One-Day Shanghai Tour: Yu Garden + City God Temple + Nanjing Road + The Bund + Shanghai Tower
Welcome to Shanghai, the Magic City. This short Shanghai tour will take you from Shanghai's old town all the way to Pudong New Area, appreciating the magnificent landscape where Shanghai's ancient historical relics and modern skyscrapers interweave, and experiencing the charm of the perfect blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
This morning, you will head to Yu Garden, known as the "Crown of Southeast Gardens," to enjoy the scenery of classical Jiangnan gardens in China. Yu Garden was first built in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD), with a history of more than 460 years. It was originally a private garden built by Pan Yunduan, the Ming Dynasty provincial administration commissioner of Sichuan, for his father to enjoy his later years. Strolling along the winding paths of Yu Garden, you can admire China's exquisite garden layout, beautiful classical architecture, and superb craftsmanship in brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, and wood carving. In particular, the iconic sights - the Dragon Wall, the Nine-Turn Bridge, and the Mid-Lake Pavilion - are especially worth careful appreciation.
After visiting Yu Garden, you can visit the nearby Shanghai City God Temple. The City God Temple was first built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period in China. It is a Taoist temple mainly dedicated to the City God, responsible for protecting the safety of the entire city. Here, you can learn about traditional Chinese Taoist culture and also pray to deities such as Yue Lao, the God of Wealth, and Mazu for your wishes. In addition, there are many lively commercial streets around the City God Temple, forming a bustling commercial area centered on Yuyuan Bazaar.
After the visit, you can walk along the streets to Yuyuan Bazaar to taste the most authentic Shanghai cuisine, such as xiaolongbao, braised pork, and eight-treasure duck. If interested, you can also browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops, such as embroidery, ceramics, and wood carvings.
Practical Tips
1. Yu Garden is closed on Mondays. If that day is Monday, you can visit the nearby City God Temple and Yuyuan Bazaar instead.
2. Attraction tickets need to be reserved or booked in advance. Please contact our customer service in advance so we can arrange ticketing for you.
After lunch, you can walk along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," to the Bund, about 2 kilometers in total. Along the way, you can appreciate Shanghai's architectural style of the 1930s and 1940s, browse various century-old brand stores, and taste local specialty snacks.
Then, arrive at the Bund, known as the "Paris of the East," to experience the prosperity of Shanghai, the Magic City. Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund is one of Shanghai's iconic attractions and is known as the "Exhibition of World Architecture." It gathers 52 exotic buildings of different styles, such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, and HSBC Building. Stepping into it feels like entering the golden age of the former Wall Street of the East. Standing by the river, you can also see landmark buildings in the distance, such as Shanghai Tower, the world's third tallest building; the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, Asia's tallest tower; Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai's fourth tallest building; and Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai's second tallest building.
Afterward, you will take a public ferry at East Jinling Road across the Huangpu River to reach the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai, and walk to Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in Shanghai and China. Here, you will take the world's fastest sightseeing elevator (73.8 km/h) directly to the "Top of Shanghai Observatory" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above the ground, and enjoy a 360-degree unobstructed view of Shanghai's magnificent skyline and panoramic city views, overlooking the famous buildings around. If interested, you can also send a special blessing from above the clouds to family and friends at the Top of Shanghai Air Post Office, currently the world's highest post office.
After the visit, this unforgettable short Shanghai tour will come to an end. Our guide will take you back to your accommodation or to the airport/train station. If you want to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.
🍽️ Lunch included
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