Things to Do in Shanghai: Bund, Yu Garden and Museum East

This guide pairs sights by area and flags opening days that shape your plan. It suits first-time visitors who want a clear city core without rushed transfers. For broader planning, see our Shanghai travel guide, first 24 hours in Shanghai, 24–48 hour Shanghai sights, and best time to visit Shanghai.

What should you do in Shanghai on a first visit?

Start with the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum East, and a Pudong skyline view. Add a Former French Concession walk if you have a third day.

Day one. Go to Yu Garden early. It closes early and is closed on Mondays except national holidays. Keep the nearby City God Temple area for afterwards. In the late afternoon, walk the Bund and watch the lights come on across the river in Pudong.

Day two. Spend the morning at Shanghai Museum East in Pudong. In the afternoon, walk the riverfront or take a ferry between the Bund and Lujiazui. For an evening skyline stop, the Oriental Pearl Tower is nearby — check current hours and tickets before you go.

Day three (or a slower half-day). Walk the Former French Concession. Tree-lined streets around Wukang Road make a calmer break from the riverfront sights.

Where can you see old Shanghai and classic gardens?

Yu Garden is the main classic garden stop in central Shanghai. It sits beside the City God Temple in Huangpu District.

The garden began as a private Ming Dynasty garden (1368–1644). It has more than 40 scenic spots of pavilions, rocks and ponds. It is a key site under State-level protection and holds a Grade AAAA tourist rating. It connects to the City God Temple and the Yuyuan Garden malls. See the municipal Yuyuan Garden page for the official overview.

Opening hours are 09:00–16:30, and entry stops at 16:00. It is closed every Monday except national holidays. Spring Festival hours follow announcements, so check before you go. Buy tickets online through the official Shanghai Yu Garden WeChat mini-program, or at the gate windows. The north gate is at 168 Fuyou Road. The south gate is at 279 Yuyuan Old Street.

Go early. Paths inside are narrow, so the garden often feels busier later in the day. After the garden, walk the temple streets and malls nearby.

What can you do on the Bund and in Pudong?

Walk the Bund for historic riverfront buildings, then look across to Pudong. A short ferry links the two banks.

The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre waterfront and a protected historical district. On the east side is the Huangpu River. On the west side are 52 gothic and baroque-style buildings that once housed banks and trading houses. People often call it an outdoor museum of international architecture. Mornings bring local exercise walkers. Evenings bring building lights and views toward Pudong.

In Lujiazui, the Oriental Pearl Tower stands at No 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area. It is 468 metres tall and was among China's first national 5A tourist attractions in 2007. An outdoor sightseeing corridor in the lower sphere faces the Bund. Check current hours and tickets before you visit.

Ferries link the Bund and Lujiazui. At the Bund you can board at East Jinling Road, East Fuxing Road or Gongping Road. East Jinling Road is usually the most convenient for visitors.

The metro is the backbone of city transport. The network covers more than 900 kilometres across 21 lines. You can buy single-journey tickets with major international cards, or tap eligible contactless cards at the gates.

How do museum opening days shape your plan?

Closing days decide which weekday you give each sight. Yu Garden and the two museum campuses close on different days.

Shanghai Museum East is open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00). It is closed on Tuesdays except national holidays. Individual visitors usually need no reservation for general entry. Bring your passport. The entrance for individuals is at 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area. The Curio-City and the Digital Gallery still need a separate reservation. Check the Shanghai Museum East visit page before you go.

The older campus on People's Square is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00). It is closed on Mondays except national holidays. Through 14 November 2027, that campus hosts the Americas exhibition and no other displays. Permanent collections sit at the East campus in Pudong during this period.

Do not plan Yu Garden for a Monday, or Museum East for a Tuesday, unless a national holiday changes the rule. Pair Museum East with other Pudong stops on the same day.

How long should you stay, and when is it busiest?

Two to three days cover the city core. Day trips to Suzhou or Hangzhou each need a full extra day.

Two days fit Yu Garden, the Bund, Museum East and a river crossing. A third day gives room for the Former French Concession and a later start. Add one full day for each day trip outside the city.

Domestic holiday weeks usually fill trains, hotels and big sights. The busiest windows are usually Spring Festival, early May and early October. Book trains and hotels early if your dates fall in those weeks. For month-by-month weather and the 2027 holiday dates, see best time to visit Shanghai. For arrival apps and payments, see first 24 hours in Shanghai.

Trips that include this

These LocalKey routes include Shanghai:

• First-Time China, 9 days: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.
• Beijing and Shanghai, 7 days: the capital plus Shanghai's waterfront, for a shorter trip.
• Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou, 7 days: Shanghai with nearby garden towns and West Lake.

You can see more routes on China tours. LocalKey plans private trips for your own party, planned, booked and backed, as Independent or Private Guided under private China tours. On Independent, a local guide, a car and driver, or an airport pickup is an optional add-on on the days you choose.

Want different dates? Start a custom route.