Shanghai

FROM PAGODAS TO PENTHOUSES: WALK SHANGHAI’S WILD STORY

Shanghai is a city that defies definition: equal parts old-world charm and futuristic dazzle. One minute you’re strolling through shaded alleyways lined with 19th-century mansions, the next you’re craning your neck at a skyline that looks like it was designed by sci-fi visionaries. From dumpling stalls to designer boutiques, Shanghai is fast-paced, flavorful, and full of contradictions, where dynasties, revolutions, and digital revolutions all manage to stylishly coexist.

To get under the skin of this dazzling metropolis, we recommend starting with two fantastic free walking tours run by our trusted local partner, Free Tours China. The Free Tour of Shanghai gives you a vibrant overview of the city, guiding you through iconic spots like People’s Square, the Bund, and East Nanjing Road. Want a slower, more refined side of the city? The Shanghai: French Concession Free Tour invites you into a quieter world of leafy lanes, colonial-era architecture, and stories of foreign diplomats, socialites, and scandals that would make even Netflix blush.

But wait—there’s more! Outside the bustling streets lie some of Shanghai’s most iconic attractions. Get your Disney fix at the Shanghai Disneyland Park, where princesses and Marvel heroes roam free. Take a stroll through Yu Garden, a tranquil masterpiece of Ming Dynasty landscaping that feels like a dream within a dream. Or ride the elevator up the Oriental Pearl TV Tower for a view that’ll leave your jaw somewhere back on the ground floor.

Whether you’re sipping milk tea in a converted Art Deco villa or weaving through a market alley filled with sizzling woks and bargaining grannies, Shanghai keeps you on your toes—in the best way possible. This is a city that doesn’t just move fast, it reinvents itself daily.