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The Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River from the Bund, Shanghai, at night

No. 34 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Shanghai

China

China's biggest city: the Bund, the Pudong skyline, classical gardens and great food.

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Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Shanghai is No. 34 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. China's largest city lies on the Huangpu River near the mouth of the Yangtze and is the country's leading commercial centre.

Grand early 20th-century buildings line the Bund, facing the towers of Pudong across the river, including the 632-metre Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. The city also has classical gardens, leafy old neighbourhoods, major museums and some of China's best food.

Pavilions and ponds in Yu Garden, Shanghai
Pavilions and ponds in Yu Garden, Shanghai. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, source

Best time to go

Spring (April to May) and autumn (late September to November) are the most comfortable seasons.

Summer is hot and humid, with a rainy season in June and July and occasional typhoons. Winter is cool and damp. Avoid travelling during national holidays, when sights are very crowded.

Top sights

  • 1

    The Bund

    The riverside promenade lined with historic banks and hotels, best at night when the Pudong skyline is lit up.

  • 2

    Lujiazui and the Shanghai Tower

    Pudong's financial district has observation decks high in the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower.

  • 3

    Yu Garden

    A classical garden laid out in the 16th century, with pavilions, rockeries and ponds, next to a busy bazaar.

  • 4

    Shanghai Museum East In our Top 100 Museums

    The Shanghai Museum's new home in Pudong, with ancient Chinese bronzes, jade, ceramics and painting.

  • 5

    Shanghai Museum on People's Square In our Top 100 Museums

    The museum's original building in the city centre remains open.

  • 6

    Former French Concession

    Plane-tree-lined streets with old villas, cafés and boutiques, including the lanes of Tianzifang.

  • 7

    Zhujiajiao

    A canal town with stone bridges on the city's western edge, about an hour away by metro.

Getting there

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) handles most international flights. The Maglev train runs to Longyang Road metro station in about 8 minutes, and Metro Line 2 also serves the airport.

Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), closer to the centre, is on Metro Lines 2 and 10 and sits next to Hongqiao railway station, with high-speed trains to Beijing in about 4.5 hours.

Getting around

The metro is huge, cheap and signed in English. Pay with a transport card or a QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as DiDi are inexpensive; have your destination written in Chinese.

Practical tips

Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY). Most payments are made by phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign cards; set one up before you travel and carry some cash as a back-up.
Language
Mandarin Chinese; Shanghainese is also spoken. English is limited outside hotels and major sights.
Apps & internet
Many international apps and websites, including Google services, do not work in mainland China. Download offline maps and a translation app before you travel.
Safety
Shanghai is generally very safe. The police emergency number is 110.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries, can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens need a visa, or can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme with an onward ticket to a third country. Rules change often, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.
Power
220 V, 50 Hz; plug types A, C and I.

Official information: Meet in Shanghai (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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