Day 1 | The Bund, North Bund, Huangpu River night cruise | ||
Day 2 | Yu Garden, Yu Garden Bazaar, Nanjing Road and Zhongshan Road | ||
Day 3 | Shanghai Disneyland | ||
Day 4 | Sheshan Natural Tourist Resort, Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland | ||
Day 5 | Former French Concession, Xintiandi, Tianzifang | ||
Day 6 | Departure, return to Singapore | ||
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Best of all, you don’t even need to spend too long there. Shanghai can be thoroughly enjoyed over just a few days, as the sprawling city offers an invigorating mix of modernity and rich history, tied together with an efficient metro system that puts major attractions all within easy reach.
Tailored for first-time visitors, this guide tells you tourist attractions you cannot miss, top neighbourhoods to visit, and practical travel tips such as what apps to download. We’ve also included the best payment options in China so you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way.
As a signature site for locals and visitors alike, expect the Shanghai Bund to be crowded. For a little more breathing room, make your way to the North Bund. It’s an area with less crowds, yet featuring some of the best angles of Shanghai’s skyline. Here, you can enjoy a mix of modern glass buildings, riverside walkways, and hidden coffee shops, making for a chill photo walk.
At night, embark on a Huangpu River cruise to see the Bund lit up in dazzling colours for stunning photo opportunities and unforgettable views.
Pro-tip: Book your tickets using the Mari Credit Card to enjoy no FX fees1 and 1.5% cashback2 on your foreign transaction!
First up, head over to Yu Garden for a leisurely stroll. Built around the 16th century, Yu Garden stands as one of the best examples of classical Chinese garden architecture. It features ornate pavilions, ancient stone bridges and serene koi ponds – all set amidst beautifully landscaped trees and flowering shrubs.
After that, drop by the nearby Yu Garden Bazaar (aka Yuyuan Tourist Mart) for some souvenir shopping! Browse to your heart's content among hundreds of shops for traditional souvenirs, classical Chinese arts and handicrafts, silk, jewellery and fine Chinese tea. While undeniably touristy, Yuyuan Tourist Mart is also known for decent local Shanghainese food, so give the xiaolongbao and crab roe noodles here a go.
Do remember to sign up for WeChat Pay (commonly known as Weixin Pay) or Alipay so you can pay easily. It’s important to know that at present, any transactions above 200 Chinese Yuan will incur additional fees.
Ready for more shopping? Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Zhongshan Road and Nanjing Road – two of Shanghai’s most famous shopping streets. Find international and local brands, souvenirs, fashion, luxury brands and more, along with plenty of restaurants and cafes serving everything from light refreshments to hearty meals.
As the largest Disney theme park in Asia, Shanghai Disneyland hosts exclusive rides and shows you won’t find anywhere else. Some highlights include TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a futuristic roller coaster where you race through a mind-bending digital landscape; Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, featuring lifelike animatronics and a thrilling underwater battle; and the recently launched Zootopia Hot Pursuit; the only Zootopia-themed attraction in the world.
Start your day with a visit to the Sheshan National Tourist Resort, the only forest in Shanghai. Spanning a hefty 64 square kilometres, the resort offers an intriguing mix of natural views, cultural heritage experiences, amusement parks, sports facilities, and luxury accommodations. Remember to use the Mari Credit Card to book your tickets to save on cashback!
Split your time between several attractions: Sheshan National Forest Park, Chenshan Botanical Garden, Happy Valley, Playa Maya Water Park, Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park, Yuehu Sculpture Park and other attractions.
Not to be missed is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, the only hotel in the world that’s built into a quarry. It’s both an engineering marvel and a stunning natural wonder that you’ll not soon forget.
Head to the Former French Concession, an idyllic area home to several neighbourhoods and walking streets. Some highlights include Sinan Road, a famous French-style flanked by about 20 garden houses and shaded by trees overhead; Tianzifang,a former industrial area turned trendy fashion and eating street set amidst early 20th century houses; Huaihai Middle Road, where you can find global fashion brands and top-rated restaurants; and Xintiandi, a trendy pedestrian street featuring international restaurants and high-street shopping housed in conservation old-style Shikumen residences.
There’s plenty more in the Former French Concession to see and explore, so just pick a direction and wander to your heart’s content.
However, making payments as a traveller is still convenient and safe. You can choose any of the following when paying in China.
Cash
While hardly anyone pays with cash these days in China, it’s still a viable option. You may still encounter some vendors who prefer not to take cash, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. But if you’re left with no other choice, a polite explanation that you’re a tourist with no other means to pay will usually earn you a pardon.
Credit cards
Credit cards are widely accepted in Shanghai, especially at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and elsewhere throughout the city. Ensure that your Mari Credit Card is linked to your WeChat Pay/Weixin Pay and/or Alipay before your trip, so that any verification can be done while you’re still in Singapore.
Mobile payments
Foreigners can still make use of mobile payments with the right setup. A popular way is to download the Alipay app and link your payment card to it. Once done, you can scan QR codes to pay merchants, as well as for taxi rides and public transit. You can also show your own QR code to receive money in China.
Pay in CNY or SGD?
When given the choice, always choose to pay in CNY, and not SGD. This is necessary to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), a markup that’s placed on your transaction just for the convenience of paying in SGD.
Mari Credit Card is accepted anywhere Mastercard is, making it a convenient and secure way to pay at hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops.
But more than convenience and seamless payment, Mari Credit Card helps you save during your Shanghai holiday. There’s zero FX fee1 and 1.5% cashback2 on the first S$1,500 overseas spend each month—this means you won’t have to pay extra for your transaction. Between that and unbeatable foreign exchange rates for Chinese Yuan, you will be paying virtually the same prices as a local Shanghainese. Find out more about the Mari Credit Card perks here!
You can also easily track your holiday spending just by checking the MariBank mobile app.
Keep it light and stress-free by staying flexible and adaptable – that goes double when paying. While not the preferred method, it’s nevertheless a good idea to keep a small amount of cash on you. Meanwhile, Mari Credit Card can be used for both card payments and QR code payments (with Alipay), covering two payment methods at one go.
1 For the FX Rates with Mari Credit Card Promotion Terms & Conditions which apply, please see here. Valid till 31 Dec 2026.
2 The 1.5% Cashback is only applicable for Eligible Overseas Spend in foreign currencies (non-Singapore Dollars) up to a maximum amount of S$1,500 of Eligible Overseas Spends in a Relevant Month. For more information, please refer to the Spend Overseas with Mari Credit Card: Promotion Terms & Conditions (valid till 31 Dec 2026) which apply.
MariBank is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
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