Must-see Shanghai tourist attractions

#1. Xitiandi Shikumen Complex:

Experience Shanghai’s history and today in the former French Concession

The French Concession in Shanghai originated in 1849, reached its peak in the 1930s, and finally retired from history in 1943. In those days, the French built houses within the concession area and sold them to wealthy local merchants who needed refuge. The result was a mixture of Chinese and Western architecture in the old days of Shanghai. Shanghai’s reputation as the “Paris of the East” also comes from the French Concession.

Shanghai’s Xintiandi Complex is one of the most representative of the city’s historic buildings and its commercial real estate development. Strolling through this neighborhood of old buildings, you can not only enjoy the most fashionable retail and dining but also step into the “Shikumen Museum,” where you will instantly travel back in time to the old Shanghai homes of 100 years ago. Also, you can visit the site of the 1st National Congress of the CCP here.

Shanghai tourist attractions #2: Lujiazui

Shanghai Lujiazui is located on the banks of the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area, facing the Bund across the river. It is the headquarters of many multinational banks in China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) and East Asia. It is also one of the most influential financial centers in China.

Shanghai tourist attractions #3 The Bund

The Bund, located on the bank of the Huangpu River, is a Chinese historic and cultural district. Since 1844, the Bund area has been designated as a British concession. It has become an accurate portrayal of the Ten Mile Foreign Market, the starting point of the old Shanghai concession area, and the beginning of the entire modern city of Shanghai. After Shanghai became a commercial port, foreign banks, commercial banks, associations, and newspapers began to gather here. The Bund became the country’s financial center at the Far East. There are 52 classical revival buildings with different styles on the Bund. Known as the Bund World Architecture Exhibition Group, it is an important historical site and representative building in modern China and one of the landmarks of Shanghai.

Shanghai tourist attractions #4 Yu Garden

Yu Garden was originally a private garden with more than 400 years of history. There are more than 40 ancient Chinese buildings in Yu Garden, covering more than 30 acres. The most famous one in the garden is a stone named Yulinglong. Yu Linglong is known as one of the three rare stones in the south of the Yangtze River.

#6 ChengHuang Temple Bazaar

Chenghuang Temple Bazaar includes characteristic commercial street, snack street, Chenghuang Temple and Yu Garden. Among them, Chenghuang Temple and Yu Garden are attractions that need to buy tickets to enter. A variety of traditional Chinese commodities are sold in the commercial street here. Snack Street is well-known for its Shanghai snacks. People can also watch the performances of traditional Chinese handicraft performers. It is worth mentioning that a grand traditional Chinese lantern festival is held here every Lantern Festival.

#7 ZhuJiaJiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, located in Qingpu District, is a typical Chinese ancient water town. The waterways between the streets and alleys crisscross, and the environment is exquisite. The town has scenic spots such as gardens, historical sites, and many traditional Chinese snacks and little shops. It is the first choice for visiting ancient towns around Shanghai.

#8 Shanghai Teahouses

Experience the Chinese tea ceremony that has been passed down for over 1000 years

Whisked Tea is one of the forms of the Chinese tea ceremony. Back in the Song Dynasty, more than 800 years ago, Whisked Tea was one of China’s most mainstream ways of drinking Tea. Like the barista who makes lattes nowadays, the tea artisan who makes Whisked Tea uses ground tea paste as the material and adds water to make the tea broth change into various patterns.

The dim sum served with Tea originated from the imperial palaces of the Song Dynasty. Each exquisite and small dim sum fuses oriental aesthetics with gastronomy to the extreme.

A visit to a teahouse that serves Song-style Tea is the perfect way to experience traditional Chinese culture, oriental aesthetics, and Chinese Tea.

Find the best Shanghai teahouses here.