shanghai in 4 days, 3 nights

The Bund at night on arrival, Yu Garden and the view from Lujiazui, a morning in the canal town of Zhujiajiao, and the plane-tree streets of the French Concession before the Maglev to the airport.

1. Day 1

   Arrive and the Bund

   Morning

   Fly direct from KL to Pudong, about 5.5 hours; Shanghai is on the same time as Malaysia. Take the Maglev towards the city, under 10 minutes, and change to the metro.

   Afternoon

   Check in and rest.

   Evening

   Walk the Bund after dark, with the old banks lit up behind you and the Pudong skyline across the river.

2. Day 2

   Yu Garden and Lujiazui

   Morning

   Xiaolongbao at Nanxiang, the famous old name by Yu Garden. Then walk through the Ming-era garden and the busy bazaar around it.

   Lunch

   Shengjian bao, pan-fried pork buns with crisp bottoms and hot soup inside.

   Afternoon

   Walk to the Bund, about 15 minutes, and take the short ferry across the river to Lujiazui. Go up the Shanghai Tower or the Oriental Pearl Tower for the view.

   Evening

   Stay for the lights coming on across the city, then dinner and the metro back.

3. Day 3

   Zhujiajiao and Tianzifang

   Morning

   Metro out to Zhujiajiao, about an hour, a canal town of stone bridges and old houses.

   Lunch

   Lunch by the canals.

   Afternoon

   Back to the city to rest.

   Evening

   Tianzifang, a maze of old lanes full of small shops and cafés, then dinner nearby. In autumn, roughly October to November, look out for hairy crab.

4. Day 4

   French Concession and home

   Morning

   A slow walk along Wukang Road and the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession, past old villas and cafés.

   Lunch

   Cong you ban mian, plain noodles tossed in fragrant fried spring onion oil.

   Afternoon

   Metro and Maglev back to Pudong, and fly home.