Shanghai - Compare Online Travel Sites and Apps

Shanghai is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world. It’s one of the four direct-controlled municipalities of China, which means that it’s essentially both a city and a province. One of China’s most modern cities, the city combines the ultra-modern skylines of Pudong (Lujiazui) with classic European style architecture on the Bund and the French Concession. The city is probably the best example of contemporary Chinese life, but lacks the classic historical attractions found in cities like Beijing. Shanghai has also been a major point of trade in the past, and still retains this today. It was originally one of the five cities forced to open to foreign trade after the first opium war, and this period had a lasting impact on the city even today. Today, it’s also a significant financial hub and is home to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Compared to other Chinese cities, Shanghai is quite friendly for foreign tourists, with quite a few people speaking English, and most signs being written in dual language.

Best Sites to Book Shanghai Accommodation

Rank	Booking Site	Price Compared to Average
1. Cheapest	Trip.com	-9%
2. Cheap	Agoda	-7%
3. Average	Booking.com	-2%
4. More Expensive	Expedia	4%
5. Most Expensive	Hotels.com	8%

Where to Stay in Shanghai

When staying in Shanghai, many tourists like to stay on somewhere near Metro Line 2. The reasons are obvious: it runs right through the middle of downtown and it connects with Pudong International Airport at one end, and Hongqiao International Airport and Railway Station at the other end. It also intersects with almost every other metro line. In addition, many of Shanghai's most famous landmarks including Lujiazui, Nanjing Road East, The Bund and People's Square are all along this metro line, as well as the commercial areas of Jingan Temple and Nanjing West Road.

If your're looking to spend quite a bit of money, then the towers and hotels in the Lujiazui area offer fantastic views of the city. This however is not the place to stay if you're looking for a more traditional Shanghai Experience.

If you're travelling on business and will need to access Hongqiao Airport or Railway Station, there are many options near Zhongshan Park and Luoshanguan Road that might be suitable, as well as some new hotels opened in the Hongqiao CBD (right next to the train station).

What to See in Shanghai

Shanghai is a major tourist destination, both for domestic Chinese tourists as well as International tourists. Most tourism is based around China’s modernity as well as it’s foreign history, as opposed to having grand, impressive “Chinese style” buildings. Visitors typically visit the Bund, visit the glittering skyscrapers of Lujiazui, explore Yu Garden, and visit some of the small water towns on the outskirts of the city. These days, Shanghai Disneyland is also a major attraction.

What to Eat in Shanghai

Shanghai is an extremely international city where you find everything from the finest French cuisine, to a bowl of noddles costing less than 10 RMB. Generally speaking though, food costs around the same as in Western countries, and even more in many cases. As with many Asian cities, small restaurants line the street, particularly in suburban areas. Shopping centers, unlike in the West, tend to be full of restaurants. Head down to the basement for the cheap stuff, or head up to top floors for something nicer. The French concession features a large selection of higher-end Western restaurants spotted throughout the area, and anything with a view of the Bund is going to cost you. In terms of Chinese food specifically, Shanghai food is known for being very sweet. However as with all Chinese cities these days, you can find any type of Chinese food throughout the city. Generally speaking, staff in restuarants do not speak English, but the menus almost always have pictures.

Other Cities in China