Ni Hao, Shanghai! I still find the half-Chinese blood in me fully smitten over Shanghai.
Being the largest city in China, Shanghai is also a renowned international metropolis where one can experience a perfect blend of culture – the western, contemporary and oriental – all at once. The city’s cosmopolitan flair endows it with enchantment, and it’s not hard to see why tourists flock to sense the pulsating development of the so-called “New York of Asia”.
Eyeing to experience Shanghai soon? Well, for a start, let’s get one thing straight – visiting Shanghai for a day is not enough. Whether you happen to have a whole day layover in Shanghai or been planning to travel abroad for just 24 hours on a budget or just tick Shanghai off your bucket list, then this travel guide is for you.
With a grateful heart, this Shanghai travel post would not be possible without Cebu Pacific Air. Lucky to be one of the few people who successfully joined the inaugural flight from Cebu to Shanghai last April 15, 2019, together with my blogger friends Marco (@countocram) and Miong (@miongplus). If you are traveling to Shanghai soon, here’s a beginner’s guide to getting a Chinese Tourist Visa in Cebu.
Staring April 15, 2019, Cebu Pacific flies to Shanghai direct from Cebu 6x a week. To save on airfare, watch out for Cebu Pacific’s seat sales and promos to score a Php 1.00 base fare from Cebu to Shanghai. It’s totally legit! Know my secrets on how I booked amazing low fares HERE! =)
That maiden flight to Shanghai was all it took to make bucket list moments happen in Shanghai, not just to realize the most-awaited reunion with my ancestors, but also to savor 24 activities in 24 hours for Php 2,400 budget.
Here’s a chronological visual documentation of our Shanghai trip (with breakdown of budget at the end of this article).
11:30 PM – Redeem Shanghai Maglev Train Ticket & Metro Pass
The first thing to do when you arrive at Shanghai (after the immigration clearance is already done) is to redeem your Shanghai Maglev Train Ticket and Metro Pass at Youbanban Service Counter (next to Sunrise Duty Free Shop Arrival Hall). Pre-book this activity via Klook and select Maglev (one way) & Metro Pass – T1 Redemption). It is one of the travel essentials when in Shanghai to save on transportation costs with the unlimited rides on the local metro lines that comes with it and fastest travel time from downtown to airport with Maglev Train.
11:45 PM – Ride a Shanghai Pudong Airport Shuttle Bus
The moment we exited PVG airport terminal 1, we hurriedly took a late night bus going to where our accommodation, Captain Hostel, is located. The bus will only stop at designated main tops so be mindful of where to alight. In our case, the bus stop close to Captain Hostel (Fu zhu Rd) is at East Yan’an Elevated Road (3rd stop), between People’s Square and Donghai Business Center, Huangpu. Travel time is not more than 45 minutes.
TIP: Make use of google maps as you cannot rely on the locals to understand any English questions. We had an encounter with a Chinese local who got mad when we asked him about the route of said bus. It was rather rude but we totally get the reason – language barrier.
12:45 AM – Munch on Midnight Snacks
Upon arrival in Yan’an Rd, you may walk or take a taxi going to Captain Hostel. We first dropped by at a nearby 24-hours Family Mart just beside Captain Hostel to eat midnight snacks before checking in. It was a long 4-hour flight plus 40-minute bus ride, so we cap the night off by taking a quick food fix.
01:15 AM – Check-in at Captain Hostel (around The Bund area)
Strategically located at the heart of Shanghai, Captain Hostel is accessible 570 meters from public transportation. It is a walking distance to The Bund and all other tourist attractions in Shanghai. We also experienced an express check-in and smooth transaction with Captain Hostel’s administration.
We booked a bunk-bed style (maximum of 6 persons) in a very spacious room for a reasonable price. Imagine paying less than Php 500 for a pleasant overnight stay with air-conditioned room, clean separate bathrooms, decent amenities and ample security. Captain Hostel is totally a good bang for your buck!
05:30 AM – Wander at the Crowdless Fu Zhou Road
We only slept for about 3 hours. Knowing we only had 24 hours to experience Shanghai, we didn’t even have to try hard to wake up as early as 5:30 AM to maximize our jam-packed itinerary. Prepped up lightly, got out from the hostel and wandered around the cold crowdless Fu Zhou Road just like you’re in a zombie apocalyptic movie. It’s bizarrely cool!
06:00 AM – Marvel at the sunrise by The Bund’s promenade
It pays to wake up early and head straight to the The Bund or waitan promenade to marvel at the sunrise. You’ll have the magical place all to yourself.
TIP: Crowd will flock in no time as the day progress so be early to get an Instagram-worthy shot.
The Bund is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai, in Huangpu District. Also known as Waitan, it is a waterfront area that boasts European-inspired structures and wharves gloriously fronting fields of towering modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui in Pudong District.
19th-century and Art Deco architecture of historic buildings stand out in fantastic fashion stretching along the banks of the Huangpu River. They are always ready to stage your selfies.
06:30 AM – Walling Session with the wallflowers at Chenyi Square
Since it’s Springtime in Shanghai, step into the world of blossoms. Start your Spring day with a walling session with some blooming flowers “planted” on the wall in Chenyi Square. While posing for this photo taken by Marco (@countocram), I thought, “Would you still call it Spring if flowers were not blooming at all?” Nevertheless, Shanghai is a natural haven for all things beautiful and bursting with pop of colors.
07:30 AM – Try the Mail To Future Facility
We headed back to the hostel to fix up and get ready for check-out. At the reception area, you’ll find an interesting activity too good to miss – a Mail to Future facility. Captain Hostel will mail the postcard that you’ve written for yourself in the future about self goals or prediction you make about the world on the date you intended to receive such postcard. Cool thing to try!
08:00 AM – Breakfast at Mcdo along Middle Hen’an Road
Fast food stores are also available in Shanghai so if you’re used to eating french fries, burgers and brewed coffee on the go, then McDonald’s is definitely the go-to eatery to have an instant breaky session. It reminds me of my usual breaky routine back in the Philippines.
8:30 AM – Ride Unlimited Shanghai Metro (via subway)
Since our Shanghai trip is a DIY one, our best option to conveniently commute different places around Shanghai is the Shanghai Metro. Aside from brisk walking, we also perfected the art of entering various subways to catch a train ride around the metro.
Your international trip would not be complete without a mandatory shot of riding a local train – the Shanghai Metro. A rapid transit rail network in Shanghai, the Shanghai Metro system is the world’s largest rapid transit system by route length, operating in 16 urban transit services. You’ll get used to riding this transportation conveniently for 24 hours when in Shanghai by utilizing your unlimited Metro Pass (pre-booked via Klook).
09:00 AM – Chase Cherry Blossoms at Gucun Park
Planning for our Shanghai Trip two weeks prior, chasing cherry blossoms is really of one of the top priorities. Lucky for us, our Shanghai trip was scheduled on a Spring where Shanghai’s cold spring is bringing local flowers into full bloom, attracting large crowds to see these exquisite displays of nature.
Gucun Park has become one of the most popular attractions with its 12,000 cherry blossom trees, the largest concentration of such trees in the city. And with much enthusiasm, we head over to Gucun Park in north Baoshan District to check out and join the Annual Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrated every year as part of the district’s aim to promote eco-tourism.
One thing I love about traveling is the opportunity to experience new things. Growing up in a country where there’s only three seasons (hot, hotter, hottest), it is only fitting to celebrate when you finally tick Spring off your bucketlist. Spring. Shanghai. Sakura.
12:00 PM – Try Xiao Long Bao at Huanghe Road
When you’re traveling abroad, you wouldn’t want to miss having a local gastronomic experience. Feasting on xiao long bao in Shanghai is a perfect example. Xiao long bao, the broth-filled Shanghainese steamed pork dumplings, is traditionally prepared in Xiaolong, which is a kind of small bamboo steaming basket, which give them their name. It is inarguably one of the great culinary inventions of mankind, I tell you!
Jia Jia Tang Bao is a very local little shop in Huanghe Road and it sells the best Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai. Lot of guests are queuing up, a testament that both locals and tourists would really line up for its tasty offerings. We were so hungry that time the reason we couldn’t wait so we ended up trying another restaurant selling xiao long bao in the neighborhood, Yang’s Dumpling. Its fried xiao long bao is really good too!
01:00 PM – Leisurely stroll at People’s Square
Make blissful moments happen during spring break with Cebu Pacific Air as Shanghai is now accessible from Cebu more than ever. If Gucun Park is not your thing, then People’s Square is a great alternative.
People’s Square is the largest public square in the city of Shanghai, noted as a demarcation point between East and West Nanjing Road. Visitors around here are just freely doing their own thing, playing games and being one with nature.
01:30 PM – Drink Chinese Milk Tea
I’m an avid fan of milk tea and I wouldn’t leave Shanghai without trying their local milk tea – alittletea. I ordered a blueberry cream cheese with 70% sugar level without sinkers and the taste? It didn’t disappoint! I finished drinking in just 5 minutes! Didn’t notice I consumed it that fast until my companions told me that my milk tea was gone too quickly. =)
02:30 PM – Solve the Flower Maze at Wujiang Road
There’s a gigantic flower maze along Wujiang Road Leisure street and it’s a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the “unique” experience. It’s totally free and fun activity to try alone or with family.
03:00 PM – Visit Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Fan of coffee shops with a title? Let’s take a cue from Starbucks Reserve Roastery which holds the title of being the second biggest Starbucks store in the world as of writing.
I roamed around the leviathan-like store and finished my tour for three minutes from entrance to exit, ground to second level. Don’t miss in having a lit SB experience that’s totally one for the books.
03:00 PM – Experience Chinatown at Yuyuan Garden
Your Shanghai day tour would not be complete without visiting the urban-renewed Yu Garden and Yuyuan old street for some real traditional Chinatown experience.
Yu Garden is an excellent model of classical Chinese gardening architecture under state preservation. It was built during the reign of Ming Emperor Jiajing (1559) as the private garden of Pan Yunduan, an administration commissioner of Sichuan Province. With an area over two hectares, the garden is famous for a number of architectural marvels, including Big Rockery, the Ancient Opera Stager and Inner Garden.
Don’t leave without trying the famous Xiao long bao in straw (a different version) and authentic tea by the lakeshore. You can also buy cheap souvenirs (pasalubong) in this area for your friends and families.
05:00 PM – Take a Jump Shot over Lujiazui
Lujiazui is famous for the world’s first triple-adjacent supratall buildings referred to as Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower, respectively. Shanghai Tower is the second top-most megatall skyscrapper in the world (632 m), boasting also the second fastest elevator world-wide at a top speed of 74 km/hr. It also holds the world’s highest observation deck within a building or structure at 562 meters.
Soar to new heights in the “Pearl of the Orient” as Cebu Pacific Air flies 6x weekly to Shanghai direct from the “Queen City of the South”. Head to Lujiazui and take a jump shot over the futuristic Pudong Skyline.
06:00 PM – Go sunset viewing at Puxi over Suzhou River
While the sun gloriously rises over Lujiazui’s skyline across Huangpu river, the sun magically sets down along the urban renaissance Puxi over Suzhou River. And it’s beautiful!
Night is about to fall on the historic heart of Puxi. Here’s an bird’s eye view of Bellagio Shanghai, set on the banks of the Suzhou River and offering incomparable sunset view of the most renowned part of this megalopolis.
06:30 PM – Cross over Waibaidu Bridge
The view of RockBund at dusk with a hint of Waibaidu Bridge and Lujiazui at the backdrop is equally breathtaking. A fusion of past, present and future – it screams spectacular!
The century-old Waibaidu Bridge, also known as Garden Bridge of old Shanghai, is one of the most iconic structure in Shanghai. Stretching over Suzhou Creek, it is the first all-steel bridge, and the only surviving example of a camelback truss bridge, in China. Let’s cross over Waibaidu Bridge together?
07:00 PM – Night strolling at The Bund
The Bund is really a crowd favorite day or night. In the evening, the buildings are closed but the night view of the Bund is amazing. I can’t get enough of the view. We started our Shanghai trip with a morning stroll at The Bund and we ended it with a night stroll at the Bund, this time we’ve got more company – media partners from Cebu who joined the inaugural flight of Cebu Pacific.
I’ve never seen a man-made attraction exuding beauty that’s effortlessly captivating and has left me in awe all-day long – morning, noon, night! Say hello again to Lujiazui!
Add this to your bucket list: River cruising at Huangpu River!
07:30 PM – Dine at a Chinese mart
The Bund is a crowd favorite day or night. Aside from strolling and trying out The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, there are also a wide array of food choices along Waitan’s promenade. This red-lighted tri-pillar obelisk tower marks the spot for your Shanghai culinary journey.
I cannot remember the name of this convenience store along the Bund as it is written in Chinese but I can totally remember the feeling when I learned that I can finally eat a meal with rice. Yes, it was the first rice experience in Shanghai and it felt soooooo good! =)
08:30 PM – Last-minute Shopping at Nanjing Road
Known as one of the world’s busiest shopping streets, Nanjing Road is haven for both avid shoppers and window-shoppers alike. With a length of 5.5 kilometers, Nanjing Road is the city’s flashiest shopping destination worthy to be visited when in Shanghai. While shopping at Nanjing road in the morning is no different than shopping at nightfall, it is nevertheless a touristy area that comes alive all day long.
09:00 PM – Ride a Maglev Train
Your Maglev Pass will come in handy when you’re about to head to the airport. You should add in your bucketlist riding a Maglev train (Shanghai Transrapid), the fastest commercial high-speed electric train in the world.
Short for magnetic levitation, maglev means that these trains will float over a guideway using the basic principles of magnets to replace the old steel wheel and track trains. In other words, Maglev trains levitate on a cushion of air, eliminating friction and allowing these trains to reach unprecedented ground transportation speeds of more than 430 kph. Imagine, 8 mins travel time from airpiort to mainland Shanghai, that’s impressive!
10:00PM – 11:30 PM Chillax at the PVG Airport until plane take-off
If you reach Shanghai Pudong International Airport around 9PM, then I have to say “Congratulations”! You just survived a day in Shanghai on a budget! What else to do at one of the major aviation hubs in China while waiting for boarding time? Chillax and relive your one-of-a-kind experience in Shanghai!
Budget Breakdown
For my pocket money in Shanghai, I savored 24 activities in 24 hours for only Php 2,400 budget including transportation, meals, accommodation and miscellaneous (snacks, entrance fee and souvenirs). Cost breakdown as follows:
Overall, I really had a great time in Shanghai even just for a day. I was able to maximize my stay in Shanghai without necessarily spending too much. There’s a lot more things to do and sights to see in Shanghai and I won’t think twice in booking a flight back to Shanghai with Cebu Pacific!
Just go!