Exploring Shanghai: A Journey Through Tradition and Modernity

Discovering Traditional Culture

Shanghai is like an onion—peel back the modern metropolis layer, and you'll uncover a rich traditional layer. Nestled among the hustle and bustle of the city are old buildings, temples, and districts with decades to centuries of history.

Highlights:

• Longhua Temple: With more than 1700 years of history, this temple is a proud spectator to several different Chinese dynasties. Don't let the name "Temple" fool you, though! The grounds are massive, featuring different structures including the Longhua Pagoda, several Buddhist halls, a bell tower, and a drum tower. Suggested duration of visit: 3 hours.

• Yuyuan Garden: Built during the Ming dynasty by a prominent Chinese family, this garden boasts over 400 years of history. It has several sub-gardens and living halls, each telling a different story. Combine this with a visit to the outer Yuyuan District/Bazaar, where you can experience various traditional shops, including a 170-year-old teahouse. Suggested duration of visit: 2 hours for the Garden + 2 hours for the surrounding Bazaar (this could stretch to 4 hours if you intend to have a meal and tea experience!).

  
  

• Jingan Temple: This temple rivals Longhua in history and serves as an oasis of calm amidst the sprawling skyscrapers nearby. It consists of three main Buddhist halls, a bell tower, and a pagoda. If you're lucky (like I was), you might see Buddhist monks practicing their daily rituals on the main grounds. Suggested duration: 1 hour (combine this with a visit to the nearby Jingan district).

  
  

• Song Ching Ling Mansion: If you enjoy biographies of historical figures, this mansion is a must-visit! It was the actual home of Song Ching Ling, a key government official who played a significant role in opening modern-day China to the world. This preserved mansion takes you through her life, including the trials and tribulations of her efforts in establishing diplomatic ties with foreign countries. Suggested duration of visit: 1 hour (for suggested duration of visit for the modern district, please read on).

Teatime at the traditional teahouse which has hosted many famous people over the years, including most recently in January 2026, the Prime Minister of the UK Keir Starmer.

Reflections of trees, people, and skyscraper in clear water encapsulates Shanghai - a mix of nature, eclectic people, and modernity.

Embracing the Modern Metropolis

Some people consider Shanghai the NYC of Asia, and I can see why! From late-night eateries and bars to a stunning skyline, Shanghai is a gem for city lovers.

Highlights:

• The Bund: Duh, it's the most famous skyline you see in many pictures! I highly recommend a night cruise down the Bund. We chose the one-hour cruise departing from Shilipu Wharf at 7:30 PM, which cost us 150 yuan per person. The price doesn't include food or drinks, but the boat does sell refreshments. It was a comfortable ride, with two levels—an open upper deck for great photo opportunities and a lower deck that’s heated, keeping you warm during those chilly winter nights!

  
  

• Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Yes, it's THAT Eiffel Tower-looking structure that makes the skyline even more impressive. There are three main attractions: the Space Capsule at 351 meters, the Sightseeing Galleria at 263 meters, and the Glass Observatory at 259 meters. I wouldn’t recommend the Space Capsule, as it features an audiovisual show about futuristic Shanghai instead of the actual scenery you’re probably visiting for! For those who enjoy building spotting (and history), the Sightseeing Galleria is perfect, with 360-degree panel exhibits explaining the history of every major building dotting the skyline. I recommend visiting the Tower just before sunset for a magical experience.

The Glass Observatory is not for the faint hearted but the views of the Shanghai sprawl are so worth it.

Uncovering Hipster Culture

A perhaps lesser-known side of Shanghai is the trendy, hipster streets along the French Concession area and Wukang Road. If cute cafes and quaint shops are your thing, remember to set aside at least three hours to explore this area!

Highlights:

• Franck Bistrot Cafe: Nestled along Ferguson Lane (yes, that's the name!), this cafe offers a delightful French affair. We enjoyed the high tea set for two, which was actually sufficient for the three of us!

  
  

• Muchuan Vintage: This little vintage shop along Wukang Road sells everything vintage—from clothes to accessories and even cutlery. It’s a treasure trove for anyone who loves unique finds!

  
  

• Other Quaint Shops: We popped into so many charming shops that we lost track of their names and locations! But that’s the point of exploring a hipster area, isn’t it? The vibe in the French Concession is different from the rest of Shanghai—an oasis of peace, vibey shops, great food, and side streets to get lost in.

Santa Claus trying to break into a shop along Wukang Road at dusk.

Practical Tips for Navigating Shanghai

During our trip, we felt that Shanghai is generally a really safe city. We even saw ladies walking alone on the streets at night! Here are three tips for navigating Shanghai.

Highlights:

• Street Layouts: One thing I did not expect is that Shanghai's major roads are long—like, really long! We started at Wukang Building (yes, THAT angular reddish building that’s in every tourist's Instagram) and it took us a good three hours to walk the entire Wukang Road. Of course, we stopped along the way to visit some cute shops!

  
  

• Shanghai Metro: On day two of the trip, after realizing that each street is rather long and considering the distance to get from one attraction to another, we tried ride-hailing "Didi." However, we soon discovered that the Shanghai Metro is a faster and cheaper way to get around! In fact, some attractions, like Jingan Temple, are literally at the doorstep of the Metro station! Unless you're carrying heavy luggage (like when you're heading to the airport), I highly recommend taking the Metro instead of ride-hailing!

  
  

• WeChat/Alipay: As you may know, China's main payment methods are WeChat and Alipay apps. I’ll be creating a separate article on MJ's Travel Nook about this, so keep a lookout! Anyway, Shanghai is no different and learning how to use WeChat and Alipay to pay stallholders and merchants will ensure you have a smooth shopping and dining experience wherever you may be in Shanghai.

Bussin rating: BUSSIN

In terms of the WOW factor, Shanghai does it quite well. Based on my travel experiences, it is not common for major cities to blend modern with history this well.

Tangible aspects:

• Safety: It is a rather safe city with visible police presence around most major tourist attractions. We also saw lone women walking the streets at night, so this does tell something positive.

• Convenience/transportation: The metro is really convenient with the major tourist spots within a short walk of a metro station. The bus network also seems quite extensive (though we only took one bus route during our trip). If you're getting back to the hotel late at night, the ride hailing options are plenty.

• Food/shopping: Shanghainese food blends spicy options with non-spicy, noodles with rice, chinese food with western-style cafes. Even if you have not experienced Chinese food, I'm quite confident you wouldn't run out of food options here.

  
  

So, there you have it! Shanghai is a city that beautifully blends the old with the new. Whether you're wandering through ancient temples or cruising along the stunning skyline, there's something for everyone. Happy travels!