This plan puts Shanghai’s food and shopping first, with each day focused on a compact cluster of neighbourhoods. Travel times are approximate and assume taxis or metro where useful; meal prices are per person.
Budget
About ¥900–1,600 per person, excluding accommodation, intercity travel and major shopping purchases.
Best time to visit
March–May and September–November, when the weather is generally pleasant for walking and shopping.
Old Shanghai: Yu Garden and the Bund
Ease into the city with classic snacks and market lanes around , then finish with a Bund-side dinner and skyline stroll.
Morning
Browse and its bazaar
Explore the garden’s historic pavilions, then browse the surrounding shops for tea, souvenirs and snacks. Station is nearby; allow around 2 hours.
About ¥40Afternoon
Try soup dumplings at
It’s about a 5-minute walk from through the bazaar. Go for the signature xiaolongbao and a few other Shanghai-style snacks.
About ¥50–100Evening
Dinner and a Bund promenade
Take a taxi for about 10–15 minutes to for dinner, then enjoy the illuminated riverfront and views across to Pudong. Restaurant costs vary widely; reserve ahead for a special-occasion meal.
About ¥120–300
Jing’an: temples, boutiques and local favourites
Stay around Jing’an for a temple visit, polished shopping streets and a relaxed dinner without crossing town.
Morning
Visit Jing’an Temple
Take in the ornate halls and incense-filled courtyards. It’s a handy starting point for the neighbourhood’s shops and cafés.
About ¥50Afternoon
Shop
Walk about 5 minutes from the temple to browse department stores, fashion labels and beauty shops along this lively retail stretch.
Evening
Dinner at
From the shopping area, allow about 10–15 minutes by taxi. This casual favourite is known for soup dumplings; arrive early if you want to avoid the longest queues.
About ¥40–80
French Concession: boutiques and café culture
Spend the day browsing leafy former-concession streets, with plenty of time for coffee, independent shops and a Sichuan-style dinner.
Morning
Browse ’s lanes
Allow around 10 minutes by taxi from central Jing’an, or use the metro, then wander the narrow lanes for design gifts, crafts and small shops.
Afternoon
Shop and stroll around
Take a taxi for about 10–15 minutes to , where independent fashion, homeware and café stops make an easy afternoon. Leave time to wander nearby Wukang Road too.
Evening
Try Sichuan flavours at
It’s roughly 10 minutes by taxi from . Settle in for bold Sichuan dishes; order a selection to share and ask for a milder spice level if preferred.
About ¥150–250
People’s Square and Xintiandi
Pair a central market-and-shopping morning with a leisurely afternoon among ’s restored shikumen lanes and a celebratory final dinner.
Morning
Shop and snack on
Browse the flagship stores and pick up street snacks along Shanghai’s best-known shopping street. Start at the People’s Square end and head east.
About ¥30–100Afternoon
Explore ’s boutiques and lanes
Take a taxi for about 10 minutes from Nanjing Road, or use the metro, to explore the restored shikumen blocks and browse fashion, design and gift shops.
Evening
Finish with Shanghai cuisine at
The restaurant is within , so it’s a short walk from the shops. Make a reservation for a sit-down send-off featuring Shanghainese favourites.
About ¥180–300
Good to know
Getting around
Use the metro for longer cross-city hops and taxis or walking for short neighbourhood trips. Travel times can rise considerably during rush hour.
Payments
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before your trip if possible; cash and international cards may not be accepted everywhere.
Shopping
Keep some time flexible for browsing: small boutiques and market stalls are especially tempting, and opening hours can vary.
Food
Popular dumpling restaurants can have queues. Go outside peak meal times, and check current opening hours before setting out.