Free things to do · Shanghai · China
7 free things to do in Shanghai
Shanghai without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Shanghai without paying an entry fee: The Bund, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum and Former French Concession walk are all free. The Shanghai Museum is free with a reservation, and the Bund, the French Concession and the parks cost nothing.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 8
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- June–September and December–March
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · The Bund and People's Square
1.The Bund
Come twice: at sunrise, when locals practise tai chi on the promenade, and after dark for the lit-up skyline.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
.jpg){kind=link}
Street · The Bund and People's Square
2.Nanjing Road
Walk it after dark from People's Square towards the river so you finish with the lit-up Bund.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Iconic
Museum · The Bund and People's Square
3.Shanghai Museum
Start with the bronze gallery on the ground floor, then take the lift to the ceramics and furniture rooms before the crowds build.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Former French Concession
4.Former French Concession walk
Start at Wukang Mansion and finish at Fuxing Park; autumn, when the plane trees turn yellow, is the best season.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- Food
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Xintiandi and Tianzifang
5.Xintiandi
Visit in the early evening for a drink on a terrace, then walk 15 minutes south to Tianzifang.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
- Free
Neighbourhood · Xintiandi and Tianzifang
6.Tianzifang
Explore the lanes furthest from the main Taikang Road entrance, where the shops are quieter and more interesting.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Park · Former French Concession
7.Fuxing Park
Go before 9am to see the park at its liveliest, when dancers and tai chi groups fill the paths.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| The Bund and People's Square | The Bund, Nanjing Road and Shanghai Museum | 1–2 hours + 1 hour + 2–3 hours |
| Former French Concession | Former French Concession walk and Fuxing Park | Half a day + 45 minutes |
| Xintiandi and Tianzifang | Xintiandi and Tianzifang | 1–2 hours + 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Garden · Old City (Yuyuan)
Yu Garden
Arrive at opening on a weekday; by late morning tour groups fill the narrow paths.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Experience · The Bund and People's Square
Huangpu River cruise
For a cheap version, take the public ferry between the Bund side and Lujiazui; it crosses in a few minutes for a couple of yuan.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Iconic
Religious site · Jing'an
Jing'an Temple
Toss a coin at the bronze urn in the main courtyard as worshippers do, and visit late afternoon when the gold roofs catch the light.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
_Mahavira_Hall,_Jade_Buddha_Temple,_Shanghai_-_img_04.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Jing'an
Jade Buddha Temple
Have a bowl of vegetarian noodles at the temple's restaurant after your visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
_-_07.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Jing'an
Shanghai Natural History Museum
Book a weekday visit; school-holiday weekends are very busy.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Gallery · Huangpu riverside
Power Station of Art
Check the programme before you go; the building is worth seeing, but the shows change completely between exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · Xuhui riverside
West Bund and Long Museum
Rent a share bike and ride the riverside path, stopping at the Long Museum for its concrete vaulted galleries.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Active
Museum · North Bund and Hongkou
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
Walk the surrounding Tilanqiao streets afterwards, where some of the refugees' lane houses still stand.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- The Shanghai Museum is free with a reservation, and the Bund, the French Concession and the parks cost nothing.
- Local dumpling and noodle shops serve filling meals for a fraction of mall restaurant prices.
- Choose one observation deck rather than several; the Bund promenade gives the skyline view for free.
- Hotel prices jump during national holidays and big trade fairs; book well ahead or travel outside them.
- Use the Metro and the public Huangpu ferry instead of taxis and tourist boats when budgets are tight.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive so you are not limited to cash-only options.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Shanghai expensive to visit?
Shanghai is moderately priced for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Shanghai?
The Bund: Come twice: at sunrise, when locals practise tai chi on the promenade, and after dark for the lit-up skyline.