People’s Square in Shanghai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStart your day at People’s Square. The central square is your best orientation point and at the same time a good introduction to the city: People’s Park with old trees and morning tai chi, the Shanghai Museum<\/strong> on the south side and the famous “Marriage Market corner<\/strong>” in the park, where parents hang profiles of their marriageable children at weekends \u2013 a very particular glimpse of modern Shanghai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Late Morning: Xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Xiaolongbao are among the most famous specialities of Shanghainese cuisine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBefore Nanjing Road begins, we’re making a culinary detour. Just a few minutes’ walk from People’s Square, on Huanghe Road<\/strong>, you’ll find Jia Jia Tang Bao (\u4f73\u5bb6\u6c64\u5305)<\/strong> \u2013 a tiny, unassuming establishment that’s something of a pilgrimage site for Shanghainese. Here you’ll find the best xiaolongbao<\/strong> in the city: paper-thin dough, hot broth inside, pork or \u2013 in season \u2013 crab meat with crab roe. Everything freshly steamed to order.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTwo honest pointers<\/strong>: there’s a queue, often from mid-morning. And the place is very basic \u2013 no d\u00e9cor, wobbly stools, lots of locals. That’s precisely what makes it. Best go early (they open at 7:30am) or after the lunch rush, then you’ll wait considerably less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nHow to eat xiaolongbao properly: carefully lift by the top with chopsticks, place on the spoon, nibble a small opening at the side, slurp the hot broth first \u2013 then eat the rest. Anyone who bites straight in burns their palate once in their life. It never happens twice.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Afternoon: Nanjing Road and the Bund<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNanjing Road is considered one of Shanghai’s most important shopping streets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom here you walk back towards Nanjing Road<\/strong>, the city’s most famous shopping street. Between glowing fa\u00e7ades, old department stores and modern flagship stores, it has a bit of a mix between Times Square and Ku’damm. For your first Shanghai moment, a stroll is enough \u2013 you don’t need to buy anything here.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Bund is one of Shanghai’s most famous waterfront promenades<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt the end of Nanjing Road awaits the classic: the Bund<\/strong>. This riverside promenade along the Huangpu River shows Shanghai in a single glance \u2013 on one side the historic bank buildings in European style from the 1920s, on the other the skyscraper forest of Pudong with Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower. If you take only one image home from Shanghai, it’s this view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Evening: Skyline with Cocktail or Dinner on Nanjing Road<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nView of Pudong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nShanghai’s skyline glows at night along the Huangpu River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor the evening, two ideas depending on mood:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSkyline with cocktail:<\/strong> On the Bund side, The Captain’s Bar<\/strong> is the most relaxed (and most affordable) address with direct views of Pudong \u2013 hostel vibe, genuine view. For something more elegant: Sir Elly’s Terrace<\/strong> at The Peninsula at the northern end of the Bund, or \u2013 if you want to dine in Pudong \u2013 FLAIR<\/strong> on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton with probably the highest view in the city back to the Bund.<\/li>\n\n\n\nClassic dinner:<\/strong> Anyone who fancies more Shanghainese cuisine after xiaolongbao in the morning should try Xian De Lai (\u9c9c\u5f97\u6765)<\/strong> on Yunnan Road. Their crispy pork ribs with rice cakes (Paigu Niangao) are a sweet-savoury classic and recently became popular again through the series “Blossoms Shanghai”.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nYou’re back at the hotel in a few minutes \u2013 a real advantage on a stopover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>48 Hours in Shanghai: When You Have More Time<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTwo days turn the stopover into a proper short break. You can build in contrasts instead of just ticking off highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Day 1: Centre, Nanjing Road and the Bund<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn the first day you follow the 24-hour route. That way you’ve properly arrived in Shanghai after landing \u2013 literally and mentally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Day 2 Morning: Yu Garden, Old Town and Huxinting Teahouse<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn the second day, the contrast to modern Shanghai is worthwhile. The Yu Garden<\/strong> from the Ming Dynasty is one of the city’s most beautiful classical gardens: curved roofs, rock gardens, dragon walls, carp in the pond. Around it the newly designed Old Town with narrow lanes, souvenir shops and \u2013 somewhat hidden \u2013 really good snack stalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTeahouse in Yu Garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nRight in the pond in front of Yu Garden stands the Huxinting Teahouse<\/strong> (“Mid-Lake Pavilion”), which has been open as a teahouse since 1855 and is thus considered Shanghai’s oldest of its kind. After extensive renovation, it reopened in 2025. Sit on the upper floor and order an oolong or a green longjing. From here you look out at the zigzag bridge, which according to Chinese tradition keeps evil spirits away \u2013 and you experience one of the rare quiet minutes in the middle of a city of 25 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nAn honest tip: Around Yu Garden it’s very touristy, tea prices are high (minimum usually around 388 RMB per person), and the snack stalls right in front of the teahouse are more worth looking at than eating. For lunch you’re better off going a few corners further \u2013 for example to Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant<\/strong>, the historic birthplace of xiaolongbao (since 1900). Note: not the take-away queue on the ground floor, but straight to the upper floors for seating with better quality.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Day 2 Afternoon: Your Choice \u2013 Pudong, French Concession or Shopping<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nThe twisted Shanghai Tower dominates the skyline of Pudong financial district<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe French Concession in Shanghai is known for its tree-lined streets and historic architecture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPopular caf\u00e9s and restaurants characterise the Xintiandi district in Shanghai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn the afternoon you decide what you fancy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPudong for the skyline from above:<\/strong> The Shanghai Tower<\/strong> at 632 metres is the world’s second-tallest building and has an observation deck on the 118th floor. On a clear day you see back to the Bund and the entire Puxi side.<\/li>\n\n\n\nFormer French Concession for atmosphere:<\/strong> Around Wukang Road<\/strong>, Fuxing Park<\/strong> and the side streets of Yongkang Road<\/strong> you’ll find plane tree avenues, boutiques, caf\u00e9s and one of the loveliest neighbourhoods for a relaxed afternoon without a programme. Fewer skyscrapers, more Shanghai to linger in.<\/li>\n\n\n\nShopping with character:<\/strong> Xintiandi<\/strong> combines restored Shikumen stone houses with restaurants and design shops \u2013 pretty, though not exactly cheap.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Day 2 Evening: Shanghai by Night