Shanghai is known as China’s “city of the future”, but its neon-splashed nightlife and world-class food scene are just as exciting as its hypermodern architecture

Arriving in Shanghai at night is one of China’s most immediate thrills, especially if you swoop in via taxi over raised highways – you’ll feel like you’re flying into science fiction incarnate. The metropolis’ bright lights and skyscrapers never fail to wow; coupled with the city’s 24 million inhabitants, they can even seem overwhelming. Happily, Shanghai doesn’t just thrill with its visuals. Forward-thinking fashion, food, art and nightlife scenes dovetail to make it a place that rewards those who delve beyond obvious attractions such as The Bund.
When to go:
April to May and September to October are the most pleasant times to visit Shanghai, which has sweltering summers and bone-chilling winters. Avoid the October Golden Week national holiday and Chinese New Year in February; do also watch out for June’s humid plum rain season, which sees brief, monsoon-like showers descend.
How to get around:
Shanghai’s metro train system is the biggest in the world and is super-clean, super-efficient and super-quick. Taxis are cheap but it’s best to use a hailing app such as Didi, as bagging metred cabs at peak times can be tough.
Discover everything the city has to offer and more
Location is everything when it comes to finding your way around Shanghai – and these hotels are…
A painstaking labour of love built over the course of 15 years, this one-year-old hotel is a…
The anticipated reserve aims to conserve and protect its environment
While development at breakneck speed means Jing’An’s landscape is ever-changing, a lingering mix…
Stocking fashion, fine china and more, some of the city’s best boutiques also boast on-site cafés
Shanghai’s unique blend of old and new is inspiring a new wave of top Chinese fashion and product…
Ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, China’s ski industry is soaring, from the flourishing ski…
This expansive resort designed around wellness and community combines medical practices with…
The latest outpost of Edition Hotels is the newest place to see and be seen in Shanghai
These five hotspots in China’s biggest and most rapidly changing city give travellers a true…