★

Shanghai Museum

Its collection and architecture are truly first-class. Focusing on ancient Chinese art, its collection, exhibitions and research aim to present the complete development history of each artistic category. Its system, richness and quality are highly renowned at home and abroad. Moved here in 1995, the museum has a distinctive design that follows the traditional Chinese concept of 'round heaven, square earth'. Its overall form resembles a dignified ancient bronze vessel. The Shanghai Museum holds half of China's ancient art treasures, and its galleries have no showy gimmicks, yet they will leave visitors astonished by China's history.

Free admission, though some special exhibitions require tickets, with prices varying · 3+ hours

Old City God Temple

A crash course in old Shanghai folk culture. The Old City God Temple has long been like a grand temple fair that never ends. Whatever you might look for at other temple fairs, you'll find here, with its snacks and distinctive handicrafts the most famous of all. The Old City God Temple was built during the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty. Historically, the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The current temple was built in 1926 and rebuilt on a large scale in the 1990s, becoming a large, antique-style architectural complex and commercial district. The renovated old temple may have lost some of the atmosphere of the old city district, yet visitors still flock here, a testament to its enduring charm. The saying “Gold from the Old Temple brings you good luck” is known far and wide.

Free · 1–3 hours

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

The best-preserved Jiangnan water town near Shanghai. Its waterside townscape, thousand-year history, historic sites and cultural charm define Zhujiajiao. It has less commercial bustle than many other towns, so it feels fresh and relaxed.

Free; folk customs tour ¥30; New Water Town heritage tour ¥60

Jiading Ancient Town

This ancient town, with over 780 years of history, still preserves pagodas, temples, monasteries and old trees. Most visitors come for Zhouqiao Old Street. Lying on the same central axis as the Fahua Pagoda, about 500 meters from it, are the Confucian Temple, Huilong Pool and Yingkui Hill, another distinctive scenic area beside Zhouqiao Old Street. The Confucian Temple in particular is considered the number one in Wuzhong.

Both Banks of the Huangpu River

Oriental Pearl Tower

Whatever the time of day, it always catches your eye. The Oriental Pearl Tower, which evokes "large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate," doesn't always look especially pearl-like in daylight. This Shanghai landmark is better suited to night photography; by day, it resembles the aluminium city sculptures found everywhere, magnified several thousand times! The tower stands 468 metres tall, making it the tallest TV tower in Asia and the third-tallest in the world. The visitable areas include the lower sphere, the middle sphere with its circular gallery, and the upper sphere with its space capsule. The top of the lower sphere sits 118 metres up and houses an observation gallery and the Dreamy Space City, among other attractions. The upper sphere is 295 metres high and contains a revolving tea room, a restaurant and an observation platform that can hold 1,600 people. Between the upper and lower spheres are five small spheres, which are five sets of luxury suites high in the air.

Three-sphere combo ticket: ¥220; two-sphere combo ticket (excluding the space capsule): ¥199; City History Exhibition Hall: ¥35 · 1–3 hours