Travel guide: Shanghai, China
Hotels, cars, visas, lounges — everything you need before you land in Shanghai.
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At a glance
Local facts
Travel essentials for Shanghai, China — what to expect on the ground. Shanghai sits in China (Asia), in a subtropical climate band — subtropical northern-hemisphere band with mild winters and warm summers. Nearest airport: SHA serves the area. Local timezone is Asia/Shanghai, which matters for arrivals and check-ins. It sits at 31.23°, 121.47° — useful for weather, daylight, and route planning. Recognised as a major tourist destination — expect higher demand in peak windows. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.
- RegionChina, Asia
- Climate bandsubtropical northern-hemisphere band with mild winters and warm summers
- Nearest airportSHA
- TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
- Coordinates31.23, 121.47
- Located in the Northern Hemisphere
Shanghai is China's largest city and its great commercial and financial hub, on the East China Sea coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River. A dynamic, forward-looking metropolis, it is famous for its skyline: the historic waterfront of the Bund, lined with grand early-20th-century buildings, faces the futuristic towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and the soaring Shanghai Tower. Beyond the skyline, Shanghai offers the classical Yuyuan Garden, the shopping street of Nanjing Road, the leafy former French Concession, world-class museums and a celebrated food scene. It is served by two airports, Pudong International and the closer Hongqiao, and by an extensive metro and high-speed rail network. Shanghai is reached by international flights and by fast trains from across China. The climate has hot, humid summers and cool, damp winters.
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Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Shanghai
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Shanghai tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
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More partner options for Shanghai
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KlookAttractions, passes and day tours for ShanghaiSearch on Klook ↗
12GoTrains, buses and ferries for ShanghaiSearch on 12Go ↗
AiraloTravel eSIM data for ShanghaiSearch on Airalo ↗
Booking.comHotels and apartments in ShanghaiSearch on Booking.com ↗
AviasalesCompare flights to ShanghaiSearch on Aviasales ↗
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AirHelpClaim for a delayed or cancelled flightSearch on AirHelp ↗
KiwitaxiPre-booked airport taxis to ShanghaiSearch on Kiwitaxi ↗
Trip.comMore hotels in ShanghaiSearch on Trip.com ↗
LocalrentLocal car rental firms near ShanghaiSearch on Localrent ↗
Frequently asked questions
Where is Shanghai?
Shanghai is on the East China Sea coast of China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and is the country's largest city. It is a major commercial and financial centre, served by two airports, Pudong International and the closer Hongqiao, and connected across China by an extensive high-speed rail network.
What is Shanghai known for?
Shanghai is famous for its skyline: the historic Bund waterfront of grand old buildings facing the futuristic towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower. It is also known for Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road, the former French Concession, museums and food.
What is there to do in Shanghai?
Visitors stroll the Bund and admire the Pudong skyline, cross the river to its towers and observation decks, explore the classical Yuyuan Garden and old town, shop along Nanjing Road, wander the tree-lined former French Concession, and enjoy the city's museums, nightlife and renowned food scene.
How do you get to Shanghai?
Shanghai is reached by international flights into Pudong International Airport, the main gateway, and the closer Hongqiao Airport, and by high-speed trains from Beijing and cities across China. The airports link to the city by metro, road and, for Pudong, a high-speed maglev train, with the centre well served by an extensive metro.
Nearby destinations
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