上海市

Why this place

Shanghai is the municipality that shows modern China most clearly: the Bund facing the Pudong towers, the French Concession's plane-tree streets, and a level of food, shopping and nightlife that rivals any city in Asia. It is also the most convenient base in the country — Suzhou and Hangzhou are both under an hour.

What to see

• The Bund and Pudong's skyline, at dawn and at night
• The former French Concession — Wukang Road, the lane houses and the villas
• Yu Garden and the old town; the Shanghai Museum's bronzes and ceramics
• Zhujiajiao or Qibao, for a water town within the city's reach

What to eat

• Xiaolongbao and shengjianbao — the two soup-dumpling traditions
• Red-braised pork, scallion-oil noodles and the city's sweet-savoury style
• Drinks in the French Concession, which is its own institution

How to plan

Three or four days in the city, plus day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Best time

March–May and September–November

Practical tips

• The metro reaches everything; get a transport card on arrival

Cities 1

上海市 Shanghai