Shanghai Municipality, China

Shanghai

Shanghai's riverfront Bund faces the Pudong skyline, and behind it the former French Concession's tree-lined streets and lane houses are some of the most pleasant walking in China.

Shanghai: Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated
Featured walk: Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Shanghai grew from a river town into China's largest city after it opened to foreign trade in the 1840s. Foreign settlements left it a mix of European and Chinese architecture.

The centre is flat. The Bund, the old town around Yu Garden and the former French Concession are all good for walking, and the metro links them.

What makes Shanghai distinctive

  • The Bund's 1920s and 1930s waterfront buildings
  • The Pudong skyline across the Huangpu river
  • Shikumen lane houses
  • Soup dumplings and street breakfasts

Walking tours in Shanghai

Hand-picked guided walks in Shanghai, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

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Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 28 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Free walking tours in Shanghai · Food tours in Shanghai · Night and ghost tours in Shanghai

Compare with other cities: Free walking tours · Food tours · Night and ghost tours

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Former French Concession

    Plane-tree streets, villas and lane houses, now full of cafés.

  • The Bund and Huangpu

    The historic waterfront and the area around Nanjing Road.

  • Old City

    The area around Yu Garden, the original walled town.

  • Xintiandi

    Restored shikumen houses turned into shops and restaurants.

Free self-guided walk

The Bund to Yu Garden

A free self-guided walk from the pedestrian end of Nanjing Road along the Bund waterfront and into the old town to Yu Garden.

4.6 km · 6 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. The Bund

    The waterfront promenade from Waibaidu Bridge south, best at dusk.

  2. Former French Concession

    Wukang Road, Anfu Road and the streets around them.

  3. Old town

    From Yu Garden through the lanes of the old city.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Flat throughout, with wide pavements in the centre.

  • Weather

    Summers are hot and humid with heavy rain in June; winters are cool and damp.

  • Crossing roads

    Scooters often ride on pavements and through crossings, so look both ways.

When to visit

  • Spring

    April and May are mild and good for walking.

  • Autumn

    October and November are often the most comfortable months.

  • Summer

    July and August are hot; walk early or in the evening.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Pudong and Hongqiao airports are both linked to the city by metro; the Maglev train runs from Pudong.

  • By rail

    High-speed trains reach Beijing in about 4 to 5 hours.

Local transport

  • Metro

    One of the world's largest metro networks, with signs in English.

Questions travellers ask about Shanghai

How many days do I need in Shanghai?

Two or three days covers the Bund, the old town, the French Concession and Pudong.

Is Shanghai walkable?

Yes, within each district. Use the metro to move between them.

When is the best view of the Bund?

After dark, when both the old waterfront and the Pudong skyline are lit.

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Beijing Municipality

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Imperial palaces and hutong lanes

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Country overview

China

Imperial palaces, hutongs and riverside skylines

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Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.