Here are three possible itineraries for foreign families with children visiting Shanghai for two days:
Itinerary 1: Culture and Entertainment
Day 1:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, which houses a vast collection of Chinese art and artifacts, including ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings.
- Lunch: Enjoy some delicious dim sum at Din Tai Fung, a famous Taiwanese chain restaurant that serves mouth-watering soup dumplings and other traditional dishes.
- Afternoon: Take a walk along the famous Bund waterfront promenade, where you can admire the stunning skyline of Shanghai and the colonial-era buildings on the other side of the Huangpu River. Then, head to the nearby Yuyuan Garden, a classical Chinese garden with ponds, rock formations, and pavilions.
- Evening: For some fun and entertainment, head to the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, one of the tallest TV and radio towers in the world, and visit its observation deck to get a panoramic view of the city at night.
Day 2:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney park in mainland China, and enjoy its many attractions, shows, and parades.
- Lunch: Grab a quick bite at one of the many food stands and restaurants in the park.
- Afternoon: Continue your fun-filled day at the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, which showcases a wide range of marine life, including sharks, rays, sea turtles, and exotic fish.
- Evening: For a memorable ending to your trip, take a Huangpu River cruise and enjoy the stunning views of Shanghai’s skyline illuminated at night.
Itinerary 2: Food and Shopping
Day 1:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where you can learn about the history and principles of Chinese medicine and see a variety of herbs, equipment, and tools used in traditional treatments.
- Lunch: Head to the famous Nanjing Road, one of the busiest shopping streets in Shanghai, and try some local street food, such as steamed buns, pancakes, and fried dumplings.
- Afternoon: Continue your shopping spree on Nanjing Road, where you can find a wide range of stores, boutiques, and malls selling everything from fashion and accessories to electronics and souvenirs.
- Evening: For a taste of Shanghai’s nightlife, head to the French Concession area, a trendy neighborhood with many bars, restaurants, and clubs.
Day 2:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Old City area, where you can find a maze of narrow streets and alleys filled with small shops and vendors selling traditional handicrafts, antiques, and souvenirs.
- Lunch: Try some of Shanghai’s famous street food, such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), and jianbing (Chinese crepes).
- Afternoon: Head to the Tianzifang neighborhood, a charming and artistic enclave with many galleries, boutiques, and cafes, where you can find unique and handmade items.
- Evening: End your day with a visit to the Shanghai World Financial Center, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, and enjoy its observation deck with a stunning view of the city.
Itinerary 3: Nature and Science
Day 1:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Shanghai Natural History Museum, which showcases a wide range of exhibits and displays on the natural world, including dinosaurs, fossils, animals, plants, and geology.
- Lunch: Head to the nearby Jing’an Sculpture Park, a beautiful and peaceful park with many sculptures, gardens, and a lake, where youcan have a picnic or grab a bite at one of the food stalls.
- Afternoon: Head to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, one of the largest and most comprehensive science museums in China, with many interactive exhibits and hands-on activities on topics such as astronomy, physics, biology, and technology. Kids will love the Science Storms exhibit, where they can experience a tornado, an earthquake, and a tsunami.
- Evening: Enjoy a relaxing evening at the Shanghai Botanical Garden, which features over 6,000 species of plants from around the world, including a rose garden, a bonsai garden, and a tropical rainforest. The garden also has a light and music show at night, which is a must-see.
Day 2:
- Morning: Start your day with a visit to the Zhujiajiao Water Town, a charming and picturesque canal town on the outskirts of Shanghai, with traditional architecture, narrow alleys, and ancient bridges. Kids will love taking a boat ride along the canals and trying some local snacks, such as rice cakes and sweet osmanthus cakes.
- Lunch: Head to the nearby Hengshan Road, a tree-lined street with many restaurants and cafes serving a wide range of international cuisine, from Italian and French to Korean and Thai.
- Afternoon: Head to the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, a large and modern zoo with over 10,000 animals from around the world, including pandas, tigers, giraffes, and elephants. Kids can also enjoy a safari tour and see the animals up close.
- Evening: End your day with a visit to the Shanghai Planetarium, a new and state-of-the-art facility that offers immersive and interactive experiences on astronomy and space science. Kids can explore the galaxy and learn about the latest discoveries in the universe.