Shanghai Decode: Curated Itinerary for the City of Contrasts

Plan your perfect Shanghai trip with our curated itineraries. From ancient arts in the French Concession to futuristic wonders in Pudong, this guide details where to stay, dine, and explore in China's city of contrasts

Shanghai is a tale of two cities: one of serene tradition, the other of dazzling futurism. To truly experience its magic, you need a plan that embraces both. Whether you’re a cultural purist seeking the soul of old China or a modernist drawn to cutting-edge design and innovation, these curated itineraries will help you navigate the world’s most captivating urban paradox.

For the Cultural Purist

Immerse yourself in the timeless Shanghai of art, history, and quiet, tree-lined lanes.

• Stay: Seek a boutique hotel in the French Concession (like The Puli Hotel) or near the Jing’an Temple. These neighborhoods offer a peaceful, walkable reprieve from the urban buzz, with architecture that tells a century-old story.

• Experience:

Morning: Arrange a private calligraphy or ink painting workshop. Learn the philosophy behind each stroke from a local master.

Afternoon: Visit the Shanghai Museum in People’s Square for a breathtaking foundation in Chinese art history. Then, take a taxi to the M50 Art District on Moganshan Road to see where contemporary Chinese artists are pushing boundaries.

Evening: Attend a traditional Kunqu or Peking Opera performance at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

• Dine: Begin with legendary soup dumplings ( xiaolongbao) at Jia Jia Tang Bao, a no-frills institution. For dinner, experience the refined, sweet-and-savory nuances of classic Shanghainese cuisine at Old Jesse.

For the Modernist

Plunge into the high-octane, futuristic heartbeat of 21st-century Shanghai.

Stay: Opt for sky-high luxury with panoramic views. The Park Hyatt Shanghai (in the Shanghai World Financial Center) or the Ritz-Carlton Pudong place you at the epicenter of the action.

Experience:

Arrival: Ride the Maglev train from Pudong Airport at 430 km/h - your introduction to the city’s pace.

Day: Shop for luxury brands along the historic Bund (Waitan), then cross the Huangpu River via the sightseeing tunnel to explore the futuristic IFA Shanghai Galleria and the Shanghai Tower observatory for a heart-stopping view.

Night: Discover how tradition is being reinvented. Hear the ancient guqin or erhu played in a sleek jazz bar like JZ Club or during a cocktail hour at the Flair rooftop bar.

Dine: Secure a seat at Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, a multi-sensory culinary adventure. For stunning vistas with your drinks and dinner, Flair or Sir Elly’s at the Peninsula are unparalleled.

Unmissable Highlights for Every Traveler

No matter your style, these iconic experiences capture the essence of Shanghai:

1. The Bund Promenade: Walk this legendary waterfront at golden hour. To your west: the grand colonial architecture of the 1920s. To your east: the sci-fi silhouette of Pudong. It is the perfect, walkable metaphor for Shanghai itself.

Essential Shanghai Travel Tips

Getting Around: Download Didi (China’s Uber) and use the incredibly efficient metro. Purchase a Shanghai Public Transportation Card for convenience.

Money: While mobile payments (WeChat Pay/Alipay) are king, have some RMB cash for smaller vendors and markets.

Connectivity: A VPN is essential to access Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other common Western sites and apps.

Shanghai doesn’t offer a single experience; it offers a choice. Will you follow the path of the scholar’s brush, or the arc of the neon laser? The beauty is, with a little planning, you can trace both.

To understand the soul behind these places, read our portrait of the city:Shanghai Unbound: A Portrait of a City Between Ink and Steel.