What to See in Shanghai in 24 Hours

Photo by Shannon Wolf

On my journey to the Philippines from Vancouver, my $340 flight consisted of a 13-hour flight to Shanghai with a 24-hour layover on my way to Palawan.

I was surprised to find that customs had given me a 144hr transfer visa which meant I now had two options: stay in the airport drinking expensive coffee at Starbucks with no wifi or explore China’s greatest city: Shanghai.

Clearly, I chose the latter and headed straight to the ATM to pull out 153 yuan, equal to $30CDN.  I waited for the metro to open, spoke to locals asking where to go and hopped on the China Metro ready for an unexpected adventure buzzing with exhaustion and excitement.

If you have 24hrs in Shanghai, this route will pack a punch indulging all your senses in a small timespan.

First Stop: Qibao Ancient Town
Cost of Metro: 8 yuan, Time: 1hr 40 Min.

Time allocated: 1.5-2hrs
Qibao is located in the suburbs of Shanghai and allows you to get a small taste of what an ancient town in China is like. Wander through the pedestrian streets to time warp through ancient architecture, 2 striking canals while trying the local Qibao wine while taking a million photographs of the ancient beauty.

Second Stop: City of God Temple Snack Square & Yu Garden

Cost of Metro: 5 , Time: 1hr 40 Min.
Open: 8AM-5:15PM
Time allocated: 2-2.5hrs

Entrance Fee at Yu Garden: 40 yuan

Note: If you show student ID you can get a discounted rate)

Head to The City of God Temple Snack Square dubbed as “Shanghai Snack Kingdom” where you can fill your bellies with miles of local eats. Try the Nanxiang steamed and stuffed buns, the Chop Rice cakes, Cream Spiced Beans and Crab-Yellow Pastries. When you’re full to the brim, walk over to Yu Garden to burn off those calories through a 5-acre, 400 year old classic Chinese garden located in the Old City of Shanghai. Here you can explore the 6 beautiful areas of the grounds, various carvings and sculptures as well as the bazaar.

3^rd Stop: Nanjing Road Shopping District

If you love to shop, look no further than the famous shopping area of East Nanjing Road. To visit the essential stretch, take a walk between Huanghe Road and Henan Zhong Road to visit famous stores and to burn a hole in your pocket.

4th Stop: The Bund

The Bund stretches for a mile long along the Huangpu River and displays a striking view of the iconic Pearl TV Tower. The panoramic views are a must when visiting Shanghai.

5^th Stop: Power napping to avoid jetlag.
Cost of Metro: 7 yuan, Time: 62 min.

By now, you are probably exhausted and ready for a snooze. Walk back to East Nanjing Metro and ride Line 2 all the way to Pudong International Airport to find relatively comfortable cushioned chairs in Departures and take a nap before you hop onto your next flight as to not have jetlag.

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