Renee, where to next?

Traditional and non-traditional sights and experiences

Shanghai is a global financial hub, located on the central coast of China and is the country’s biggest city. The city has so much to offer and is gradually getting back to what it was before the major Covid lockdown that took place there. I recently visited the city during the five day Labor Day holiday in China and it was packed.

I spent a today of 3 days in Shanghai. To make your travels easier here is a three day itinerary you can explore. When visiting a new place every one has different intentions and expectations. Therefore, you can use this itinerary in it’s entirety or just take inspiration from it.

Day One

The Bund

I suggest arriving on an early train or flight. It allows you ample time to explore the city during the day and see it transform as the sunsets and welcomes the night lights. First up is the heart of Shanghai, The Bund. It’s the most famous area in Shanghai and is lined by colonial era architecture and is just across the Huangpu river where the Pudong Area is located. Both areas are a sight to see and offer breathtaking views. Standing on the promenade along the Bund you are able to see the skylines of the Pudong district along with the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Nanjing Road

You can have dinner at one of the many restaurants along The Bund or by the river on the Pudong district side of the river. Part 1 of my Shanghai blog has food options in more detail.

Next, you can explore Nanjing Road. A pedestrian shopping street that offers options for almost every type of shopper. When we arrived it was so packed they had police officers directing pedestrians like vehicular traffic. It’s definitely a place I’d revisit when I return to Shanghai.

Since it’s your first night I recommend either getting some rest if you’re tired, or if you’ve got energy you can check out one of the many rooftop options for drinks or dining. One popular option is the Flair. It offers an amazing view of The Bund, great drinks and music. Smartshanghai offers so many options to choose from, so you can also check their website for other options.

Day Two

Yu Garden

Begin your morning with breakfast at your hotel or you pick from a selection of places for brunch on the smartshanghai website. You will need the energy to begin a full day of sightseeing. Then you can make your way to Yu Garden. It’s a sight to behold, with traditional style Chinese pavilions and architecture, as well as a pond and different shops to be explored. Just as any other traditional or famous spots during a holiday it was packed when we were there.

While walking through the crowd the smell of chocolate caught me by surprise and we walked into a store that was like a museum of chocolate. Choc Choco, was a welcomed surprise. We walked in to animals made completely of chocolate along with a vast array of chocolate items on display.

Team Lab

This experience is like none I’d ever had and was by far my favorite thing I did on this trip in Shanghai. It was immersive and transported you to what felt like an entirely different world. If you plan to visit Team Lab, you will need to dedicate 2-4 hours to explore the installation. Each room gave you a different experience evoking feelings of wonder, excitement and happiness.

It’s really similar to a maze and you may get a little confused walking around in the dark but eventually you will find your way. My jaw just kept dropping as I entered each room. Each room varied from a display of lamps, mirrors, walls covered in carpet or an array of LED strips. It was all so magical and they had instructions of how to properly experience each room at the entrance of each display.

Entrance fee for two adults was RMB 399 (about $55USD). Tickets can be bought on the Meituan app or Dianping app.

Barbarossa Restaurant and Lounge

To finish the day, you can head back to your hotel to relax and then freshen up and change outfits. Then you can finish the night at Barbarossa. A Moroccan restaurant and lounge that offers great ambiance, drinks, shisha and food. Located in a pond its so picturesque to see and gives the chilliest vibe. To get there you can type the name in to the DiDi App. Make sure to keep an open eye for the sign that leads you to Barbarossa, it’s not located close to the main road. And is about a 1-2 minute walk from where the taxi stops.

Day 3

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

The third day can be spent exploring the famed Oriental Pearl TV Tower. I suggest visiting on a regular weekend because it gets really packed on holidays. When we visited the wait time was three hours. Needless to say we didn’t wait and moved on to our next destination. From reviews people suggest visiting the tower in the afternoon when the skies are clear. There is also a restaurant located in the tower that gives the perfect dining view. I’ll definitely return to visit the tower on my next trip to Shanghai. Entry begins from RMB 199 (about USD $27). Tickets can be bought on the Trip app.

Museum of Ice Cream

The kid in me could not resist visiting this spot. We walked in and everything was pink, and I loved it. We began by giving ourselves an ice cream name, I chose ‘Rainy Sorbet’. I was the best I could come up with. Lol. They had different installations on display that were very interactive and created the perfect pictures. From boarding a train to writing your dreams on paper and placing them on a tree. They even had complimentary milkshakes and ice cream.

The games were fit for both adults and kids. They even had a mini merry-go-round and slide along with a ball pit, but the ‘balls’ were the shape of large sprinkles. I had the time of my life with my friends, making memories and living out our big kid dreams. Admission for two is RMB 256 (about USD $35). Tickets can be bought on the Meituan app or Dianping App.

The Fellas Terrace

You can round out your day by having dinner at The Fellas Restaurant and Lounge. They have a beautiful terrace with one of the most beautiful views of The Bund. We only had drinks when we visited. And they were just amazing. The restaurant is an Italian restaurant and the ambiance says just that as well. Italian vibes with a relaxing view. Perfect for a date night or girls night out. The staff was welcoming and helpful and I definitely plan to return for dinner when I get back to Shanghai. The name is in English when you type it into the DiDi App.

Stay tuned for my blog post to see some sights from another amazing city in China. Until next time, let’s see where to next.