Cheap Flights to Shanghai from US$ 543.99*

Fly with Condor to Shanghai (PVG)

Shanghai is a coastal megacity in eastern China on the Yangtze River Delta, facing the East China Sea. It is administered as a municipality and developed around the Huangpu River, with the historic Puxi side west of the river and Pudong to the east. Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, with hot, humid summers and cooler winters. The city’s low-lying riverside setting shapes an urban landscape of waterways, ports and dense neighborhoods.

☀️ Best time to go: March–May and September–November, generally mild temperatures and lower humidity than mid-summer

🏛️ Best known for: Skyscraper skyline, Riverfront cityscapes, Chinese cuisine, Modern urban culture, Shopping

🗣️ Language: Mandarin Chinese; Shanghainese (Wu) encountered locally

✈️ Airport: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

5 Reasons Why You Should Travel to Shanghai (PVG)

1. Riverside skylines from the Bund to Pudong

At dusk, the Huangpu River reflects two skylines at once. Stroll the Bund’s early 20th-century waterfront, then cross to Lujiazui for towers like Shanghai Tower. Take river cruises only with licensed operators.

2. Plane-tree boulevards with café culture

Morning walks in the former French Concession pass plane trees, shikumen lanes and 1920s–30s villas. Pause on streets near Sinan Road or Nanchang Road where galleries and coffee bars shape an unhurried city rhythm.

3. Street-food scents and Hu cuisine traditions

Night markets bring the sound of woks and the scent of sesame and scallion oil. Taste xiaolongbao soup dumplings and other Hu-style dishes with sweet-savory sauces. For crab season, follow restaurant guidance.

4. Modern art and design in reused spaces

Repurposed warehouses and lane-house blocks set the scene for Shanghai’s contemporary art. Browse galleries in areas like M50 or modern design stores near West Nanjing Road. In temples and museums, respect quiet zones.

5. Canal towns as quick escapes beyond the city

Stone bridges and narrow canals appear surprisingly close to the city limits. Ride Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao for waterside lanes and boat rides, or plan longer trips to towns like Zhouzhuang. Crowds vary by season.

Instagrammable Spots in Shanghai (PVG)

Art Deco curves at Wukang Mansion

Rounded balconies and cream-colored stone give Wukang Mansion a film-set look, especially when the plane trees frame it in soft shade. The five-way intersection in front creates clean street geometry, with trams of scooters and taxis adding motion to your foreground. Early morning feels calmer and lets the architecture read clearly without visual clutter. Nearby, the former French Concession’s side streets add more façades, gates and café corners for detail-driven shots. #ArchitecturalDetails #StreetGeometry #AsiaInFrames

Blue-hour glow along the Bund waterfront

As daylight fades, the Bund’s historic façades switch on in warm tones while Pudong’s towers rise across the Huangpu in cool blues. The promenade gives you long sightlines for skyline frames that balance old stonework with glass and steel. A little haze can soften the contrast and make the lights feel more cinematic. For a different angle, continue north toward Waibaidu Bridge where steel trusses add structure to your city-night compositions. #BlueHourMagic #UrbanNightscape #EastAsiaGlow

Neon corridors on East Nanjing Road

Bright LED screens, storefront signage and moving crowds turn East Nanjing Road into a high-energy light tunnel after dark. You’ll catch layered reflections in shop windows and glossy pavement after rain, creating a natural mirror effect. The pedestrian street’s depth makes it easy to build a sense of scale with people as silhouettes. Step into side alleys for quieter frames where the glow still spills over the street. #NeonNoir #CityLightsAtNight #NeonCityVibes

Lantern-lit lanes and rooftop silhouettes in Tianzifang

Narrow shikumen lanes, hanging lanterns and textured brick walls make Tianzifang feel intimate and visually dense. Small signs, café windows and pocket courtyards create quick, story-like frames that work well for both stills and short clips. Afternoon light often filters in as soft patches, adding contrast without washing out the details. It’s a busy area, so patience pays off when a lane briefly clears for a cleaner shot. #UrbanTextures #LocalLife #HiddenGemsAsia

Industrial art backdrops at M50 Creative Park

Red-brick warehouse walls, stairwells and repurposed factory details set a gritty stage for portraits and street-style photos. Gallery entrances, bold murals and sculptural pieces add color pops that change from corner to corner. The Suzhou Creek setting brings in quieter, moodier tones that contrast with the artwork. Keep an eye out for graphic signage and concrete textures that read strongly in close-up compositions. #ColorPlayVibes #TextureHunter #UrbanExplorers

Zigzag bridge reflections in Yu Garden

Dark timber, whitewashed walls and carved rooflines create a classic palette that photographs beautifully against greenery and water. The zigzag bridge adds a distinctive shape, especially when the pond catches ripples of reflection under calm light. Ornamental rockeries and lattice windows give you endless detail shots without needing a wide scene. Photography rules can vary by area, so follow current signage and staff guidance, especially around covered corridors. #ReflectionsEverywhere #DetailShot #CulturalColors

Skyline symmetry from the Lujiazui riverside promenade

Glass towers cluster tightly in Lujiazui, creating bold vertical lines that feel almost graphic when viewed from the riverside. In clear weather, the “three-piece suit” trio—Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower—stacks into a clean, instantly recognizable skyline. Evening brings a shifting mix of window light and animated façades that keeps your frames dynamic. From here, you can also look back across the water for a calmer, more architectural view of the Bund’s historic frontage. #SkylineViews #SymmetryHunters #ChasingLight