The international architecture of the Bund faces the soaring towers of Lujiazui across the river, and the plane-tree lanes of the French Concession hold old Shanghai's elegance — the Eastern gateway where tradition meets the future.
Three routes — from the Bund skyline to the plane-tree French Concession and the Jiangnan water towns.
The Bund Skyline
1 dayColonial facades by day, dazzling Lujiazui lights by night, both banks from a Huangpu cruise.
See full route →Plane-Tree Quarter
1 daySnack around the City God Temple by Yu Garden, then amble the shaded old villas of Wukang Road and Xintiandi.
See full route →Water Towns
1 dayCanal-side old towns just outside the city — rowboats and arched bridges, the slow Jiangnan life.
See full route →The colour of Shanghai-style culture: shikumen lanes, qipao and calendar art, Shanghai opera and Jiangnan pingtan.
Rich, dark-sauced Benbang cooking: soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, braised pork and scallion-oil noodles.