Shanghai is a huge city of more than 18 million people and thus divided into several different districts, each of which offer a different experience for the tourists. Xintiandi is a popular pedestrian for traffic only area that is lined with traditional Stonegate houses and is home to several bars caf‚s and art galleries; this is a very touristy area but is still a lot of fun. The Shanghai zoo is a must see for any traveler interested in exotic animals. This is one of the only places where you'll get to see the giant panda. The Shanghai international convention center is a bit of an odd tourist attraction, but it is still fun to visit. Essentially it is just a very large exhibition area with lots of amenities such as guest rooms, suites, restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs and even bowling and swimming pools.

Shanghai shopping is an experience not to be missed. Counterfeit items are huge part of the Shanghai shopping experience and Westerners will be shocked to see just how cheap they can get those designer purses. The small boutiques in Shanghai are also very interesting; although you will end up paying more for the items there than you would pay at a vendor selling imitation items, the boutiques offer many interesting art pieces and fashions. Nanjing Road is one of the main shopping areas in the city. Tourists will be overwhelmed with the sheer amount of stores and stalls that they can buy from.

Visitors should not even consider for a moment car hire in Shanghai. The traffic is just too intense for international travelers to deal with. Car parking is a nightmare, the streets are congested, and traffic rules seem to change by the minute. Luckily a combined system of taxis, buses, and trains are more than adequate for getting people around. Tourists will find that public transportation is fairly inexpensive and generally quite reliable. The most convenient way to pay for many of these options is using an electronic smart card that you can preload its money in and pay for your trip off of the card rather than carrying cash.

Shanghai is a huge internationally renowned city therefore Shanghai hotels run the gamut of cheap inexpensive motels and hostels, all the way up to overpriced high style international hotel chains and resorts. Shanghai restaurants largely feature regional flavors, although because Shanghai is such an international city tourists who want different varieties of food are usually in luck, and can find whatever it is they crave. Prices are for the most part reasonable but of course the more trendy to spot the more expensive the dining experience will become. One word of caution to all tourists, Shanghai water is not drinkable without being boiled however bottled water is plentiful.