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Top 10 Things to Do at Night in Shanghai

Monday, May 29th, 2023

Plan your Shanghai night tour? Shanghai has a colourful night life, but if you have ever participated, you may feel it is probably one of the most splendid night hangout places in the world!

It offers visitors a great variety of events and activities – extravagant dinners, exotic night snacks, breathtaking shows, romantic bars, lighted streets and futuristic buildings…

1. Walk along the Bund at night

Walking along the river on the promenade and enjoying the sights of the brightly lit street scenes are very enjoyable. Buildings in the Bund are the combination of all kinds of architecture styles.

From the Bund it is a great view of the Pudong Area including Orient Pearl TV Tower, Jin Mao Building, and Shanghai International Convention Center, Shanghai Tower and more trendy skyscrapers.

Check out the following articles for more information:
The Bund at Night pictures
How to Visit the Bund in Shanghai
Evening View of the Bund and Pudong Skyline Shanghai
Huangpu River Cruise Ticket Booking
How to Visit Lujiazui in Pudong

Many restaurants built along the river with a good entire view of the Bund. So eating along the Bund at night is also a joyful thing. How to get there: take Buses No. 868, 921, 37, 55, 33, 123(which travels part of its normal route)…

2. Bird’s-eye view Shanghai from Jin Mao Tower

The Jin Mao Tower is located next to Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district in Shanghai. It is composed of offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt Hotel. It is one of the centerpieces of the Pudong skyline.

Check out How to visit Jin Mao Tower, Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai for more information.

Panoramic View of Shanghai from Jin Mao Tower

No Shanghai tour is complete without ascending the 88-floor building, having a panoramic view of Huangpu River, the Bund and the city of Shanghai.

3. Wandering along Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is a walking street that is always packed with people watching people. It is regarded as the first commercial road in Shanghai.

Check out Tips for Visiting Nanjing Road in Shanghai for more information.

The 5.5-km long Nanjing Road is the most bustling and prosperous street in Shanghai. It was first built in 1851. Now Nanjing Road has turned into the number one site for shopping in the city.

Bus Routes: East Nanjing Road: 37, 65, 66, 108, 123, 135, 220, 251, 305, 306, 307, 314, 317, 330, 868, 910, 928, 929, 940, Tourist Bus Line 8 or Subway Line 2 and get off at East Nanjing Rd. Station.

West Nanjing Road: 36, 57, 76, 128, 148, 206, 304, 323, 451, 738 or Subway Line 2 and get off at West Nanjing Road Station.

4. Cruise on Huangpu River

A Huangpu River Cruise at night is probably the best place to witness the pulse and dynamism of Shanghai. Huangpu River is very quiet during night. Cruising Huangpu River can have a better view of both Lujiazui and the Bund. When the lights are all on, it is gorgeous.

Check Huangpu River Cruise Ticket Booking (buying tickets on site) and Shanghai Huangpu River & Cruising for more information.

Cruising river at night is mysterious and a perfect harvest. Not only the fascinating Bund and Lujiazui but also other attractions are long the river. From Yangpu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge every scene is impressive.
Add: Jinling Dong Lu, the Bund, Shanghai

5. Yuyuan Market at Night

Outside the Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market is a crowded, bustling and touristy market with different snacks and trinkets. A slow pace in the Yuyuan the ancient style garden area at night is the one of the most popular choices.

Check out the following two articles for more information:
How to visit How to Visit Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar
The Old World Charm in Shanghai

Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town Temple are the major parts in this area at night. The night Yuyuan is folk-customized paradise, is an ancient teller, is a dreamland inside people’s heart.

How to get there: take Buses No. 11, 126, 926, 66…

6. Hang out at Night at Hengshan Road Bar Street

Hengshan Road is one of the oldest drinking spots in Shanghai, near to the more modern Xujiahui. Walking on Hengshan Road at night or enjoy yourself in the Bars is a good way to relax. Hengshan Road is only 2-kilometer long, but there are many relaxed Western-type bars which offer all the favorite tipples from home and show live sports, from football to rugby to baseball.

There are many buildings of European-style architecture of the 1920’s and 1930’s on the both sides of Hengshan Road.

Add: Hengshan Road, Shanghai

7. Have a sip at Xintiandi in Shanghai

Xintiandi is most famous for its nightlife when the Western style bars open their doors for business. It has a more active nightlife than Hengshan Road and it is busy in both weekdays and weekends.

Whenever the dark falls down, Xintiandi will be bright and all the lights will start to work. Xintiandi Bar Street is a collection of public house in European style.

Check out How to Visit Xintiandi for more information.

No doubt every westerner that comes to Shanghai will pay at least one visit here, if not more. All these bring people back to the 1920s and 1930s of this city.

Add: 181 Lane, Taicang Road, 123 Lane, Xingye Road, Shanghai How to get there: buses No. 146, 109, 923, or Tunnel 8.

8. Rewind at Tianzifang Street

Tianzifang is an artsy area that has developed from a renovated residential area (old Shanghai shikumen buildings) in the former French Concession area of Shanghai. Now it houses bars, cafes, crafts shops, design studios, galleries and boutiques.

Many local residents still live in the narrow lanes. Just be mindful and respect their privacy.

Check out How to Visit Tianzifang for more information.

How to get there Public Bus:
Bus 24, Bus 96 (from West Jianguo Road); Bus 17, 41, 146 and 786 (from South Shaanxi Road); Bus 869, 968, 932, 786,933 and 36 (from South Chongqing Rod)
Metro: Take Metro Line 9 and get off at Dapuqiao and exit from Exit

9. Watch Shanghai Yue Opera

Yue Opera is one of Chinese major local operas founded around 1906. It is widely welcomed in Zhejiang province, Shanghai, Jiangsu province, Anhui province and other places. Yue Opera is generally considered to be an elegant opera. To enjoy the charm of orient, Yue Opera is a good choice for you. Its voice, its garments, its gestures, and the music background are strongly featured of Chinese profile.

Shanghai Yue Ju (Yue Opera) Theater
Add: No.16, 10th Lane, Fuxing West Road, Shanghai

10. Enjoy Shanghai Acrobatics

Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts in China. It started from Warring States Period. The Acrobatics at Shanghai are not to be missed. They are held each night and last for about 2 hours.

There are two famous Shanghai Acrobatic Theatres. Varieties of exciting programs with countless near-impossible feats of flexibility, strength, endurance, and sheer will-power are performed on stage that will leave you completely astounded.

Shanghai Acrobatics ( Photo from Internet)

Shanghai Center Theatre
Add: No. 1376 Nanjing Road (W), Shanghai
Opening Hours: 09:30-22:30 Tel: 021-62798600

Shanghai Circus World
Add: 2266 Gonghe Xinlu, Baoshan District
Shanghai Tel: 021-66300000

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Tour
Shanghai Day Tour
Shanghai Multi-Day Tour
Shanghai Evening Tour
Shanghai Cruise Port ( Transfer& Excursions )
Shanghai Beijing Tour
Shanghai Xian Tour
Shanghai Car Rental with Driver

1. How to get to Nanjing Road in Shanghai

With Metro Line 1, Champs-élysées is linked to Concorde Square while Nanjing Road is connected to Shanghai People’s Square by Metro Line 1, 2 and 8. So Shanghai People’s Square is a metro hub easily accessible from all corners of Shanghai.

Of all the 20 exits, you may ext from Exit 7 or 19 for a nice walk from people’s square to the Bund passing through Nanjing Road. Alternatively, you can take the subway line 2 and get off at the Station of East Nanjing Road and exit 1 or 4 for the walk along the shopping street.

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes for a one-hour Walk

Be prepared to do a lot of walking with your casual shoes, especially you are going to walk from People’s Square to the Bund, a nice one hour walk.

3. Lots of Shops but no Bargaining

Any brand you can think of, Forever 21, H&M, Swatch, Gap, Marks, Old Navy, and Spense and the list is much longer. Suggest you first wisely window shop for sometime until you strike an idea of what to shop.

There a full spectrum of stores here ranging from high fashion and technology to small souvenir shops. You can shop for the cheapest of things and the expensive branded items alike.

4. Dining and Drinking

East Nanjing Road is not just for window shopping and big buyers, but also a leisure place to rewind yourself. There are several side streets offering coffee shops, local food, you may take a break and relax.

These side streets gives you a different vibe, as if you were in a different city. It is worth your adventure where the locals eat.

5.Night walk along Nanjing Road

A night stroll along the pedestrian street is much more impressing, and you are rewarded with its sparkling and eye-popping neon lights, watching the Neon-Colored Nanjing Road.

Come here at night and see the amazing old buildings all lit up. It’s like the Times Square in New York. You get a glimpse of all the LEDs on the buildings, creative and attractive.

6. Small Shuttle Trams

If you don’t have strong legs, you may take the little trams going up and down along the street, 5 RMB. The train is slow, also a good opportunity for photography.

Trams on East nanjing Road — Trams on East Nanjing Road

7. Beware of the Street Touts

You may be pestered by some persistent people trying to sell you things from tours to goods. Just ignore them! Avoid striking a conversation with an approaching student who may sell you an art piece in the name of practising English with you.

8. Beware of Sex/Massage Offers

Also beware of all the sex/massage offers on the street. They are all scams. Just say no and keep moving.

9. Beware of Pickpockets.

Though there is quite some police patrolling, you still need to take care of your belongings due to the in huge crowds .

10. A Combo of People’ Square, Nanjing Road and the Bund

The Nanjing East road stretches from the People’s Square to close to the Bund, so it is worthwhile to consider combining visiting these three places.

Add-on

The Neon-Colored Nanjing Road
How to Visit the Bund in Shanghai
Evening View of the Bund and Pudong Skyline Shanghai
Huangpu River Cruise Ticket Booking
How to Visit Lujiazui in Pudong
Night walk along Nanji n g Road in Shanghai

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Tour
Shanghai Day Tour
Shanghai Multi-Day Tour
Shanghai Evening Tour
Shanghai Cruise Port ( Transfer& Excursions )
Shanghai Beijing Tour
Shanghai Xian Tour
Shanghai Car Rental with Driver

1. The Bund ( Mid-1800s – 1930s )

The word “Bund” comes from an old Hindi word which means “embankment” and was used by a British company which opened an office there in 1846.

The original buildings along the Bund were the warehouses first built by the opium traders who flocked to China in Mid-nineteenth century to make their money. Check out The Concession-Era Buildings on the Bund for more detailed information.

From Mid-1800s to 1933s, about 50 various buildings of different architectural styles were successively constructed including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance between the Bund and the present East Zhong Shan Road.

The clock tower of the old waterfront Customs House, built in 1925, is modelled on Big Ben in London, striking the hour with Chairman Mao’s favorite tune. Check out Tips for Visiting the Bund in Shanghai for more information.

2. Shanghai The Paramount (百乐门）1933

Shanghai The Paramount was a three-story building designed by the architect architect S. J. Young ( 1899-1978) was completed in 1933. The building was once home to the most popular ballrooms for the wealthy elite in Shanghai.

The structure’s façade adopted America’s modern Avant-garde architectural style, and was regarded as the most trendy architectural design in China and around the world as well, and the “No.01 Oriental Musical Palace” in 1930s. check out Paramount (Shan g hai) for more information.

Today Shanghai The Paramount is besieged by contemporary high-rise buildings, but it still stands out a nostalgic reminder of Shanghai’ glamorous past. Its address: 218 Yuyuan Road in Jing’an, Shanghai (静安区愚园路218号).

3. Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower ( 1991 – 1994 )

Oriental Pear Tower is a TV Tower and an iconic landmark in Shanghai, and located by the side of the west bank of Huangpu River, opposite to the Bund. Check How to Visit Lujiazui in Pudong for more information.

It is one of the most photographed building on the Pudong Skyline, viewed from the Bund. The construction began in 1991, and the tower was completed in 1994.

With a height of 468 m, the tower has fifteen observatory levels. The lower level at 263 m is the Sightseeing Floor. There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m level. The tower also houses exhibition facilities, restaurants and a shopping mall. Add: 1 Century Ave, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China 上海市浦东新区世纪大道1号

4. Shanghai World Financial Center (2008)

The Shanghai World Financial Center is the second highest building in mainland China with a total height of 492 m (1,614 ft). The skyscraper is located in the Pudong district, an essential structure on the spectacular Pudong Skyline.

It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. The tower’s foundation stone was laid on 27 August 1997 and it was declared complete on 17 July 2008. check out How to Visit Shanghai World Financial Center for more information.

The supertall building comprises offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. The tower features three separate observation decks -lowest at the 94th floor at 423 m ; the second, on the 97th floor at a height of 439 m ; and the highest, on the 100th floor at 474 m (1,555 ft) high. Add: 100 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai 上海市浦东新区世纪大道100号

5. Jin Mao Tower (1999)

The Jin Mao Tower is located next to Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center and Shanghai Tower ( the highest ) in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district in Shanghai.

It is composed of offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt Hotel. It is one of the centerpieces of the Pudong skyline at the height of 420.5m. It was designed by the Chicago firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The tower was fully operational in 1999.

Jin Mao Building has four entrances, two for the offices, one for the lobby, the last one for the entrance to the 88-floor observation – the skywalk, a 1,520 m2 indoor observation deck with a capacity of over 1,000 people. It offers the panoramic views of Shanghai as well as a topside view below of the atrium of Shanghai Grand Hyatt Hotel inside Jin Mao Tower( occupying the floors from 53 to 87). Check out How to visit Jin Mao Tower for more information.

The 88-storey observation deck is open from 8:30am to 10:00pm. It’s better to have the tower tour on a bright clear day or one a fine evening. You will enjoy different views visiting Jin Mao Tower in the daytime or in the evening.
Add: 88 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai 上海市浦东新区世纪大道88号

6. Shanghai Tower (2008 – 2015) the tallest in China

The Shanghai Tower is a megatall skyscraper in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai. It is designed by Gensler and owned by a consortium of Chinese state-owned companies.

It is the tallest building in China accompanied by the other three supertall buildings in Pudong – the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center and Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The megatall structure is 632 metres high with128 stories. Check out How to Visit Shanghai Tower for more information.

Shanghai Tower is currently the tallest building in China and the second-tallest in the world, surpassed only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. However, Shenzhen’s 660-metre Ping An Finance Centre will beat the Shanghai Tower as China’s tallest building when it is completed in 2016. Add: 501 Yincheng Middle Rd, Lu Jia Zui, Lujiazui Residential District, Pudong, Shanghai, China 中国上海市陆家嘴金融贸易区

7. Nanpu Bridge (1991)

The Nanpu Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge, a sister bridge to the Yangpu Bridge, which also spans over Huangpu River connecting Puxi and Pudong in Shanghai.

It was designed by Chinese architects. It has a main span of 846 meters with an extended bridge over 7500 meters.

The bridge has two towers with one on each side and each of them has 22 couple of iron cables to link the main bridge in the shape of a fan. A ship of 50000 tons can pass under the bridge. The bridge accommodates 7 drive lanes – 4 lanes from Puxi to Pudong and 3 lanes from Puxi to Pudong.

8. Shanghai Grand Theatre (1998)

Completed in 1998, the Shanghai Grand Theatre is listed as one of the largest and best-equipped automatic stages in the world.

The theatre stages the performances of operas, symphonies, chamber music concerts, musicals, ballets, spoken dramas and various Chinese operas. It is located in the northern part of the People’s Square in Huangpu District, Shanghai.

Grand Theatre building is one of Shanghai’s iconic landmark with an area of 2.1 hectares and a total construction area of 70,000 sq. meters.

The building was designed by ARTE Charpentier, a famous architecture design company founded by French architect Jean-Marie Charpentier. When the night falls, the lights around the building transforms its exterior into a crystal palace.
Add： 300 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China 上海市黄浦区人民大道300号

9. Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai) 2011

Originally the Expo Performance Center, the center was officially renamed the Mercedes-Benz Cultural Center in 2011. Located at the former Shanghai Expo site, it has an 18,000-seat main venue, as well as a music club, cinema, skating rink, restaurants and retail space.

Mercedes-Benz Arena ( photo from the internet)

Now Mercedes-Benz Arena, along with the China Pavilion and the Expo Axis, becomes a part of the permanent pavilions of the Shanghai World Expo. Add: 1200 Shibo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China上海市浦东新区世博大道1200号

10. NECC (Shanghai) 2014

National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), abbreviated as “NECC (Shanghai)”, is an exhibition complex with functions of exhibition, conference, office and commercial services. It is also one of the landmark buildings in Shanghai.

**National Exhibition and Convention Center** ( photo/163.com/dy/media)

The construction of National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) started on December 26, 2011; Completed on September 28, 2014; It was fully operational on December 1, 2016. On January 6, 2020, it was selected as one of the top ten new landmark buildings in Shanghai. Add: No. 333 Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, Shanghai 上海市青浦区崧泽大道333号

Add-On

How to Visit the Bund in Shanghai
Evening View of the Bund and Pudong Skyline Shanghai
Huangpu River Cruise Ticket Booking
How to Visit Lujiazui in Pudong

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself bus route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Shanghai Tour
Shanghai Day Tour
Shanghai Multi-Day Tour
Shanghai Evening Tour
Shanghai Cruise Port ( Transfer& Excursions )
Shanghai Beijing Tour
Shanghai Xian Tour
Shanghai Car Rental with Driver

Archive for the ‘Shanghai Attractions’ Category

Top 10 Things to Do at Night in Shanghai

1. Walk along the Bund at night

2. Bird’s-eye view Shanghai from Jin Mao Tower

3. Wandering along Nanjing Road

4. Cruise on Huangpu River

5. Yuyuan Market at Night

6. Hang out at Night at Hengshan Road Bar Street

7. Have a sip at Xintiandi in Shanghai

8. Rewind at Tianzifang Street

9. Watch Shanghai Yue Opera

10. Enjoy Shanghai Acrobatics

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

Further Readings

How to Visit Nanjing Road in Shanghai （Tips, Photos & Map）

1. How to get to Nanjing Road in Shanghai

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes for a one-hour Walk

3. Lots of Shops but no Bargaining

4. Dining and Drinking

5.Night walk along Nanjing Road

6. Small Shuttle Trams

7. Beware of the Street Touts

8. Beware of Sex/Massage Offers

9. Beware of Pickpockets.

10. A Combo of People’ Square, Nanjing Road and the Bund

Add-on

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

Further Readings

Top 10 Iconic Landmarks in Shanghai (Photos,Tips and Map)

1. The Bund ( Mid-1800s – 1930s )

2. Shanghai The Paramount (百乐门）1933

3. Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower ( 1991 – 1994 )

4. Shanghai World Financial Center (2008)

5. Jin Mao Tower (1999)

6. Shanghai Tower (2008 – 2015) the tallest in China

7. Nanpu Bridge (1991)

8. Shanghai Grand Theatre (1998)

9. Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai) 2011

10. NECC (Shanghai) 2014

Add-On

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

Further Readings