Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at Shanghai Museum on People’s Square and give its Chinese art collections about two hours. General admission is free, but entry may require an advance reservation through the museum’s official channels; check before setting out. It is typically open Tuesday–Sunday, with last entry in the late afternoon, but confirm current hours and any holiday changes. Afterward, take Metro Line 8 or 14 toward Yuyuan Garden—allow around 25–35 minutes door to door, including the walk from the station.
Explore Yuyuan Garden and the nearby lanes for about 1.5 hours. The garden has timed closing and last-entry hours, so check the current schedule and aim to arrive with plenty of afternoon left; hours and closure days can change. Then head into Yuyuan Bazaar for Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Allow about an hour and roughly ¥40–100 per person; queues are common, especially at peak meal times, so expect a possible wait.
Finish with a 1–1.5-hour walk along The Bund, where the historic waterfront buildings face Pudong’s illuminated skyline. From Yuyuan Bazaar, walk about 25–35 minutes through the Old City, or take a short taxi ride; budget extra time for evening traffic. Sunset and lighting times vary by season, so check the day’s sunset time if you want to catch the sky changing over the river.
Ease into the day with an hour at Fuxing Park. Come in the morning, when locals gather to dance, play cards, and practice tai chi; the park is generally open daily from early morning until evening, and entry is free. From there, walk or take a short taxi ride to Tianzifang on Taikang Road. Give yourself 1.5–2 hours to wander the tight lanes and browse studios and shops; businesses set their own hours, but many open around 10 a.m. and stay open into the evening.
Take a taxi from Tianzifang to Café de la Poste in the Former French Concession—allow roughly 10–20 minutes, depending on traffic. Set aside ¥80–160 per person for a relaxed French-style lunch. It’s worth checking the restaurant’s current opening hours before you go, as they can change.
Head to Xintiandi after lunch, by taxi or metro, and spend about 1.5 hours exploring the restored shikumen lanes and lively dining district. The area is pleasant for an unhurried stroll, though its shops and venues keep different hours. Finish at Din Tai Fung in Xintiandi for dumplings and Taiwanese favorites; budget around ¥100–200 per person, and check the branch’s current hours and queue situation before setting off.
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