Shanghai in 5 Days: Gardens, Neighbourhoods and the Bund

Start at Yu Garden for its rockeries, ponds and covered passages: this is the old town’s main garden visit. Go into the garden itself before exploring the neighbouring bazaar and temple, then have lunch in the surrounding streets.

Continue through the old town to the temple beside Yu Garden and the bazaar. Visit for its courtyards and shrines, then have lunch in the surrounding streets before heading towards the river.

Walk the Bund’s promenade for the contrast between the old bank buildings and Pudong’s towers across the Huangpu. Start near the southern end and walk north towards the Peace Hotel; Nanjing Road turns inland from here.

Board the 45-minute sightseeing loop from Shiliupu Wharf after the Bund walk on Day 1. You see the Bund’s historic frontage and Pudong’s towers together from the river; keep Nanjing Road brief if you choose an evening sailing. Shanghai’s official listing explains the departure points and ticket channels.

Make Shanghai Tower the skyline visit for the Pudong day, using its observation deck for views over the river and city. Visit the East Campus of Shanghai Museum first, then take the metro or a taxi to Lujiazui in the afternoon.

Start the former French Concession day in Fuxing Park, where morning walkers, dancers and musicians use the paths and open spaces. From here, the tree-lined streets around Sinan Road are the point of the walk, rather than a list of separate attractions.

Explore Tianzifang’s narrow lanes, converted houses and small shops around Taikang Road. Stop for lunch here or on a nearby street; the appeal is wandering through the lanes. Take a taxi or walk back north towards Xintiandi for the evening.

End the day at Xintiandi, where restored shikumen houses now contain restaurants and shops. It offers a polished version of Shanghai’s lane architecture after Tianzifang’s smaller passages. Use it for dinner and an evening walk, rather than another long sightseeing stop.

Jing’an Temple sits between busy shopping streets and office towers, with golden roofs above the courtyards. Visit the temple interior for the halls and Buddhist statues, then cross to Jing’an Park for a break before travelling to Jade Buddha Temple.

The small park opposite Jing’an Temple is a pause between temple visits. Sit by the pond or walk through the shaded paths; lunch around the surrounding streets fits here. Jade Buddha Temple is the next visit, reached by taxi or public transport.

Finish the afternoon at Jade Buddha Temple, a working Buddhist temple known for its jade statues. Visit the main halls and courtyards, then have dinner nearby or return to your hotel. This is a separate journey from Jing’an, rather than a short walk.

Start the Hongkou day at Lu Xun Park for its lake, shaded paths and morning neighbourhood activity. The writer Lu Xun’s tomb and memorial museum are within the park area, so this is one combined visit before heading south to the refugee museum.

The museum tells the story of Jewish refugees who found shelter in Shanghai during the Second World War, including the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue. Spend the afternoon here, then walk towards the North Bund waterfront for a final view across the Huangpu.

The Shanghai World Financial Center is the distinctive bottle-opener-shaped tower beside Shanghai Tower. Add a short walk past its base on the Pudong day if you enjoy skyscraper architecture; Shanghai Tower remains the main observation-deck visit in this itinerary.

Families could replace part of the Pudong museum visit with Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, close to the Oriental Pearl Tower. It is a substantial indoor attraction, rather than an extra stop to squeeze in after a museum and observation deck.