Shanghai Edition: Top 5 Attractions

I used to live in Shanghai for couple years, I know it just as well as Toronto. I am personally a fan of Shanghai, and it’s one of my favourite cities in the world. Here are some recommendations of the city if you every visit, or planning a visit!

Before we dive into the recommendations, here are some basic facts about Shanghai that will benefit you in the city.

Shanghai is divided into 2 main areas, and it is divided by the Huangpu River. Thus, there’s the East Side, and the West Side. East is pronounced “dong”, and west is pronounced “shi”.
If you go in the summer, make sure to pack light. There are heat warnings every summer. Sunscreen is not a must since the UV is extremely weak.
Cab is very cheap, cheaper than Uber.
People prefer payment methods in the form of app (WeChat, etc.) or cash.
You do not need to tip anyone.

The Bund (外滩, Pronunciation: Wa-aye Tan)

Type of Attraction: Sight Seeing, Shopping

Estimated time spent: 2 – 3 hours

Estimated cost: USD0.00-?? (depends on how much you buy!)

Why? A ton of shopping to do, and it’s heaven for us who love to shop! I recommend going after an early dinner, while having dinner in the area too. There are so many amazing food options around The Bund. When the sun sets and the lights are on, The Bund is beautiful. You will find stores from frozen juice, to Huawei, to Louis Vuitton, to Rolex! Some compare it to Time Square, I like it a lot more than Time Square.

Yu Garden (豫园, Pronounciation: Yu yu-an)

Type of Attraction: Sight Seeing, Shopping

Estimated time spent: 2 – 3 hours

Estimated cost: USD0.00-?? (depends on how much you buy!)

Why? More shopping, and a ton of food. Make sure to come here on an empty stomach because you’re about to have the best foods in Shanghai. Unlike The Bund, you won’t be seeing brand names here. This is where private vendors own boutiques, and sell specialty items.

Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠电视塔, Pronunciation: Dong Fung Ming Jew Dian Shi Ta)

Type of Attraction: Architecture

Estimated time spent: 1 – 2 hours

Estimated cost: RMB60.00-260.00

Why? The Oriental Pearl Tower is tall, beautiful, and surrounded with amazing shops and food. Not only do you need to visit the tower, but also the malls around it. It oversees the River, the West side of the city, and feel like you’re on top of the world. I highly recommend the Super Brand Mall for amazing food, cute boutiques, and underground grocery shopping.

Shanghai World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心, Pronunciation: Shung Hai Hwan Chew Jean Rong Jong Sheen)

Type of Attraction: Sight seeing, Architecture

Estimated time spent: 45 min – 1 hour

Estimated cost: USD0.00

Why? A great spot to walk around, as it is an eye opening experience for those who have really only seen the western financial districts. The Shanghai Financial District is breath taking, making many of the western cities look like a joke. A tip is to come here at night, the lights give you a feeling of New York City combined with Las Vegas.

Shangcheng Road Area (商城路, Pronunciation: Shung Chung Loo)

This area includes shopping mall, food buildings (building with just restaurants and snack shops), arcade, night life (bars, karaoke, etc.), tech stores, and many more

Type of Attraction: Food, Sight Seeing, Night Life

Estimated time spent: 1 – 2 hours

Estimated cost: Depends

Why? There are so much to do here, and it’s all across where I used to live. This is not your “touristy” destination, which is why I love recommending people to this place. This is where locals would drop by for some food, some shopping, some evening walk, or just to grab a cup of coffee or some baked goods. It’s embedded/surrounded by residentials, so you get a good feel of local life.

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