily 10am-6pm (Wed until 10pm)
Address
Gate 7, People's Park, Shanghai 200003
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6327 9900
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5. Museum of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party - Museums and Galleries
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This small, red-brick Xintiandi house in Huangpi Nan Lu is the spot where the Communist Party was formed in July 1921. The centrepiece is a wax diorama of the First Congress, with Mao centre-stage. Displays set the historical context.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB3 (free on Sundays)
Opening hours
Daily 9am-4pm
Address
76, Xigye Lu, Shanghai 200020
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 5383 2171
Transport
Huangpi Nan Lu metro
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6. Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre - Museums and Galleries
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Even weary expatriates get excited by the giant scale model of how Shanghai will look in 2020, the biggest of its kind in the world. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre on People's Square showcases Shanghai's development through models and multimedia displays.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB30
Opening hours
Daily 9am-5pm (until 6pm Fri-Sun)
Address
100, Renmin Dadao, People's Square, Shanghai 200002
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 63722077
Attractions
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7. Yu Yuan Gardens - Attractions
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Yu Yuan Garden in the Old City features 30 Ming and Qing dynasty pavilions surrounded by lotus ponds and ornate bridges. The traditional bazaar sells kitsch souvenirs and the dumplings at Nan Xiang restaurant have attracted numerous visiting celebrities.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB30; RMB40 Apr-Jun & Sep-Nov
Opening hours
Daily 8.30am-5.30pm
Address
Around Fuyou Lu, Dongtai Lu and Henan Lu, Shanghai 200011
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6326 0830
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8. Jin Mao Tower - Attractions
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Pudong's Jin Mao Tower in Lujiazui may have lost its place as Shanghai's tallest building to the Shanghai World Financial Center but the view from the 88th floor remains the best. Enjoy cocktails at the 87th-floor Cloud 9 bar.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB88
Opening hours
Daily 8.30am-10pm
Address
88, Century Boulevard, Shanghai 200120
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 5047 5101
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9. Oriental Pearl Tower - Attractions
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The 468-metre Oriental Pearl Tower with its view towards Pudong is Shanghai's defining image. The space-age building shimmers inside and out with technicolour lighting. Inside, there's a sightseeing floor, revolving restaurant, disco hall and karaoke bars.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB35-RMB280
Opening hours
Daily 8.30am-9.30pm
Address
Feng He Lu, Shanghai 200120
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 5879 1888
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10. Sun Yat-sen's Residence - Attractions
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The Chinese Nationalist Party founder, Sun Yat-sen, lived in this villa in Shanxi Nan Lu with his wife between 1919 and 1925. The house is as it was when he died, with 2,700 fascinating volumes and photos of key figures.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB8
Opening hours
Daily 9am-4.30pm
Address
7, Xiangshan Lu, Shanghai 200020
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 6437 2954
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11. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium - Attractions
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Asia's largest aquarium in Pudong is home to sharks, penguins and 10,000 other sea creatures. There are nine sea life zones from around the world, including Antarctica and Africa. It has the world's longest underwater viewing tunnel at 55 metres.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB120; children RMB80
Opening hours
Daily 9am-6pm
Address
1388, Lujiazui Ring Road, Shanghai 200120
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 5877 9988
Special things to do
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12. Huangpu River Cruise - Special things to do
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Many companies run cruises from the Bund area and it's a great way to see Shanghai. The Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise Company runs hour-long cruises throughout the day, and a three-hour afternoon cruise. There's commentary, drinks and snacks on board.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB35-RMB70
Opening hours
Daily 9.30am-4.30pm
Address
219/153, Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, Shanghai 200002
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 54106831
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13. Shanghai Sculpture Space - Special things to do
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Few people know about this relaxing and surreal haven in the western tip of the French Concession quarter. The green parkland is dotted with giant contemporary sculptures such as Transformers robots, giant legs and a mechanical bull.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Address
570, Huaihai Xi Lu, Shanghai 200030
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14. Bund Sightseeing Tunnel - Special things to do
Show moreIf you like your tourist experiences kitsch, you'll love this bizarre train transporting tourists under the river from the Bund area to Pudong. Psychedelic lights blink, strange models appear and there's a meaningless but hypnotic commentary.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB30 single; RMB40 return
Opening hours
Daily 8am-10pm
Address
18, Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (Bund side), or Riverside Avenue (Pudong side), Shanghai 200002/200120
Transport
Taxi (Bund side) or metro to Lujiazui (Pudong side)
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15. Dragonfly Spa - Special things to do
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Dragonfly Spa is among Shanghai's best-known. Spas around Shanghai offer Japanese shiatsu and aromatic oil massages as well as facials, manicures and waxing. Couples at this branch in the French Concession quarter can try 'The Love Nest'.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
RMB225 (1 hour aroma oil massage)
Opening hours
Daily 10am-2am
Address
206, Xinle Lu, Shanghai 200030
Telephone
+86 (0) 21 5403 9982
