Just Back from Shanghai: A Bloody, Tear-Stained Warning!!! 😭😭😭

[Roosevelt Reynolds]

Hello, for those planning a trip to Shanghai, here are some tips worth considering!

• Early Nighttime Views Around The Bund
  • The famous Bund (scene of beautiful old buildings along the river) typically turns off its lights around 10 p.m. If you wish to capture night views and photographs, don’t miss this time window!
• Tips for Budget-Friendly Water Tours Along the Huangpu River
  • Want to get a view of both sides of the Huangpu River by boat? Try the 2-yuan ferry service! The experience might not be as luxurious as the fancy cruise ships, but the sight-seeing value is unbeatable, and you can also taste local water transportation.
• Accommodation Recommendation Near Disney
  • If your itinerary includes a visit to Disneyland, you can stay in Xujiahui. This area houses a bustling commercial district, and it’s easy to get around via Metro Line 11 that directly connects to Disneyland.
• Convenience of Riding Codes
  • In Shanghai, there's no need to buy individual tickets for buses or metro; simply use the "Public Transportation Riding Code" on your mobile device, such as Alipay or WeChat, making transport super convenient!
• Avoiding Crowds at The Bund
  • Deterred by crowds at The Bund? You can make your way over to the North Bund instead! You'll still enjoy classic views of The Bund, as well as capturing a panorama including the world-renowned old-style international architecture and the “Three Towers” across the river (Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Jinmao Tower).
• Shikumen Architecture & Tour Along Wukang Road
  • The popular Wukang House, a uniquely structured triangular old apartment building, provides excellent photography opportunities especially in the morning, which becomes overrun with people starting from the afternoon. With poor light conditions in the evening, photos may lose some quality then.
  • Post photo-shoot, you can stroll along the trendy Anfu Road nearby, as well as visit nearby attractions like the Catholic Church of St John’s in Xujiahui and the new Xujiahui Library, a very beautiful library space.
• Essentials Shanghai 'Citywalk' Route
  • For a delightfully leisurely Citywalk (walking tour), recommended spots include Xin Tian Di (fashionable and upperclass), Huaihai Middle Road (shopping street), Zhyang Garden on Nanjing West Road (stone gatehouse building complex), Nanjing West Road (near Station Road), Jing'an Temple (a millennium-old Buddhist temple at the heart of the city), and Yi Yuan Road (housing distinctive small stores and old residences). These places provide quintessentially Shanghai charm!
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower Views
  • In my opinion, the personal opinion here is that there’s no strong necessity to spend money going up the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Taking shots on external pedestrian bridges or around the Bund Source (the starting point of the Bund history) produces equally satisfying results.
• Tian Zifang
  • Currently, Tian Zifang doesn't seem to have many special stores anymore, and the number of visitors has decreased…therefore, it is not recommended to make a special trip here.
• Reliability of Metro for Travel
  • There’s rarely a need to rent a car for sightseeing in Shanghai; virtually all attractions are accessible via metro, especially during rush hour when traffic congestion can extend journey time considerably.
• Tips for Nighttime Tours at Yuyuan and Chinese God Temple
  • Yuyuan (classical theme park) and its adjacent Chinese God Temple are best visited at night, as illuminations bring to life a sense of charm blending classical Chinese aesthetics with modern times in Shanghai.
  • Please note: Street snacks around this area tend to be expensive without being particularly palatable – avoid purchasing them to steer clear of overpricing traps!
• Walk Along Pudong Riverside Park
  • Upon arriving at Lujiazui (this finance district brimming with skyscrapers), you can walk along the riverside park of Huangpu River or cycle there in the evening with gentle breezes brushing past as you relishing the international-style buildings across the river on The Bund.
  • The adjacent Pudong Art Museum showcases breathtaking light shows all year round, even without tickets to enter its interior space.
• Transport Options Between Airport/Train Station and City Center
  • Whether at Hongqiao International Train Station (also serving an airport) or Pudong International Airport, there are metro lines directly connected to the city center, offering more convenience than taking a taxi for long commutes. Shanghai has a very efficient metro system!

[Cathy Gulgowski]

After checking out many Shanghai travel guides, I feel like yours, Teacher Si, are the most practical. Other so-called 'guides' seem to be for high-level travelers, and I'm just an ordinary person – where would I find that much time? Anyway, Teacher Si, I've followed you!

[Kelvin Shanahan DVM]

Teacher Si really knows how to take amazing photos!

[Abel Schulist MD]

In Shanghai, the subway is always a better option than a taxi – it's faster, cheaper, and you avoid traffic jams.

[Nathan Dickinson-Steuber]

Is there a specific app for the Shanghai Metro?

[Dana Sanford]

The reason the Bund turns its lights off at night dates back to a year when Sichuan faced an electricity shortage. Many criticized Shanghai's dazzling lights at the time, so eventually, the Bund started the practice. Honestly, aren't those lights mostly for tourists anyway? Locals don't go see them every day. As long as the streetlights stay on, that's fine.

[Beulah Koelpin]

Is the Shanghai Metro open 24 hours?

[Jermaine Satterfield]

For a Huangpu River tour, the 2-yuan ferry is an option, but only before 12 PM. It's not available after noon. I just got back from Shanghai myself.

[Ms. Thelma DuBuque-Rolfson]

Oh? The guides I read said it's available in the evening too. I was actually planning to take it at night.

[Jo Douglas]

Beautiful!

[Kelvin Shanahan DVM]

For photos of the Bund, the North Bund is definitely more scenic and offers significantly closer views than from Zhongshan East No. 1 Road. As for Yuyuan Garden, we just strolled through without eating – there are plenty of other places with much better food. It's typically expensive and not very tasty there.

[Guadalupe Barton]

Hi, any recommendations for good food spots then? I'm heading to Shanghai in a couple of days.

[Dallas Durgan]

I'm planning to visit Nanjing Road and the Bund, then head to Suzhou the next day. Any suggestions on where would be a convenient place to stay? Thanks!

[Antonio Sawayn]

Following this.

[Kendra Howe]

Where's a convenient place to stay, folks?

[Andrea Hand]

I stayed at a hotel on the North Bund, and I found it quite convenient.

[April Corwin]

Where were photos 2, 7, and 9 taken?

[April Corwin]

Photo 7 is Xujiahui Cathedral, Photo 9 is Tian An 1000 Trees.

[Bonnie Beatty]

For a five-day trip, excluding flights and accommodation, roughly how much spending money would be appropriate?

[Dallas Durgan]

Alipay is perfectly fine.