Shanghai

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.