From the Bund’s colonial facade to the supertalls of Lujiazui, Shanghai’s landmarks tell the story of a city that has rebuilt itself twice in a century. These are the ones worth knowing by name.
The Essentials
The Bund
Huangpu
The 1.5km waterfront promenade — best at sunrise, never at noon.
Yu Garden
Huangpu
Ming-dynasty classical garden surrounded by the old city bazaar.
Shanghai Tower
Pudong
The 632m supertall with the world’s second-highest observation deck.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pudong
The 1994 icon that launched the Pudong skyline.
Hidden Landmarks Worth Finding
01
Longtang of Xintiandi
Restored alleyways preserving shikumen architecture.
02
M50 Art District
Former textile mill turned contemporary art hub.
03
Wukang Mansion
The 1924 flat-iron ship landmark on Wuyuan Road.