2 days in Shanghai: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 8 of 11 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 18:12 each day
- Start and finish
- Shanghai Tower → Jade Buddha Temple
- On foot
- ≈ 53 min in total
- Transport
- 5 rides, ≈ 1 h 42 min
- Lunch
- around 13:12
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Shanghai09:30–18:12 · 6 places · 8 h 40 min
Shanghai Tower
· 1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120
- 9 min on foot
Lujiazui
· 45 min · Free
- 18 min on foot
The Bund
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 17 min on foot
Yu Garden
· 1 h 15 min · ¥30–40 by season
- 9 min on foot
Shanghai Old City
· 1 h · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Nanjing Road
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Shanghai09:30–17:03 · 5 places · 7 h 30 min
Former French Concession
· 2 h · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Tianzifang
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Wukang Road
· 45 min · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Jing'an Temple
· 40 min · ≈ ¥50
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Jade Buddha Temple
· 45 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
8 of 11 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Shanghai Tower | 58 | 1 h 30 min | ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Yu Garden | 46 | 1 h 15 min | ¥30–40 by season |
| 10 | Jing'an Temple | 36 | 40 min | ≈ ¥50 |
| Other 8 places | 8 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 11 h 40 min | 8 of 11 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Shanghai Tower. China's tallest building, 632 m: the observation deck on level 118, 546 m up. 180 yuan.
- 2
Lujiazui. The skyscraper district across from the Bund: the round footbridge by the Oriental Pearl and the riverside. Free.
- 3
The Bund. 1.5 km of early-20th-century buildings facing Pudong's towers. Free; lights from dusk until about 22:00.
- 4
Yu Garden. A 16th-century classical garden: rockeries, ponds and pavilions. 30–40 yuan; closed Mondays.
- 5
Shanghai Old City. The old walled Chinese city: Old Street, shops and teahouses, the City God Temple. Free to wander.
- 6
Nanjing Road. The main shopping street: 1.6 km of pedestrian street from People's Square to the Bund. Free.
Day 2
- 7
Former French Concession. Plane-tree streets, villas and Fuxing Park. Free — a district for strolling.
- 8
Tianzifang. A maze of 1920s–1930s shikumen lanes: shops, workshops, cafés. Free.
- 9
Wukang Road. A kilometre under the plane trees: villas and the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion at Huaihai Road. Free.
- 10
Jing'an Temple. A golden-roofed Buddhist temple right above the metro station. About 50 yuan.
- 11
Jade Buddha Temple. A working monastery with a seated jade Buddha. Free; the Buddha hall about 10 yuan.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Shanghai
- Architecture and strolling
- Independent, by metro
- Suzhou is day three
- Disneyland takes a whole day
Spring and autumn.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Shanghai itinerary. Day two is the west of the centre: the Concession, Tianzifang and Wukang are walking streets, and the temples sit by metro stations.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The French Concession
Shanghai's French district of 1849–1943: plane-tree streets, villas and cafés. It is not a museum with a ticket office but a neighbourhood to walk. House museums usually open 9:00–17:00, and many close on Mondays.
Is 2 days in Shanghai enough?
For the city, yes. Add the Shanghai Museum — permanent galleries in the free East branch, closed Tuesdays — or Zhujiajiao, a water town with 36 bridges. Suzhou is day three.
How to do it right
- The best Wukang photo is at the wedge-shaped mansion on Huaihai Road.
- People still live above the shops in Tianzifang — stay out of residential doorways.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- The metro is the fastest way around; pay by QR code in Alipay.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Shanghai?
Day one: Pudong, the Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road. Day two: the Concession, Tianzifang, Wukang Road, Jing'an and the Jade Buddha Temple.
Is 2 days in Shanghai enough?
For the city, yes. Suzhou and the water towns need another day.
How much is Jing'an Temple?
About 50 yuan.
Is Tianzifang free?
Yes, the lanes are open 24 hours.
Where is the Jade Buddha?
At the Jade Buddha Temple: free entry, about 10 yuan for the Buddha hall.
How much does it cost?
About 220 yuan on day one and 60 on day two.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; day two is easy walking with short hops.
How do I get around?
Metro and DiDi taxis in Alipay.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Shanghai?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Shanghai Museum: hours and entry
- Wikipedia: Shanghai French Concession
