Shanghai marries old-world lanes with a hypermodern skyline—think lantern-lit alleys, Art Deco facades, and the needle of Shanghai Tower piercing the clouds. Once a treaty port and international hub, the city remains a feast of cultures, cuisines, and design. Here, breakfast might be a sesame-studded shengjianbao, while dinner arrives as meticulously plated regional Chinese seafood.

Food is the city’s language. From soup dumplings that burst with gingered broth to refined, centuries-old Shanghainese recipes, eating is how you understand Shanghai’s past and present. Markets hum, dim sum steamers hiss, and avant-garde kitchens reimagine classics—perfect terrain for a dedicated foodie.

Practical notes: most payments are now mobile (Alipay/WeChat Pay support international cards), though major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels and upscale venues. The metro is fast and clean; taxis are plentiful. For day trips, China’s bullet trains are punctual and affordable—ideal for a quick escape to garden-rich Suzhou.

Shanghai

Nicknamed the “Paris of the East,” Shanghai blends riverfront grandeur on the Bund with leafy French Concession streets and cutting-edge towers in Lujiazui. It’s also one of China’s tastiest cities, from hole-in-the-wall dumpling joints to Michelin-star temples of craft.

• Top sights: The Bund, Yuyuan Garden (Yu Garden), French Concession and Fuxing Park, Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Museum East (Pudong), Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, M50 art district, Jade Buddha Temple.
• Why foodies love it: Iconic xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), pan-fried shengjianbao, red-braised pork, river crabs in season, and best-in-class regional Chinese dining (Taizhou, Ningbo, Yunnan, and beyond).
• How to get here: Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From Pudong Airport (PVG), the Maglev to Longyang Road takes ~8 minutes (from ~CNY 50); taxi to the Bund/People’s Square is ~45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
• Trains for day trips: Check bullet-train times and prices on Trip.com Trains. Shanghai Hongqiao to Suzhou is ~25–35 minutes (from ~CNY 40–70 one way).

Where to stay (foodie-friendly bases with easy access to dining and sights):

• Luxury on the river: The Peninsula Shanghai (classic Bund views, elegant bars for a nightcap).
• Skyline splurge in Pudong: The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong (epic views over the Bund; superb rooftop lounge), or Kerry Hotel Pudong.
• Upper-mid downtown: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World (on Nanjing Road, easy metro connections).
• Good-value Bund area: Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel or Shanghai Fish Inn Bund.
• Budget/hostel: Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Shanghai or apartment-style options on VRBO: Shanghai.

Day 1 — The Bund, Old Town flavors, and night lights

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs with a Bund promenade from Waibaidu Bridge downriver—watch 1920s Art Deco meet the neon skyline of Pudong. Duck into the Old Town near Yuyuan to sample classic snacks: try Nanxiang’s soup dumplings (thin skins, gingery broth) and scallion pancakes near Yuyuan Bazaar.

Evening: Early dinner at Lost Heaven on the Bund (Yunnan flavors—tea leaf salad, lush chicken with chilies, and stir-fried wild mushrooms pair well with a smoky cocktail). Then savor Shanghai after dark on a VIP river cruise for front-row skyline views: Shanghai Night River Cruise VIP Seating.

Nightcap: Head up to The Nest (craft cocktails, Nordic snacks, glittering Bund views) or Bar Rouge for a classic terrace scene. If you’re jet-lagged, keep it gentle with tea at The Peninsula Lobby.

Day 2 — Museums, Lujiazui heights, and a guided food tour

Morning: Start with coffee at Manner Coffee (local favorite, excellent flat white) and a warm croissant from Pain Chaud. Then browse either the Shanghai Museum on People’s Square (bronzes, jade, calligraphy) or the newer Shanghai Museum East in Pudong for blockbuster exhibitions.

Afternoon: Cross to Lujiazui for sky-high perspectives. Book fast-track access in advance: Shanghai Tower Ticket—ride the world’s fastest elevator to a 546m observatory for sweeping city views.

Lunch nearby at Din Tai Fung (for precise xiaolongbao and cucumber salad) or at a Shanghainese spot in Super Brand Mall.

Evening: Dive deep into local flavors on this small-group tasting walk: Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai.

Expect piping-hot shengjianbao, sesame noodles, vinegared wood-ear salad, and a neighborhood’s worth of stories. If you prefer a sit-down after, stroll to South Yunnan Road Food Street to graze on wok-kissed noodles and stir-fries.

Day 3 — French Concession strolls, culture, and classic Shanghainese

Morning: Breakfast like a local: grab soy milk and youtiao or a couple of steamed buns from a neighborhood shop, then wander Fuxing Park to watch tai chi, dancing, and card games under plane trees. Explore Sinan Mansions and leafy heritage lanes—perfect for photos and boutique browsing.

Afternoon: Visit the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre for a vivid look at 20th-century visual culture. Coffee stop at Seesaw or % Arabica near the Bund. Continue to Tianzifang’s studios and alleyways for crafts and tiny galleries; pick up ceramics or hand-printed posters as mementos.

Evening: Reserve Old Jesse (Lao Jishi) or Fu 1039 for a definitive Shanghainese dinner: try smoked fish, sautéed river shrimp, crab roe tofu, and hong shao rou (red-braised pork) with a chilled chrysanthemum tea. After, sip at Speak Low (hidden multi-floor cocktail bar) or Union Trading Company (creative Chinese-accented classics), both fixtures of Asia’s cocktail scene.

Day 4 — Suzhou by bullet train: gardens, silk, canals

Morning: Depart from Shanghai Hongqiao by high-speed rail (~25–35 minutes; from ~CNY 40–70—check Trip.com Trains). For an expert-led experience with easy hotel pickup, consider this full-day: Private Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train.

Afternoon: Stroll a UNESCO-classical garden such as the Humble Administrator’s Garden or Master of the Nets, then drift along narrow canals by boat in the historic quarter. Lunch on Suzhou specialities: paper-thin squirrel fish in sweet-sour sauce, Suzhou-style mooncakes, or a bowl of san xian noodles at time-honored spots like Song He Lou or De Yue Lou.

Evening: Return to Shanghai. If you’ve got energy, treat yourself to refined regional Chinese at Xin Rong Ji (Taizhou seafood—razor clams, braised belt fish, impeccable seasonal produce). For something lighter, slurp wontons or grab pan-fried dumplings from Yang’s Fry-Dumplings near People’s Square.

Day 5 — Last tastes and local art before departure

Morning: Keep it close to your hotel. Try Fu Chun Xiao Long (for old-school soup dumplings) or Lao Sheng Chang for shengjian with crisp bottoms and juicy centers. Pop into M50 art district to browse contemporary studios and murals, or return to Yuyuan’s bazaar for teas, sauces, and snacks to take home.

Afternoon: Depart for the airport. If you’re heading to PVG, the Maglev from Longyang Road is the fastest bet; otherwise, allow extra time for traffic. If you prefer a private car with meet-and-greet, arrange one through your hotel concierge.

More foodie pointers:

• Peak tables book fast: reserve Old Jesse, Fu 1039, Taian Table, and Xin Rong Ji well in advance.
• Metro passes: 1‑day (~CNY 18) and 3‑day (~CNY 45) passes are convenient for heavy sightseeing.
• Seasonal delights: hairy crab (autumn), qingtuan (spring green rice dumplings), and osmanthus desserts (fall).

Optional swap: If you’d rather see a traditional water town than Suzhou’s gardens, ride Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao (about 1 hour) for arched bridges, canal-side tea houses, and glossy pork knuckles—go early to beat the crowds.

In five days, you’ll taste Shanghai from street stalls to skyline-view dining, trace its history from the Bund to leafy French Concession blocks, and step into Jiangnan elegance on a Suzhou day trip. This balance of flavors, stories, and skyline moments makes Shanghai a city you’ll crave long after you leave.