European buildings
Along the river.
Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Another Believer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Zhang — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Suicasmo — CC0 · David Zhang — CC BY-SA 2.0 · そらみみ (Soramimi) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · HALUK COMERTEL — CC BY 3.0
Shanghai's most famous sight, a protected historic waterfront on the west bank of the Huangpu River along East Zhongshan Road, at the heart of what was the Shanghai International Settlement, lined with dozens of grand early-twentieth-century European buildings. The waterfront holds historic banks, hotels and trading houses in a range of styles from Neoclassical to Art Deco, reflecting Shanghai's golden age as a world trading hub, and its raised promenade looks out over the whole river. The real draw is the view across the water to the skyscrapers of modern Lujiazui: the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, a striking contrast between past and present on the two banks. It's free and always open. The best time is after dark, when the historic buildings and the modern towers light up together, and you can take an evening river cruise. It gets extremely crowded on national holidays.
Along the river.
Across the water.
After dark.
East Zhongshan Road, on the Huangpu River
Oriental Pearl TowerA futuristic TV tower in Lujiazui, built from 1991 to 1994, which stayed the tal11 minutes walk4.7
Yu GardenA large classical Chinese garden in Shanghai's Old City, its name meaning «Garde12 minutes walk4.6
Nanjing RoadShanghai's main shopping street and one of the busiest in the world alongside th15 minutes walk4.5
Shanghai TowerChina's tallest building and the third-tallest in the world, a 128-storey, 632 m18 minutes walk4.5
Shanghai World Financial CenterA soaring skyscraper in Lujiazui designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and completed in 20 minutes walk4.7After sunset, when the historic buildings and the Lujiazui skyscrapers light up together; it's free and always open.