One-Day Shanghai Tour: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center + Yu Garden + Shanghai Tower
Welcome to Shanghai, the Magic City. Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and begin your Shanghai tour today.
This morning, you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, known as the "Window of the City," to learn from multiple perspectives about Shanghai's historical development from a shabby small fishing village to today's international metropolis, as well as its future plans. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is located in the city center and has 6 floors, with the "Prologue Hall," "City of Humanities," "City of Innovation," and "City of Ecology" as the main themed halls. It uses many high-tech digital technologies, such as VR, AR, holographic images, and the world's largest 5D digital city sand table, allowing you to comprehensively understand Shanghai's past, present, and future in a relaxed and fun way.
Afterward, head to Yu Garden, known as the "Crown of Southeast Gardens," to enjoy the scenery of classical Jiangnan gardens in China. Yu Garden was first built in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD), with a history of more than 460 years. It was originally a private garden built by Pan Yunduan, the Ming Dynasty provincial administration commissioner of Sichuan, for his father to enjoy his later years. Strolling along the winding paths of Yu Garden, you can admire China's exquisite garden layout, beautiful classical architecture, and superb craftsmanship in brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, and wood carving. In particular, the iconic sights - the Dragon Wall, the Nine-Turn Bridge, and the Mid-Lake Pavilion - are especially worth careful appreciation.
Afterward, walk to Yuyuan Bazaar near Yu Garden to taste the most authentic Shanghai cuisine, such as xiaolongbao, braised pork, and eight-treasure duck. If interested, you can also browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops, such as embroidery, ceramics, and wood carvings.
After lunch, you can take a public ferry across the Huangpu River to reach the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai, and admire up close the three most amazing skyscrapers: Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center. You can ascend Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in Shanghai and China. Here, you will take the world's fastest sightseeing elevator (73.8 km/h) directly to the "Top of Shanghai Observatory" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above the ground, and enjoy a 360-degree unobstructed view of Shanghai's magnificent skyline and panoramic city views, overlooking the famous buildings around. If interested, you can also send a special blessing from above the clouds to family and friends at the Top of Shanghai Air Post Office, currently the world's highest post office.
Then, walk to Shanghai's most representative landmark, the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower. This peculiar building, 468 meters high, has a main structure composed of 11 spheres of different sizes, arranged like "large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate." Standing beneath the tower and looking up, you can feel the grandeur of this fantastical building up close.
Finally, head to the Bund, known as the "Paris of the East," to experience the prosperity of Shanghai, the Magic City. Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund is one of Shanghai's iconic attractions and is known as the "Exhibition of World Architecture." It gathers 52 exotic buildings of different styles, such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, and HSBC Building. Stepping into it feels like entering the golden age of the former Wall Street of the East. Standing by the river, you can also see landmark buildings in the distance, such as Shanghai Tower, the world's third tallest building; the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, Asia's tallest tower; Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai's fourth tallest building; and Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai's second tallest building.
🍽️ Lunch included
🏨 Shanghai