Hello, this is Ron.
In January 2024, I went to Shanghai, China for a 3-day/2-night trip. The purpose of this trip was,
- To eat a Xiaolongbao that originated in Shanghai.
- To enjoy the new Shanghai Disney area “Zootopia“
- To walk around the good old water village “Zhujiajiao (朱家角)“
On the first day, we arrived at Pudong Airport early in the morning and went through the suburb of Nanxiang (南翔) to Tianzifang (田子坊), The Bund (外灘), and the Shanghai Central Building (上海中心大厦) in the center of Shanghai. It was a typical day in Shanghai, which has both historical and futuristic faces.
⬇️ This article contains basic information about traveling to Shanghai, advance preparation, and other useful information.
- ✈️ Narita→Pudong: Arrive by late night flight and go directly to the airport hotel
- 🍜 Breakfast → Subway to central Shanghai
- 🏨 Check-in at 8 Art Hotel On The Bund
- 🥟 Visit to “Nanxiang”, the origin of the xiaolonbao
- 🎨 Afternoon: Wandering around Tianzifang, a town of sundries and cafes
- 🌇 Evening: Night view from the Bund and a hot pot dinner
- 🌃 Night: End the day with a spectacular view from Shanghai Tower
- 📌 Finally
✈️ Narita→Pudong: Arrive by late night flight and go directly to the airport hotel
This time, I took a late night flight on Jetstar from Narita Airport Terminal 3. The cabin was quieter than I had imagined, and although I did not get a good night’s sleep…I managed to sleep on the way to the airport.
- Flight: Jetstar GK35 (11:00 pm Narita → 01:30 am Pudong)
- Travel time: about 3.5 hours
- Price: $240 (aroud trip)
- Seat: Slightly cramped, but OK for short distance
- Arrival time: Around 1:30 am (Pudong Airport)
🏨 Check in at Da Zhong Pudong Airport Hotel
After arriving at the airport, I stayed overnight in the airport. This time I stayed at Da Zhong Pudong Airport Hotel, which is directly connected to the airport.
- Agoda reservation site: https://www.agoda.com/ja-jp/da-zhong-pudong-airport-hotel-shanghai/hotel/shanghai-cn.html
- Address: Shanghai Pudong International Airport, 6001 Yingbin Blvd, Pudong, Shanghai, PVG, China 201202
- Phone number: +86 21-3879-9999
- Price range: about $60 per night
- Good points
- Located inside the Pudong Airport terminal, even for late night arrivals
- Rooms are quiet and clean
- Cosy considering the location
🍜 Breakfast → Subway to central Shanghai
The next morning, I checked out at 8:00 a.m. and had breakfast at Dong Fang De Bai (東方既白) on the first floor. I ordered a set of beef noodles and fried rice. As this restaurant is affiliated with KFC, it has a light and gentle taste.
- Order: Beef noodle + fried rice set, oolong milk tea
- Price: About 30 yuan (about $4)
- Atmosphere: Casual & empty, comfortable.
🚇 Purchase Shanghai Public Transportation Card
Purchase a “Shanghai Public Transportation Card (transportation IC card)” at a ticketing machine in the airport subway station.
*A deposit of 20 yuan (about $3) is required at the time of purchase. If the card is not damaged, it can be returned and refunded before returning home.
The card can be recharged at subway stations or convenience stores such as Family Mart.
🚆 Pudong Airport Station → Nanjing East Road Station (about 1 hour by Line 2)
Nanjing East Road (南京東路) Station is,
- Accessible from Pudong Airport without transferring
- Convenient location for sightseeing with walking distance to the Bund (外灘) area
- It takes about 50 minutes to Shanghai Disney (2 transfers).
The location is convenient for sightseeing, shopping, and accessibility. This area is especially recommended for beginners in Shanghai, as it offers a good balance of sightseeing, shopping, and accessibility.
🏨 Check-in at 8 Art Hotel On The Bund
We stayed at 8 Art Hotel On The Bund, a boutique hotel just a 5-minute walk from Nanjing East Road (南京東路) Station.
- Agoda reservation site: https://www.agoda.com/ja-jp/no-8-art-hotel-shanghai-bund-store/hotel/shanghai-cn.html
- Address: 7 Yan’an Rd (E), Waitan, Huangpu, Shanghai, China 200120
- Phone number: +86 21-3331-0000
- Price range: about $60 per night (breakfast included)
- Features: Conveniently located a 5-minute walk from Nanjing East Road (南京東路) Station. Popular spots the Bund (外灘), Yu Garden(豫園) and Nanjing East Road (南京東路) are within walking distance.
✅ Accommodation Review
- Note that the hotel is in a large building and the front desk is on the 10th floor! (It is hard to know where to enter the hotel on first sight)
- The rooms are rather compact but clean.
- The windows overlook the Shanghai Tower and skyscrapers, and the night view is beautiful.
*But the view in the foreground is a bit cluttered and has a lived-in feel. - While the washbasin was spacious and convenient, water leaking onto the floor after using the shower was a bit of a disappointment.
However, considering the location, scenery, and cosiness, I was fully satisfied with the hotel.
🥟 Visit to “Nanxiang”, the origin of the xiaolonbao
Afterwards, take the subway to Nanxiang (南翔) Station. The goal is to visit Shanghai Guyi Garden Restaurant (上海古猗園餐庁), which is known as the birthplace of the xiaolonbao, and its adjacent garden, Guyi Garden (古猗園).
(*The Nanxiang (南翔) area will be reviewed in detail in a separate article!)
🚇[Access Information] About 40 minutes from the city central
Although Nanxiang(南翔) is located in Jiading District(嘉定区), somewhat far from central Shanghai, it is easily accessible by subway, making it an ideal spot for a day trip.
Directions from Nanjing East Road (南京東路) Station
- Nanjing East Road (南京東路) Station (Line 2) → Transfer to Line 11 at People’s Square (人民広場) Station
- People’s Square (人民広場) Station → Nanxiang (南翔) Station (Line 11)
- Travel time: approx. 40-50 minutes / Fare: approx. 5 yuan (about $1)
🥢[Authentic small baskets] Excellent lunch at Shanghai Guyi Garden Restaurant (上海古猗園餐庁)
Nanxiang (南翔) is famous for being the birthplace of the xiaolongbao.
The main restaurant, Shanghai Guyi Garden Restaurant (上海古猗園餐庁), is located in the Nanxiang (南翔) area, and is a popular restaurant with a long line of customers waiting in line every day.
🌳 Guyi Garden: Historic Garden and Quiet Time
One of the main attractions of Nanxiang’s (南翔) tourism is the traditional Chinese-style garden “Guyi Garden,” which was created in the Ming Dynasty.
- Admission fee : 12 yuan (about $1.6) (Child Free)
- Atmosphere: Silent and lush, with ponds, drum bridges, and pavilions scattered about, it is like a world of ink painting.
In contrast to the futuristic landscape of the city, this is a place where time flows at a leisurely pace. The tourist population is also less than in the center of the city, and the local atmosphere is appealing.
🎨 Afternoon: Wandering around Tianzifang, a town of sundries and cafes
Returning to Shanghai before noon, we continued on to Tianzifang (田子坊). Tianzifang is an art area that was renovated from an old residential area, and is crowded with sundries, galleries, and cafes.
- Access: 5-minute walk from “Datu Pulu Bridge” subway station.
- Atmosphere: Cobblestone alley, fusion of old buildings and modern art
Recommendations
- A good place to look for souvenirs
- The intricate alleyways make it fun to get lost and walk around
- The area is moderately touristy, giving the impression of safety
🌇 Evening: Night view from the Bund and a hot pot dinner
In the evening, we went to the Bund (外灘). The Bund is a riverside avenue lined with classic architecture, and on the other side of the river are futuristic buildings. The contrast between the two was a view of “this is Shanghai.
- Tourists: Many, but it was a weekday, so the crowds were moderate.
- The best time to visit is from evening to magic hour!
- Many photo-worthy spots!
For dinner, we went to the famous hotpot chain “Haidilao” (海底撈).
However, it was a bit disappointing…
(*This will be reviewed in detail in another article.)
🌃 Night: End the day with a spectacular view from Shanghai Tower
The last stop is Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦), the symbol of Shanghai.
The tower is 632 meters high and the observation deck is on the 118th floor. The night view of Shanghai from the world’s second tallest building was breathtaking.
- Admission fee: 180 yuan (about $25)
- Ticket counter: on the ground floor of the tower
The lights of the Bund, the neon lights along the Huangpu River, and countless buildings. In any case, “City of Lights” was a perfect description of the city.
📌 Finally
Highlights of Day 1
- Enjoy authentic small basket pastries (Nanxiang “南翔”)
- Relax in the serenity of a classical garden (Guyi Garden “古猗園”）
- Walking around the town of art and sundries (Tianzifang “田子坊”）
- Experience the futuristic feel of Shanghai at night (The Bund “外灘” – Shanghai Tower “上海中心大厦”)
Distance walked and cost
- Number of steps: about 29,000 steps
- Total expenses (food, transportation, sightseeing): approx. $82
- Main apps used: Alipay, Baidu map, subway line app
📍Next time:
On the second day, we will visit “Shanghai Disneyland”!
We will bring you a near-future theme park experience, including the world’s first Zootopia area and the “Tron” attraction where you can ride through on a glowing motorcycle.
⬇️ This article contains basic information about traveling to Shanghai, advance preparation, and other useful information.
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