Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city — a place where 1930s art deco mansions line the Bund waterfront while Pudong's towers compete to redefine the skyline across the Huangpu River. The Former French Concession is a neighbourhood of leafy lanes, independent boutiques, and restaurants that would hold their own in any European city. Xintiandi blends heritage shikumen architecture with modern retail. And none of this comes at the expense of the fundamentally Chinese: the soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung, the morning crowds at People's Square, the night markets of the old city. Shanghai synthesises East and West more fluently than anywhere else in China.
- Suggested duration: 3–4 days
- Best time to visit: March–May and September–November. Summer is hot and humid; winter is mild but grey.