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🥳 First off, a disclaimer: Everything listed here is based on my personal preferences for what’s fun and delicious. It’s all subjective, so if you disagree, no hard feelings! 😉

❓ Are those mainstream attractions worth visiting?

  1. The Bund 🌉: Definitely worth a visit. The cluster of foreign buildings is genuinely impressive. I often stroll there to enjoy the river view, especially when the weather is nice. The downside is that it’s crowded during peak tourist season. 🌊
  2. City God Temple (Yuyuan Garden) 🏯: It’s mainly for tourists, and the food and shops cater to them. However, the soup dumplings here are truly delicious 😋, far better than those from Nanxiang, though the lines are quite long. Yuyuan Garden itself is a traditional Chinese garden 🌿 that requires an entry ticket, around 30 RMB. Whether it’s worth it depends on your taste. If you follow Daoism, you can visit the City God Temple for prayers 🙏; it’s reputed to be quite effective, and the vegetarian noodles are also tasty 🍜.
  3. Tianzifang 🏘️: Apart from the fact that the buildings are old Shikumen houses, there’s not much else special. It’s mostly out-of-towners running the businesses here, and you won’t find much authentic Shanghai street food or local specialties. 🍡 If you want to see Shikumen architecture, look up Shanghai’s “Excellent Historical Buildings”—there are plenty more beautiful ones without the noisy commercial atmosphere. You might even strike up a conversation with local grandpas and grandmas in the alleys 👴👵.
  4. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street 🛍️: You can visit this along with the Bund, but be prepared for crowds 😅. The shops and restaurants are similar to those in commercial streets across many cities. One interesting feature is the tram 🚋 and the department stores that have kept their old-school charm (fans of the show Blossoms Shanghai will get it).
  5. Julu-Fumin-Changle-Changshu Roads (aka the “JuFuChang” area) 🍽️: This is where I grew up and my absolute favorite area. I’ve never seen it as a tourist spot, but you can definitely experience a different side of Shanghai here. It’s a hub for trendy, fashionable, and cutting-edge places to eat, drink, and have fun. You’ll find bistros, gelato shops 🍦, cafes ☕, bars 🍸, clubs 🎶, vintage stores, boutiques, and fashion shops 👗. Plan to spend at least an afternoon exploring!
  6. Lujiazui 🏢: Not really a tourist spot for me, just a place where I work, so it doesn’t hold much appeal for me, haha. But I get why first-timers would want to check out the skyscrapers 🏙️ and snap some photos 📸. Beyond that, there’s not much else worth a special trip. Most of the good food in Pudong can also be found in Puxi, so there’s no need to go out of your way.
  7. Jing’an Temple 🛍️: The temple itself is quite small, but Jing’an Temple is more of a shopping district. There are many malls here; for luxury goods and cosmetics 💄, head to Jiuguang or Reel Mall. Jing’an Kerry Center has some outdoor brands and dining options, while Crystal Galleria has even more food choices 🍴.
  8. Xintiandi + Huaihai Road 🛒: Although many places in Shanghai are now mimicking Xintiandi’s style, it still holds a special place in the hearts of locals! ❤️ It’s not just about the historical site of the First Congress of the CCP, but also the old residential neighborhoods nearby, which give the area a strong sense of local life 🏡. Xintiandi has a certain cosmopolitan vibe that’s hard to describe 🌏. With plenty of restaurants and shopping 🛍️, it’s worth a visit. I recommend spending a day exploring here along with Huaihai Road.