Major city · China
Shanghai上海
Pick Shanghai over Beijing if you want the Bund skyline, 1930s architecture and a food-and-shopping city rather than imperial sights; give it 3 nights and pair it with a day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou by high-speed rail.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Best months
- Mar–May and Oct–Nov: mild, drier air before summer humidity sets in and after the main typhoon risk passes
- avoid Jun–Jul (Meiyu plum-rain season, persistent drizzle and humidity), Aug (30°C+ heat with occasional typhoon remnants), early Oct (Golden Week brings domestic crowds and higher hotel prices)avoid Jun–Jul (Meiyu plum-rain season, persistent drizzle and humidity), Aug (86°F+ heat with occasional typhoon remnants), early Oct (Golden Week brings domestic crowds and higher hotel prices)
- Airports
- PVG · SHA
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Shanghai is China's largest city and its financial capital. The Bund's colonial-era waterfront faces the Pudong skyscraper district across the Huangpu River, and the former French Concession has tree-lined streets, cafes and boutique shopping. High-speed rail puts Hangzhou under an hour away and Beijing under 5 hours.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shanghai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyViolent crime against tourists is rare; the real risks are scams, traffic and getting stuck without a working payment app…
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPVG Shanghai Pudong (Maglev to Longyang Rd metro (8 min, separate fare) or Metro Line 2 into the centre…
- Getting aroundThe metro is extensive, cheap and covers almost every sight; buy a transit card or use a mobile payment app for entry.
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PVG Shanghai Pudong (Maglev to Longyang Rd metro (8 min, separate fare) or Metro Line 2 into the centre; confirm current maglev hours with the operator) · SHA Shanghai Hongqiao (Domestic-focused; shares a hub with the high-speed rail station, Metro Lines 2 and 10)
Weather and climate
Shanghai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The metro is extensive, cheap and covers almost every sight; buy a transit card or use a mobile payment app for entry. Taxis and ride-hailing (Didi) are affordable but need a Chinese phone number or hotel help to book. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive, as many shops and street vendors no longer take cash easily.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
The Bund and People's Square
Central, on Metro Lines 1/2/8, walkable to the waterfront and museum.
Former French Concession
Quieter tree-lined streets, cafes and bars around Xintiandi and Tianzifang.
Jing'an
Mid-range hotels near a metro interchange, close to shopping on Nanjing Road West.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Watch out
Safety
- Mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat Pay) is expected almost everywhere; carry some cash and a foreign card as backup in case app setup fails.
- Tourist-area tea-ceremony and bar scams around Nanjing Road and the Bund: friendly strangers invite you for tea or drinks that end in an inflated bill — walk away from unsolicited invitations.
- Foreign visitors need a valid visa or the 144-hour transit exemption; rules change, so confirm with the Chinese embassy or a current official source before booking flights.
- Air quality can be poor on still winter days; check an air-quality app if you have respiratory issues.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 120
- Fire
- 119
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shanghai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May and Oct–Nov: mild, drier air before summer humidity sets in and after the main typhoon risk passes · avoid Jun–Jul (Meiyu plum-rain season, persistent drizzle and humidity), Aug (30°C+ heat with occasional typhoon remnants), early Oct (Golden Week brings domestic crowds and higher hotel prices)
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Meanwhile
Sources
- officialShanghai official tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Shanghai