Shanghai Weekend Getaway Guide

Duration: 2 days, Time: May, Average Cost per Person: 2500 yuan, Companion: Solo traveler. The author visited these locations: Shanghai Campanile Hotel, The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Wukang Road, Huangpu River, Chenghuang Temple, Lujiazui, Tianzifang. Published on 2021-06-01 15:22. Let me first outline the overall travel itinerary (photos at the end): On Friday afternoon, May 28th, I departed from Xi’an and arrived in Shanghai in the evening, checked into the Campanile Hotel on The Bund. On Saturday, May 29th, in the morning I visited Yu Garden with an entrance fee of 40 yuan, at noon I went to the Shanghai Tower with a viewing ticket costing 180 yuan, in the afternoon I strolled along the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and The Bund, and in the evening I enjoyed a Huangpu River cruise from Pier 16 with a ticket price of 120 yuan. On Sunday, May 30th, in the morning I visited the wax museum with an entrance fee of 190 yuan, in the afternoon I explored Tianzifang and Wukang Road before returning to Xi’an. Expenses: round-trip airfare 1400 yuan, accommodation for 2 nights 725 yuan, plus the cost of tickets for attractions and meals, not exceeding 2500 yuan for a single person. Now, let me share my overall impressions and insights: It is advisable to choose a hotel near The Bund, which is where I booked mine. Most attractions such as Nanjing Road, The Bund, Yu Garden, and the wax museum are within a 1-kilometer radius and can be reached on foot or by cycling, which is quite convenient. The best time to visit Shanghai is before mid-May, as it becomes hotter afterward. I visited at the end of May, and it was indeed a bit warm on the day of my return, especially with luggage after checking out, so it’s worth considering earlier travel times. Nighttime cruises on the Huangpu River are recommended, as the night views along its banks are very beautiful. If you are also on a budget trip like me, download and register the Metronome app in advance for subway rides; WeChat’s transit code only works for buses and not for the subway. Below is the detailed travelogue: On Friday afternoon at 5:30 PM, I took a flight from Xi’an with Spring Airlines, surprisingly without any meals provided. I arrived at Hongqiao Airport at 7:30 PM and took Line 10 directly to Yu Garden station, walking less than 10 minutes to the hotel. The environment was acceptable, and the bed was quite comfortable. On Saturday morning, I got up early and did not have breakfast at the hotel, walking to Yu Garden in about 20 minutes. Yu Garden and Chenghuang Temple are adjacent, offering many snacks and a food court with a variety of local delicacies to try. Chenghuang Temple is known for its characteristic small shops and is worth a stroll. The entrance fee to Yu Garden is 40 yuan, and it is quite large with narrow paths and exquisite gardens, especially the classical furniture inside each room, as well as the calligraphy and paintings, which are quite particular. However, you can only view them from outside. Their public account offers free audio guides for those interested. The garden is so vast that one can easily get lost, truly a labyrinth of winding paths. You can use a map to check which points you haven’t visited yet, and it should take no more than an hour and a half to tour the entire area.
The Shanghai Tower is located on the east bank of the Huangpu River. I took a bus there, and within 10 minutes, I arrived at the Lujiazui Financial Center area, filled with skyscrapers, no wonder it’s called ‘Magic Capital’. After dining at the basement level of the Shanghai Tower, I purchased a ticket to the observation deck on the 118th floor. The ticket cost 180 yuan, and in just one minute, I was whisked up to the 118th floor. From above, I had a bird’s-eye view of the entire Lujiazui and Huangpu River, which was quite impressive. After leaving the Shanghai Tower, I took the subway to Nanjing East Road Station, which led me directly to the pedestrian street. One end of the street opens up to the Bund, and the other end leads to the New World of Shanghai, where one can visit the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Unaware at the time, I walked to the Bund instead, and along the scenic path, one can see the skyscrapers of Lujiazui across the river and the historic architecture behind. After wandering until past 3 in the afternoon, I was too tired and returned to my hotel to rest. The convenience of having the hotel nearby is invaluable, allowing me to rest and then go out again in the evening to take a cruise. There are Huangpu River cruises throughout the day, approximately every hour, with more frequent departures in the evening. All tickets are purchased at the Shiliupu Dock. I bought a ticket for a 7:25 PM cruise, costing 120 yuan, and the boat journey lasted about an hour before returning to the starting point. The night view was truly beautiful. On Sunday morning, I didn’t check out of the hotel as I estimated I would return around noon. So, I set off at around 9 AM, cycling quickly to the New World of Shanghai. The mall doesn’t open until 10 AM, but the food court on the basement level was already open, and I finished just in time. The first floor is where the ticket office for Madame Tussauds is located, with a ticket price of 190 yuan. It’s also possible to purchase tickets in advance on the public account, with a 10 yuan discount if bought before 8 AM. With an electronic code from the public account, entry is swift without the need to queue up to buy tickets on-site. The wax figures inside are incredibly lifelike, featuring actors, sports stars, singers, politicians, and classic characters, with many options available. They are touchable and photo-friendly, with designated spots, props, and costumes for visitors, ensuring photography enthusiasts will have a great time. After an hour, I returned to the hotel to check out, collected my luggage, and since my flight was at 6 PM, I had time to visit one more attraction. I went to Tianzifang, which was just four subway stops away. It’s filled with distinctive small shops, quite crowded but interesting, and one can find unique trinkets. After leaving Tianzifang, I still had time, so I went to Wu Kang Road, as it was on the way to the airport. I got off中途 at Wu Kang Road to explore, as it is also home to iconic old buildings of Shanghai. Wu Kang Road is perfect for artistic youth to take photos, with many historical residences of famous figures and distinctive architecture along the way. This was my last stop before leaving Shanghai, followed by a trip on Line 10 to Hongqiao Airport, where I boarded Juneyao Airlines, which offered meals and good service, ensuring a safe return to Xi’an.

A final piece of advice: you can plan your itinerary around the Huangpu River. On the first day, after viewing the Huangpu River in the afternoon, you should visit the wax museum, which is nearby. Unfortunately, I didn’t check in advance, so my plan was not comprehensive. However, Shanghai’s metro system is very developed. As long as you plan your time well, you can visit more places in just two days. I wish everyone a happy trip. If you have any questions, please leave a message, and I will respond promptly upon seeing them.

— June 2nd update: At everyone’s request, I have posted several photos for your appreciation. This is Yu Garden: This is the Lujiazui skyscrapers, with the Shanghai Tower on the left in the second photo, the tallest in Asia and the second tallest in the world: This is one end of the pedestrian street: This is the Bund scenery: This is the cruise schedule: This is the Bund night view: This is the wax museum: And this is the final stop – Wukang Road:

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