2 Days Modern Shanghai With Museums & Art

In the morning, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in your hotel lobby and be ready to introduce Shanghai to you. Your first stop will be at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Located in the city center, this modern museum provides an excellent introduction to Shanghai’s rapid transformation from a small port town to a global metropolis. Set over five levels, it is divided into four main theme halls: “Entrance Hall“, “City of Culture,” “City of Innovation,” “City of Ecology,” and the multimedia display hall on the fifth floor. After more than a year of renovation, the museum now features cutting-edge technology such as VR, AR, holographic imaging, and a 5D digital urban sandbox, allowing you to immerse yourself in the past, present, and future of Shanghai.

The 1st floor features a panoramic screen that showcases “Impressions of Shanghai”. The west side shows Shanghai’s six rounds of master urban planning since 1931. Entering the 2nd floor, you’ll encounter intricate and detailed models that represent various facets of Shanghai, including its urban fabric, architectural style, and 15-minute community life circles, each worth a closer look. You can also engage with AR experiences via iPads. Additionally, a “City Laboratory” allows visitors to role-play as urban planners and see the simulation effect of planning intuitively, offering an educational and interactive chance to learn urban planning. The 3rd floor is filled with a sense of technology and the future. The highlight here is the 5D immersive digital sandbox. You can choose different city districts or use a joystick to “roam” around the city blocks, feeling as if you’re flying. Step into the 4th floor, a blue “river” flows from west to east on the ground. Sturgeons and crabs are just beneath your feet. The sand table demonstrates the process of Shanghai’s land formation from 20,000 to 2,000 years ago. If you need a break, the M floor features a creative zone, reading area, and coffee shop. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee while sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the beauty of the city.

After your illuminating exploration, you will gain an invaluable understanding of the city’s architecture and development. Then, it’s time to witness the real buildings. Your journey will take you back to Shanghai’s Old Town. Here, you will wander through Yu Garden, which is one of the nation’s best examples of traditional Chinese gardens. Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden豫园) was a private garden of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with a history of over 460 years. As you wander through, you’ll encounter various “scenes”, exquisite pavilions, intricate rockeries, tranquil koi ponds, and lush vegetation come together in a harmonious blend. The Yu Garden embodies the harmonious principles of classical Chinese garden design. It is an essential stop for anyone interested in traditional Chinese culture and architectural aesthetics. Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Bazaar豫园商城/城隍庙小吃街) outside Yu Garden is a vibrant Shanghai Old Street where you can try Shanghai’s local snacks such as Xiaolongbao (Nánxiáng Steamed Bun Restaurant小笼包), Pan-Fried Pork Buns (Fried Dumplings生煎包), Soup Dumplings (灌汤包), and Won-ton Soup (上海馄饨).

After lunch, take a public ferry like a local to cross the Huangpu River and slowly travel from old Shanghai to Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. Pudong serves as a stark contrast to the historical and architectural style you’d find in areas like Shanghai’s Old Town and the Bund. It’s a testament to China’s rapid economic development and a symbol of modern China, complete with towering skyscrapers, international companies, and an advanced infrastructure. One of the most eye-catching features in Pudong is the trio of towering skyscrapers in the Lujiazui financial district. Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world, reaching up to 632 meters (2,073 feet). Shanghai World Financial Center is the third tallest building in China and the fifth tallest in the world, reaching up to 493 meters (618 feet). Jin Mao Tower combines elements of a traditional Chinese pagoda-like structure with a modern style at 421 meters (1,380 feet). Locals affectionately refer to the three skyscrapers as the “Kitchen Three Piece Set” (“厨房三件套”) due to their shapes resembling common kitchen gadgets: a syringe, bottle opener, and eggbeater, respectively. Here, you will ascend the highest building in Shanghai – the Shanghai Tower, which features a dramatic 120-degree twist from its base to its peak. Take the world’s fastest lifts (traveling at 64km/h) to the “Top of Shanghai Observatory” located on the 118th floor, 546 meters (about 1,791 feet) above ground level. Here, you’ll have the unparalleled opportunity to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and also look down upon the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Next, you will be taken to the foot of another iconic tower – Oriental Pearl Tower – 468 meters (1,536 feet) tall, especially notable for its unique beaded design. The structure is composed of 11 spheres (or “pearls”) of varying sizes, which are “strung” vertically along three enormous columns that serve as the tower’s main supports. The design draws inspiration from a line in a Chinese poem: “大珠小珠落玉盘” (“Big beads and small beads fall onto a jade plate”), capturing the essence of a string of pearls dropping onto a jade plate.

Your final stop on this day is the Bund (also called Waitan). As you walk along the Bund, the architectural tapestry of the city unfolds before you. On one side, you have the historic buildings – vestiges of Shanghai’s past as a center for international trade and finance. Then, as you look across the Huangpu River, you encounter a vision from a science fiction tale—the shimmering skyscrapers of Pudong that you’ve just visited. The contrast could not be starker, or more symbolic of the city’s journey from a small port to a modern metropolis.

Dining: Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Downtown Shanghai

Top of Shanghai Observatory in Shanghai Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center

The iconic skyscrapers in Lujiazui

What better way to immerse yourself in Shanghai’s lifestyle than by starting with a cup of coffee? In a city that boasts over 8,000 cafes, coffee-drinking has long since become an integral part of daily life and culture. In this thriving metropolis, you’re never short of high-quality coffee shops. Starbucks has even opened the world’s largest immersive coffee experience – the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be transported to a coffee wonderland. What immediately catches your eye is a massive copper cask, approximately two stories high, adorned with over 1,000 traditional Chinese stamps and carved images that tell the story of Starbucks and coffee. Here, you’re not just a consumer but an engaged participant in a comprehensive coffee culture experience. You can observe the coffee bean production line which provides a fascinating up-close look at the entire coffee-making process, from roasting the beans to the final cup. To further enhance the experience, you can utilize the augmented reality (AR) features on the mobile version of the Shanghai Roastery’s website to “scan” their surroundings and explore more “secrets.”

Later, transfer to Xintiandi, an entertainment and shopping complex that seamlessly blends Shikumen architecture (stone-gate house) with modern urban fashion. The Shikumen buildings in this area have been meticulously restored and repurposed to house a myriad of contemporary establishments, ranging from boutiques, galleries, cafes, and bars. As you stroll down Xintiandi’s cobblestone alleys, you’ll experience a vibrant fusion of the past and present. The neighborhood thrives with both locals and tourists who come to shop and enjoy a slice of Shanghai’s new urban lifestyle. 

Have lunch in a new retail supermarket and explore how technology is reshaping Shanghai’s lifestyle. From the moment you see shopping bags being transported above your head on conveyor belts, you know that this is no ordinary supermarket. Workers in pale blue polo shirts scan barcodes with their smartphones to locate items that match online orders. Once found, the items are placed into a bag, hooked onto an automated conveyor system, and sent to the back of the store where delivery bikes await. In-store shoppers can scan an item’s barcode using the supermarket app to learn its source, sourcing date, and even a digital certificate. The app also provides the option of having the item cooked at the in-store restaurant, where robots serve dishes. Payment can be made using facial recognition technology on the way out.

With your appetite sated and your curiosity piqued, it’s time to delve into Shanghai’s thriving art scene. Pay a visit to the M50 Art District, a creative hub that has transformed old factories and warehouses into galleries, studios, and boutiques. Here, you can explore contemporary art exhibitions, chat with local artists, and perhaps even bring home a piece of Shanghai’s emerging art scene.

If time allows, you can choose to experience the Shanghai Maglev Train, an optional activity that is a true testament to the city’s technological prowess. As the world’s fastest commercial train, it reaches speeds up to 431 km/h (268 mph) and can take you from Longyang Road Station to Pudong Airport in just about eight minutes.

As your second day in Shanghai comes to a close, you will make your way back to your accommodation or airport. You’ve not just seen Shanghai – you’ve felt it, touched it, and lived it. And that’s the best way to bid farewell to this dynamic metropolis before your departure.

Thank you for choosing Majestic China Trip for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip around China and Asia. Safe journey!

Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: None

The deliveryman uses their smartphone to scan barcodes and locate items.

Facial recognition technology is used in the upermarket

Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Shanghai

Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Shanghai