Oriental Pearl Tower
Futuristic TV tower with pink spheres on a slender frame, standing on the Pudong riverside. Observation levels, including a glass-floored walkway, look over the Huangpu River and the Bund.
Shanghai
Canal towns lie nearby, while the city itself, a modern financial hub, is known for busy shopping streets, the Pudong skyline and the Bund waterfront.
Attractive locations
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, with a twisting glass shape. An indoor observation deck near the top has views over the whole city and the river.
Yu Garden
Classical Chinese garden from the Ming dynasty, in the old city, with rockeries, ponds, pavilions and carved halls. A busy bazaar of snack stalls and shops surrounds it.
Shanghai Museum
Museum of ancient Chinese art at People's Square, in a round-topped building. Famous for bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings and jade, clearly displayed over several floors.
Jade Buddha Temple
Active Buddhist temple known for two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma, one seated and one reclining. Visitors should dress modestly and keep quiet.
Jing'an Temple
Golden-roofed Buddhist temple set in the middle of a busy shopping district, a calm contrast to the tall towers around it. Incense and chanting add to the atmosphere.
Longhua Temple
Ancient Buddhist temple complex with a tall seven-storey pagoda and a large bell. It is lively around the Lunar New Year, when many people come to pray.
Shanghai Disneyland
Theme park in Pudong with a large central castle, themed lands and rides. Some attractions, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, were created especially for this park.
The Bund
A waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River lined with early twentieth-century European-style banks and trading houses. Across the river, Pudong's skyscrapers make a striking contrast, especially at night.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street, a long pedestrian stretch of department stores, shops and neon signs running toward the Bund. It stays busy from morning until late evening.
Zhujiajiao
A water town about an hour from the city, with narrow canals, stone bridges and old wooden houses where boats glide through town. It is a popular day trip from central Shanghai.
Tianzifang
A maze of narrow lanes in the former French Concession, with old shikumen houses turned into small galleries, cafes and craft shops. Wandering the alleys is the main pleasure.
Airports
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport SHA
It is about 13 km in a straight line from Shanghai.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport PVG
It is about 33 km in a straight line from Shanghai.
Sunan Shuofang International Airport WUX
It is about 103 km in a straight line from Shanghai.
Getting around
From Pudong Airport
Options from Pudong Airport, as listed by Shanghai's government, include the Maglev, which goes to Longyang Road Station where you change to Metro Line 2, and Metro Line 2 itself, which takes about an hour from Terminal 1&2 Station to People's Square. Five bus services also serve the airport. Taxi stands are outside Arrival Gate 12 at Terminal 1 and Arrival Gate 25 at Terminal 2, and a taxi ride to People's Square takes about 50 minutes.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Transportation at Shanghai airports (checked 4 Nov 2026)
From Hongqiao Airport
Hongqiao Airport lies about 13 km from downtown. Per Shanghai's government, Terminal 1 is served by Metro Line 10, which also links the two terminals, and Terminal 2 by Lines 10 and 2. Taxi stands are outside Gate 1 at Terminal 1 and Gate 4 at Terminal 2, and a ride takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The Airport Link Line connects Hongqiao and Pudong airports in about 40 minutes.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Transportation at Shanghai airports (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Airport Link Line (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Metro, buses and ferries
The metro is the backbone of Shanghai's public transport, in the government's description, with over 900 km of track on 21 lines and fares that depend on distance. The Airport Link Line and other suburban lines have their own fare structures. The city also has buses, the Maglev train and Huangpu River ferries, and the Suishenxing app produces a single code for buses, ferries and the metro.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Getting around Shanghai (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: How to take the metro in Shanghai (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Tap to Ride and passes
Shanghai Metro's Tap to Ride has covered the whole urban rail network since June 2025. At any gate you can tap eligible UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB contactless cards, or e-CNY hard wallets, provided password-free payment is enabled and the balance is sufficient. For overseas visitors, the Shanghai Pass is a prepaid card that works on subways, buses, taxis and ferries.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Shanghai Metro expands Tap to Ride to the entire network (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: How to take the metro in Shanghai (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Hailing taxis in Shanghai
Flagging down a taxi is still possible in Shanghai, the government says, although ordering online is now the most popular way. Every taxi takes cash and the Shanghai Public Transportation Card, and about 2,000 Dazhong cabs take international cards as well. A receipt, which you should ask for, lists the fare, times, driver's licence number, distance and waiting time. Drivers may not stop within 50 metres of a crossroads, so avoid hailing at intersections.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Taking a taxi in Shanghai (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Shanghai taxis to accept foreign bank cards (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Taxi apps in Shanghai
Didi Chuxing, Xiangdao and Gaode are the online platforms for ordering taxis that Shanghai's government names, and taxis can also be ordered through the city's MaaS platform. One of the major operators, Qiangsheng, provides English-language service on its hotline. Dazhong taxis carry a guide in English and Japanese with phrases for passengers who do not understand Chinese.
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Taking a taxi in Shanghai (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Shanghai Municipal Government: Shanghai taxis to accept foreign bank cards (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan4.4 °C67 mm
- Feb6.1 °C78 mm
- Mar9.9 °C88 mm
- Apr15.3 °C95 mm
- May20.6 °C104 mm
- Jun24.5 °C195 mm
- Jul28.5 °C148 mm
- Aug28.5 °C173 mm
- Sep24.6 °C137 mm
- Oct19.3 °C77 mm
- Nov13.6 °C71 mm
- Dec6.7 °C53 mm
Driest months: Jan, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
trade
China International Import Expo (CIIE)
A very large import fair is held at the National Exhibition & Convention Center.
sport
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai)
Shanghai International Circuit is where the F1 race takes place.
Official sitetrade
China International Import Expo (CIIE)
A very large import fair is held at the National Exhibition & Convention Center.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Ambulance 120. Fire 119.
ngo
Red Cross Society of China
Helps with: China's national Red Cross society. Its site covers emergency rescue and disaster relief, first aid training, humanitarian assistance, and blood and stem cell donation. The site is in Chinese only.
Who qualifies: People in China affected by disasters or needing its humanitarian services; contact the head office or a provincial branch.
Phone: 010-84025890
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) China
Helps with: The UN migration agency, with an office in Beijing. In China its work covers migration management, crisis response, international cooperation and partnerships.
Who qualifies: Migrants and government or other partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +86-10-59799695
Address: 北京市朝阳区塔园外交公寓9-1-82 100600
embassy
Foreign embassies in Beijing (Beijing government list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Beijing government's English site lists foreign embassies by letter, with chancery addresses and phones.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy. The list is for Beijing only and its page addresses are dated 2020.
local government
Shanghai tourist information and service centres
Helps with: The Shanghai government lists about 60 tourist service centres with addresses and phones, at airports, stations and in city districts. One example is the Bund Tourist Comprehensive Service Center at No 16 Xinkaihe Road.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Shanghai. Dial 021 first when calling from outside the city.
Phone: 63230896
Address: No 16 Xinkaihe Road, Huangpu district
local government
Shanghai public service hotlines (110, 120, 12345)
Helps with: The city's list of hotlines: police 110, fire 119, medical emergency 120 and government service 12345. The city's visitor guide says to call 12345 if a problem at a scenic spot is not resolved.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Shanghai. The page lists no foreign-language or tourist lines.
Phone: 12345