Step into the Magic City
Experience a fusion of futuristic skyscrapers and colonial-era charm with this 48-hour itinerary to Shanghai, China’s global epicenter. Beyond the commonplace recommendations – like strolling along the iconic Bund at sunrise, a visit to Shanghai’s Yuyuan Garden, a climb up the Pearl Tower, a shopping spree along Nanjing East Road, or a meander through the winding back alleys of touristy Tianzifang – this guide is all about this city’s best kept secrets.
Day 1
Morning
If you happen to be in Shanghai on a Friday morning, Juqi Antique Market is worth the early morning wake up call. Equal parts trash and treasure, this market represents a bygone era of China’s past in a time-warp vortex of a building. Like one massive indoor garage sale, visitors are caught between piles of worn books, family heirlooms, and curio of yesteryear; be prepared to haggle.
Otherwise, kickstart your Shanghai weekend at a leisurely pace like a local with a jianbing – a savoury folded crepe cooked with eggs, scallions, cilantro, sweet bean paste, chili sauce, and a crispy fried wonton skin – found on every street corner for about $1USD (RMB7). One of the best in the city is at the corner of Jiagning Road and Aomen Road.
From there, walk a few blocks towards M50, Shanghai’s art district. Transformed from a former cotton mill into a creative hub in 2000, it houses over 120 galleries, artist studios, cafés, and shops. Island6 is a favorite, known for new-media art that merges traditional Chinese design with modern technology through interactive LED installations.
(Interested in more art museums? Shanghai has endless options, starting with the Museum of Art Pudong, the Long Museum, and Fotografiska – a premier international photography museum housed in a restored 1931 warehouse along Suzhou Creek.)
On the backside of M50 is an entryway onto Suzhou Creek, a 12.5-kilometer revitalized riverfront pathway tracing historical architecture, cafés, and scenic views. Head towards 1000 Trees, an eco-conscious mixed-use development housing shops, restaurants, work spaces, and ample terraces from which one can enjoy waterfront views.
From here, venture south to Jade Buddha Temple, a more authentic alternative to Jing’an Temple. Jade Buddha Temple is a renowned Song Dynasty-style, still-active Chan Buddhist monastery built in 1882. The temple houses both a seated and reclining Buddha.
Afternoon
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, head to lunch at Yaya’s, a trendy Italian-Chinese fusion joint with fun vibes and a lineup of noodle-centric plates like mapo tofu lasagna and oil-splash pappardelle.
If you’re craving a sweet finish, grab a donut, pastry, or bun at Sloppy Gin, a scoop of Asian-inspired gelato at Azabuya (they have five grades of matcha to choose from, amongst more than a dozen other flavours), or an afternoon pick-me-up coffee at Australian brunch café Egg.
From here, you’ve got two options: one for the do-ers – Zhujiajiao – and the other for the be-ers – Hengyue Xinshe Hot Springs at Anandi Hotel.
Zhujiajao is a watertown located 50 kilometers outside of downtown Shanghai. Dubbed ‘the Venice of Shanghai’, Zhujiajiao is one of the oldest settlements in China, with architecture dating back to the Song and Yuan Dynasties.
For those looking to kick back and relax, Hengyue Xinshe Hot Springs is the ideal escape, a premium wellness retreat focusing on holistic relaxation through Ayurveda and nature-inspired therapy. For an entrance fee (RMB227/$33USD), visitors have 6-hour access to unlimited saunas, hot and cold pools, hot springs, therapeutic heat rooms (Himalayan salt, jade, etc.) and wellness activities.
Evening
Return back to the city just in time to treat yourself to a splurge-worthy meal. Options span pastry-cuisine inspired tasting menu restaurant Ting by Frederic Jaros, two MICHELIN-starred Italian fine dining at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, regional Chinese cuisine centered around the concept of ‘xian’ (umami) at Ling Long, or contemporary Korean fine dining rooted in heritage recipes at NABI.
With adrenaline fueling your first 24 hours, post-dinner swing by award-winning Sober Company – a bar split across four distinct spaces: Sober Kissa (a coffee and tea cocktails-focused lounge); Sober Izakaya (sushi bar with paired tipples); Sober Sakaba (second floor bistro with 10 classics with a twist); and Tipsy (a hidden speakeasy) – before heading upstairs to INS – a multi-story vertical nightlife amusement park of sorts, featuring 10 independent nightclubs, bars, and lounges across seven floors, allowing guests to explore various musical genres, from techno to K-pop, with a single, all-access ticket.
Or, for a slightly tamer night out, throw one back at Pony Up – a neighborhood hangout serving playful libations – and, directly across the street, Gallow’s Humor – a craft cocktail watering-hole-meets-dungeon-rave through hypnotic techno, psychedelic lighting, and consciousness-expanding flavors – before ending the evening at Chair Club for some of the best R&B and hip hop live music performances in town.
Retire to your urban oasis at The Upper House, a luxury, design-drivel hotel in the heart of Jing’an, the sustainably designed The Sukhothai Shanghai, or spring for the high energy W Shanghai – The Bund, a space that blends 1920s Shanghai glamour with futuristic, bold design.
Day 2
Morning
If you’re in Shanghai on a weekend, free flow dim sum brunch at YEN (in the W Shanghai – The Bund) is a must. Running every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am-2:30pm for RMB388/person ($57USD), this Shanghai institution rolls out the red carpet with over 60 plates to choose from.
Otherwise, seek caffeinated inspiration at T12Lab, an experimental coffee roaster in Xuhui lauded for its high-quality espresso-based drinks, specialty beans, and tranquil wabi-sabi atmosphere.
Next, head to Man Man Tang Bao, a hole-in-the-wall xiaolongbao mainstay doling out the city’s tastiest soup dumplings, congee, and black sesame tangyuan.
Time for some culture, at the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, a private museum sporting 6,000+ original, historically significant propaganda posters from 1910 to 1990. Located in a non-descript office building, it documents China’s social, political, and cultural shifts, offering a unique, often unseen, perspective on 20th-century history.
From there, wander through the leafy, tree-lined streets of The Former French Concession. Don’t miss the picturesque Wukang Road, café-lined Wulumuqi Road, and boutique-filled Anfu Road.
Afternoon
For lunch, you’ve got options: Bottega serves standout Neapolitan pizza, Zup covers the American Midwest ‘zas (choose from either thick-cut Detroit squares or thin crust tavern-style slices), Tacolicious is all about the downright delicious Tex-Mex, Nerds is for the focaccia panini sandwich lovers, Kebaba supplies Shanghai’s hungry masses with Euro-style kebabs from lunch to late-night, and Polux, backed by celebrity chef Paul Pairet, is a French bistro with all the classics done right plus one of the most comfortable patios in town.
Visit the famous Luckin Coffee outpost that opens to sprawling skyline views and the North Bund Green Land with its metallic, mirror-finished, egg-shaped dome that provides a fisheye view of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Lujiazui skyline.
Or, head west from downtown towards Gubei for a taste of Shanghai’s sizeable Little Tokyo and, even further towards Hongqiao Airport, to check out the expansive Koreatown.
Evening
Return to the city in time to keep it local for dinner with options spanning sesame paste noodles and fried Shanghainese style pork chops at time-honored noodle shop Wei Xiang Zhai, fiery Chongqing pugamian (blanket noodles) simmered with diner’s choice of fried chickpeas, braised beef, or intestines at Qian Ping Ping Mian Dian, pillowy yet crispy shengjianbao (pan-fried buns) and scallion oil noodles at 24-hour haunt Dong Tai Xiang, or, for something more substantial, go for lively Ningbo seafood ‘izakaya’ San Bai Bei or Guizhou-style sour tomato and fish hotpot at Maolago.
Round out the evening with a nightcap at any of Shanghai’s top cocktail bars – from the World’s No. 1 bar, Bar Leone, to Hong Kong transplant Penicillin (for all manner of mad scientist-esque drams), from temple to the agave gods Coa, to straightforward smashable sippers at Bar Blanc, from whimsical cocktail creations at Sting and Honey to revamped classics at Union Trading Co – you truly can’t go wrong.
And just like that, your 48 hours in Shanghai are up. Crawl into bed with satisfaction knowing you’ve done the city right and left even more for your next visit.
Image credit: Supplied/Pinterest
Sophie Steiner is a food & beverage, travel, and lifestyle journalist and photographer, based in Shanghai for the last 10+ years. She loves exploring culinary culture, from local to luxe, across Asia and beyond. Her works have been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, World’s 50 Best, Business Insider, Michelin, and LUXE City Guides.
