https://ae.trip.com/blog/shanghai-itinerary-twodays

[Shanghai Free Travel] How to enjoy a 2-day and 1-night Shanghai tour, a comprehensive itinerary planning guide!

Travellers Magicians
Travellers Magicians
Aug 27, 2025

Contents

  • Trip Planner
  • Shanghai Itinerary Planning Overview
  • Shanghai Day 1
    • Yu Garden
    • Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
    • The Bund
    • Oriental Pearl Tower
  • Shanghai Day 2
    • Shanghai Disney Resort
  • Show more

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This guide carefully plans a perfect 2-day and 1-night trip in Shanghai for you. Covering local attractions, authentic food and popular shopping areas, you can easily travel around Shanghai and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashionable check-in in a modern metropolis, this guide can meet your needs. Come and start your wonderful trip to Shanghai!




Try Nanxiang Xiaolongbao in Yu Garden, buy time-honoured brands on Nanjing Road, take photos of international buildings on the Bund, overlook the night view of the Oriental Pearl Tower, and check in at all classic landmarks in one stop.
Ride the Tron Lightcycle Power Wheel, watch the fireworks show, play in the fairytale castle, and enjoy both the attractions and the fairy tales at Disney.


Date Journey
Day 1 Yu Garden -> Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street -> The Bund -> Oriental Pearl Tower
Day 2 Shanghai Disney Resort


Yu Garden is one of the five classical gardens in Shanghai (the only one located in the city), and was once a private garden of officials in the Ming Dynasty. This classical garden with a history of more than 400 years is exquisitely designed, with a quiet environment, pavilions, rockery, and ponds. It is a rare and elegant place in a bustling city. In the garden, you can also see hundreds of plaques and inscriptions from famous artists, as well as a stone sculpture exhibition hall with a large collection of collections.


Address: No. 168, Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Transportation: Take Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Station and walk to the destination.

Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 16:30 tomorrow (no admission at 16:00)

evaluate:

As one of the Jiangnan classical gardens, Yu Garden is the representative of the Jiangnan classical gardens. The pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water all exude a classical and elegant temperament. It was drizzling in Shanghai the day I went there, and there were not too many tourists. In this misty scene of Jiangnan, it was really a pleasure to immerse myself in the scenery of Yu Garden.


Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is about 1,200 meters long, with shops lining both sides. At first glance, modern buildings are interspersed with old European-style buildings, and vertical shop light boxes are endless, especially under the night sky with flashing neon lights, which is unique in style. You can visit the many department stores and time-honoured shops here, buy some special souvenirs, and take a ride on the "clang clang car" that looks like a smaller version of an old tram to experience the flavor of old Shanghai.

Address: Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

evaluate:

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is where Shanghai people go for a stroll every once in a while. New World, First Department Store, Wing On Department Store, First Food Store, Fashion Company, Accounting Company and so on. These are memories engraved in the bones of Shanghai people.


The Bund is a pedestrian sightseeing belt located between Waibaidu Bridge and Jinling East Road on the west bank of the Huangpu River in central Shanghai. Walking from south to north, on the left is the broad Zhongshan East 1st Road, with dozens of international architectural expositions of different styles lined up on the roadside; on the right is Shanghai's mother river, the Huangpu River, with huge ships shuttling on the river, and on the other side of the river stand skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower. At night, neon lights are lit up on both sides of the Huangpu River, making it a great place to stroll along the Bund with your loved one and feel the charm and romance of the "city that never sleeps". In the summer, the Bund's river breeze makes it a great place to cool off.

Address: Zhongshan East 1st Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, from Waibaidu Bridge in the north to Shiliupu Wharf in the south

Transportation: Subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 10 to Nanjing East Road Station and walk to the destination.

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

evaluate:

The Bund, located on the bank of the Huangpu River in Huangpu District, Shanghai, is the Outer Huangpu Beach and is a historical and cultural district in China. From 1844 (the 24th year of Emperor Daoguang’s reign in the Qing Dynasty), the Bund area was designated as the British Concession, becoming a true portrayal of Shanghai’s foreign concessions and the starting point of the old Shanghai Concession area and the entire modern city of Shanghai. The Bund is 1.5 kilometers long, starting from Yan'an East Road in the south and ending at Waibaidu Bridge over Suzhou Creek in the north. To the east is the Huangpu River, and to the west is the concentration of financial and foreign trade institutions in old Shanghai. After Shanghai was opened as a commercial port, foreign banks, trading houses, associations and newspapers began to gather here, and the Bund became the financial center of the country and even the Far East. In August 1943, the Bund was returned to the Shanghai International Settlement to the Wang Puppet Nationalist Government, ending the century-long concession period. In 1945, it was officially named Zhongshan East 1st Road. There are 52 classical revival buildings of different styles standing on the Bund, which is known as the Bund International Architecture Expo. It is an important historical site and a representative building in modern China, and one of the landmarks of Shanghai. In November 1996, the State Council of the People's Republic of China listed it as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In March 2018, Shanghai Bund launched the replacement of the functions of the "second facade" (i.e. the Bund buildings not facing the river) on the basis of comprehensively promoting the replacement of the functions of the "first facade" (i.e. the buildings facing the river). The Bund (Zhongshan East 1st Road) is located at 31°24′N, 121°49′E, in the central part of Shanghai and the eastern part of Huangpu District. It faces Lujiazui across the Huangpu River to the east, is 2 km away from Shanghai People's Square to the west, and is adjacent to the Suzhou River estuary to the north. The Bund runs through nine roads from north to south: South Suzhou River Road, Beijing East Road, Dianchi Road, Nanjing East Road, Jiujiang Road, Hankou Road, Fuzhou Road, Guangdong Road, and Yan'an East Road, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers. The Bund has four distinct seasons, mild and humid weather, abundant rainfall, and a long frost-free period. It has a subtropical monsoon climate. The Bund has shorter springs and autumns and longer winters and summers. More than 60% of the annual rainfall is concentrated in the flood season from May to September. Since the concessions were seized by Britain, France and other countries in the 1840s, the Bund has become a sovereign area. The Western powers operated, managed and built the concessions in their way. When commercial banks and financial enterprises occupied a place on the Bund, they began to build company buildings on a large scale. Most of the buildings on the Bund have been rebuilt three times or more. In the 20th century, due to the development of construction technology and the growth of economic strength, multi-story and high-rise buildings appeared on the Bund with various styles, such as British classical style, British neoclassical style, British Renaissance style, Asia Building (formerly Shanghai Metallurgical Design Institute), Shanghai General Association, Pudong Development Bank Building, Chahe Building, etc., as well as French classical style, French large residential style, Gothic style, Baroque style, modern Western style, East Indian style, eclecticism style, Chinese and Western hybrid style, etc., presenting a situation of coexistence of architecture from all over the world. Therefore, this group of buildings, which stretches from Waibaidu Bridge on Suzhou River in the north to Jinling East Road on Zhongshan East Road in the south, is known as the "International Architecture Expo". These buildings, which combine classicism and modernism, have become a symbol of Shanghai.



The Oriental Pearl Tower, 468 meters high, stands in the Lujiazui financial center of Shanghai, across the river from the Bund. It is one of Shanghai's landmark buildings. The main body consists of three oblique cylinders, three straight cylinders and eleven spheres of different sizes. You can stand on the 259-meter-high fully transparent observation gallery and enjoy the charming night view of Shanghai from 360 degrees. You can also take a high-altitude VR roller coaster to experience the thrill of high technology.


Address: No. 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New District, Shanghai

Transportation: Subway: Take Subway Line 2 to Lujiazui Station and take Exit 1.

Opening hours: 09:00-21:00 (no admission after 20:30)

evaluate:

Take the children from Disney to the museum to the dinosaur museum, and then to the Oriental Pearl Tower. Standing on a high place and looking at the entire Bund, the former prosperity and the current hustle and bustle complement each other. Shanghai is still a dazzling pearl!



Shanghai Disney Resort is located in the Pudong New District, Shanghai. It is the first Disney resort in mainland China. Here you can experience many classic attractions of Disneyland, including the larger Disney Castle, the pirate-themed park, the longer Disney float parade route, etc., and experience the Magic Kingdom in an immersive way.


Disneyland


Shanghai Disney Resort

▲ Shanghai Disneyland is divided into eight themed parks with their own characteristics, including "Mickey Avenue", "Gardens of Imagination", "Fantasyland", "Disney Pixar Toy Story", "Adventure Isle", "Treasure Cove", "Tomorrowland" and "Zootopia". Men, women, young and old can all find a happy place here.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#Mickey Avenue#

As soon as you enter the entrance of Disneyland, you will step into "Mickey Avenue". Minnie, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto and other friends will gather here, where you can hug and take photos with your favorite Disney friends. Among the various shops on the main street, the "M Street Shopping Arcade" will offer a rich selection of gifts and souvenirs from the park.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#Fantasy Garden#

The Gardens of Imagination consists of 7 magical gardens of different styles. You can ride the "Fantasia Carousel" to revolve in joy, or fly in the sky on "Dumbo". There are also many iconic Disney entertainment performances to watch, such as the Castle Stage Show and the "Spectacular Lights and Magic Show". Visitors can also enjoy the world's longest Disney-themed float parade - "Mickey's Fairy Tale Train" from different angles.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#Dream world#

Fantasy World is the largest park in the park and is home to the magnificent "Fantasy Fairytale Castle". In this fairytale wonderland, animation fans can explore the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh, travel through the maze in Wonderland with Alice, take a mine car adventure with the seven dwarfs, board the "Peter Pan Sky Adventure" spaceship to cross the sky of London, or follow "Crystal Crystal Adventures" to wander through a familiar Disney story.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#DisneyPixarToyStory#

Here, you can sit on the spiral spring of the "Sprocket Dog" and happily circle around a big dog filled with toy bones. The "Hugger Dragon" will invite everyone to sit on the remote-controlled sky-high racing car and start an exciting adventure on the long "U"-shaped track. In addition, you can also buy your favorite games, toys, etc. at the "Al's Toy Store".


Shanghai Disney Resort

#AdventureIsland#

When you arrive at Adventure Island, you feel like you are in a newly discovered ancient tribe. The towering Roaring Mountain will provide a clear direction for your adventure in Adventure Island. You can embark on your own adventure in the "Ancient Ruins Exploration Camp", or cross the world and time and space in "Soaring Over the Horizon", take a raft on the "Thunder Mountain Rafting" to go deep into the heart of Adventure Island and explore the dark realm where a huge mysterious monster lives.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#Treasure Bay#

Treasure Cove is the first pirate-themed park in any Disney theme park. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure" turns water rides into thrilling adventures. Adventurous visitors can also paddle the "Explorer Canoe" to explore the beautiful bay, step onto the deck of the pirate ship, and feast on "Barboza's Grill".


Shanghai Disney Resort

#TomorrowWorld#

Tomorrowland is full of endless possibilities and presents a bright vision of the future. The interstellar exploration project "Buzz Lightyear's Astro Rescue" leads visitors to move forward courageously and beyond the limitless; the "Jet Pack Flyer" allows people to break through the constraints of gravity; the "TRON Lightcycle Power Run" is wrapped in a huge translucent dome building, changing into different lights, attracting visitors to step onto the two-wheeled lightcycle queue and challenge one of the most thrilling roller coasters in Disney parks around the world.


Shanghai Disney Resort

#CrazyZootopia#

"Zootopia" is another unique highlight of Shanghai Disneyland. The new attractions, entertainment shows, merchandise and dining options will provide more exciting experiences for visitors to Shanghai Disneyland. The new theme park will take visitors into a lifelike "Zootopia," a mammal metropolis, "where every animal has endless possibilities." Visitors will also follow the Oscar-winning film's protagonists, Judy and Nick, on a wild and thrilling adventure.


Shanghai Disney Resort

Disneytown

Disneytown is a large shopping, dining and entertainment area in Shanghai Disney Resort. It is adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland and will be open to the public free of charge. The charming international neighbourhood is a place that makes visitors linger, and they can enjoy delicious food while appreciating the charming scenery of Shanghai Disneyland. The Walt Disney Grand Theatre, located in Disneytown, presents classic Broadway musicals.


Shanghai Disney Resort

Dining in the park

There are many themed restaurants in Disneyland, including Barbosa Grill, Royal Banquet Hall, Pinocchio Country Kitchen, Tribal Hall, Mickey and Pals Gourmet Market, Star Terrace Restaurant, Old Vine Tree Food Inn, etc. Scattered in various theme parks, they offer rich food from both Eastern and Western cuisines, special dim sum and tempting desserts, making your journey magical.


Shanghai Disney Resort

Theme Hotel

Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Shanghai Toy Story Hotel are located adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland. Their superior geographical location extends the magical Disney journey from day to night. The two hotels combine Disney storytelling theme designs and will provide guests with warm and thoughtful services, rich and diverse entertainment activities, gourmet food, shopping experiences and a variety of leisure options, bringing a Disney experience with Chinese charm. Visitors staying at Disney Hotels can enter the park up to one hour earlier; if they purchase items in the park, they can have them delivered to their hotel for free; the hotel also provides luggage storage services; in addition, the resort also has free shuttle buses and ferries that travel between the two hotels and Disneyland, making transportation very convenient.


Address: No. 310 Huangzhao Road, Chuansha New Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai

Transportation: Subway: Take Subway Line 11 and get off at Disneyland Station. There are shuttle buses running between Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel in Shanghai Disney Resort, approximately every 10-15 minutes. The specific time is subject to the bus stop schedule on the day.

Opening hours: 08:30-21:00

evaluate:

The scenery is beautiful ~ The project is also very fun ~ I will go again ~ Hehe, it rained in the morning, but there was a sunset at night ~ The scenery across the horizon feels very realistic and beautiful ~ The dwarf mine car is also very fun. I like Winnie the Pooh.