Morning — The Bund & Yu Garden
Begin your day at The Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront promenade along the west bank of the Huangpu River. Stroll past the 'International Architecture Exhibition Group,' a row of 52 historic buildings in Eclectic, Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance and Art Deco styles erected when Shanghai was an international concession port from the mid-19th century. Cross the Waibaidu Bridge — the city's first all-steel bridge, completed in 1907 over Suzhou Creek — for classic river views. Then explore Yu Garden, a classical Jiangnan garden first laid out in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by merchant Pan Yunduan for his father. Wander its pavilions, ponds and rockeries, and admire the celebrated Yulinglong scholar's rock, one of the three great limestone rocks of the lower Yangtze.
Lunch — Traditional Shanghainese Restaurant near Yu Garden
Enjoy lunch at a traditional Shanghainese restaurant near Yu Garden, tasting local favorites such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and shengjian (pan-fried buns).
Afternoon — Pudong Skyline
Take the short public ferry across the Huangpu River to Pudong. Walk the Lujiazui Ring Bridge for close-up views of the 'Three Towers': the 468-meter Oriental Pearl Tower (opened 1994), the 420-meter Jinmao Tower (1999) and the 632-meter Shanghai Tower (2015), the tallest building in China. You may ascend the Oriental Pearl Tower or simply take in the skyline from the open-air viewing platform.
Evening (Optional) — Bund Night View & Nanjing Road
Return to The Bund after dark to see the historic facades and the Pudong skyline lit up in a nightly light show, then stroll Nanjing Road — one of the world's busiest shopping streets — for shopping and snacks. (Evening activities are optional and not included.)
