Must-See Shanghai - Billy's Cities

An overcast view of Pudong from the Bund. Pudong, Shanghai, China, Asia. — An overcast view of Pudong from the Bund.

Shanghai is a fantastically vibrant city. This comes as no surprise as it’s the world’s largest city. When it comes to sightseeing, Shanghai has a good mix of old and new, but tilting very much towards the new. This also comes as not much of a surprise. Shanghai didn’t start to become a major city until the Western powers moved in and took charge after the First Opium War. That was just about 170 years ago. Compare that with Beijing, which has been a power center in China for much of the past 8 centuries.

Must-Sees in Shanghai

1. The Bund

View of the Bund from Pudong. Bund, Shanghai, China, Asia. — View of the Bund from Pudong.

The Bund is the symbol of Shanghai (or of 20th-century Shanghai, anyway). The Western powers–who kickstarted the growth that made Shanghai the cosmopolitan city it is today–conspicuously left their mark in Shanghai on the Bund.

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2. Jade Buddha Temple

The exquisite jade reclining Buddha in the Jade Buddha Temple. Shanghai, China, Asia. — The exquisite jade reclining Buddha in the Jade Buddha Temple.

Central Shanghai has 3 impressive temples: the Jade Buddha Temple, the Jing’an Temple, and the City God Temple. The latter 2 are absolutely worth a visit. But only the Jade Buddha Temple has, appropriately enough, jade Buddhas. In addition to the reclining Buddha pictured above, the temple’s prized piece is the extraordinary 6-foot-tall jade sitting Buddha, located in a hushed 2nd-story chamber.

Click here for more about Jade Buddha Temple.

3. Pudong

Nighttime bird's-eye view of (a small portion of) the Shanghai skyline from the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 54th floor of Jin Mao Tower. Pudong, Shanghai, China, Tower. — Nighttime bird’s-eye view of (a small portion of) the Shanghai skyline from the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 54th floor of Jin Mao Tower.

The Bund’s days as being the symbol of Shanghai may be over. Pudong is now not just the symbol of modern Shanghai. It’s the symbol of modern China. Whether daytime or nighttime, you have to check out the view from one of Pudong’s sky-high observation decks.

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4. The Shanghai Museum

Because my flight to Shanghai was delayed by almost an entire day, I had to skip out on a few things. One attraction I had to sacrifice was the Shanghai Museum. Nonetheless, I consider it a must-see. It’s stocked full of thousands upon thousands of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks. It’s possibly China’s premier museum. Yup, I need to go back to Shanghai.

5. Yu Garden

The head on one of Yu Garden's fabulous dragon walls. Old City, Shanghai, China, Asia. — The head on one of Yu Garden’s fabulous dragon walls.

Beautiful Yu Garden was originally created in 1559. It is a welcome respite from the madding crowd of the surrounding Yu Garden Bazaar. (Nearby City God Temple is also a shelter from the human storm outside.)

Click here for more about Yu Garden.