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Major city

Shanghai上海

Go to Shanghai for the Bund skyline and 1930s architecture; allow 3 nights and pair it with Suzhou or Hangzhou.

Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Rules in force · 5
  • 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 a financial hub. Its Bund waterfront faces the Pudong skyscraper district across the river, and the former French Concession has tree-lined streets and cafes. High-speed rail links it to Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou.

At a glance

Known for
The Bund · Pudong skyline · Former French Concession · Yu Garden
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Avoid
Jun–Jul (plum rain), Aug (heat), Golden Week
Nights
3
Airports
PVG Shanghai Pudong (Maglev and metro to the city; check the operator) · SHA Shanghai Hongqiao (Domestic hub, connected to rail)

Where to sleep

The Bund and People's Square

Central, close to metro.

Former French Concession

Cafes and quiet streets.

Getting around

Metro is extensive and fast. Taxis and ride-hailing are common; set up mobile payment before you arrive.

Watch out

  • Mobile payment is common; carry some cash and a foreign card as backup.
  • Tourist-area tea-house and bar scams; agree prices in advance.
  • Foreign visitors need the correct visa or transit exemption; check your government and Chinese official pages.

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.

Back to China

Sources

Sources