Planning a group trip to Shanghai, China? Here's a 4-day itinerary designed for groups of friends. Use TeamTrip to collaborate on this plan with your crew — split expenses, vote on activities, and build your shared route.
Highlights
- The Bund — colonial architecture meets futuristic Pudong skyline across the river
- Yu Garden — classical Ming dynasty garden with dragon-topped walls
- Nanjing Road — China's premier shopping street, pedestrian-only at night
- French Concession — tree-lined streets, hidden speakeasies, brunch spots
- Shanghai Tower — world's second-tallest building, fastest elevator ride
- Tianzifang — maze of art galleries and craft shops in converted lane houses
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: The Classic Shanghai
- Morning: The Bund promenade — walk Waibaidu Bridge to Shiliupu (1.5 km), best photos in morning light
- Late morning: Nanjing Road East — pedestrian mall, century-old shops
- Lunch: Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) at Jia Jia Tang Bao or Din Tai Fung in People's Square
- Afternoon: People's Park and Shanghai Museum (free, ancient bronzes and ceramics)
- Evening: Huangpu River cruise or rooftop bar on the Bund — Pudong lights at night
- Night: Yunnan Road Food Street — late-night skewers and sheng jian bao (pan-fried dumplings)
Day 2: Old Meets New
- Morning: Yu Garden — arrive by 8:30 AM to beat tour groups, explore rockeries and pavilions
- Late morning: City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) and surrounding bazaar for street snacks
- Lunch: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant in Yu Garden — the 1900-original soup dumpling
- Afternoon: Explore the Old City lanes (nongtang) around Fuxing Road before they're gone
- Evening: Shanghai Tower observation deck (118th floor) — go 1 hour before sunset for day + night views
- Dinner: Hot pot at Haidilao or a Sichuan spot near Lujiazui
Day 3: French Concession Day
- Morning: Fuxing Park — morning tai chi, ballroom dancers, and mahjong players
- Late morning: Wukang Road — Wukang Mansion, lane houses, small galleries
- Lunch: Brunch on Wulumuqi Road — smashed avocado toast meets Chinese breakfast
- Afternoon: Anfu Road — concept stores, Aksu Coffee, photo-worthy streetscapes
- Evening: Cocktail crawl in the French Concession — hidden speakeasies (Flask, Speak Low, Sober Company)
- Night: Yongkang Road or Found 158 for bars and clubs
Day 4: Arts & Departure
- Morning: M50 Art District (Moganshan Road) — contemporary galleries in old textile mills
- Late morning: Tianzifang — craft shops, murals, and winding lane-house alleys
- Lunch: Vegan or modern Chinese at Fu He Hui or a lane house café in Jing'an
- Afternoon: Jade Buddha Temple or a stroll through Jing'an Sculpture Park
- Final dinner: Group feast — hairy crab (autumn) or Shanghainese classics at Lao Jishi
- Settle up: ¥ RMB expenses split before the Maglev train to Pudong Airport
Plan This Trip With Your Group
This itinerary is just a starting point. With TeamTrip, your whole group can:
- Vote on which restaurants and activities to include
- Split expenses in-app so nobody chases payments
- Drop pins for meetup spots with live location sharing
- Build the exact route on an interactive map
- Store tickets, bookings, and notes in one place
- Share photos during the trip in a group gallery