Shanghai offers several distinct perspectives for a culture-focused stay: the architecture and history of the Bund, traditional Yuyuan Garden, and museums focusing on urban history or craftsmanship. This turns the selection of attractions into a personal thematic guide.

Architecture and Cultural History at the Bund

The historic and cultural Bund was the setting for Shanghai’s earliest development. For more than 100 years, it has represented the city’s development and prosperity. The historic buildings also make the area a focus in its own right: architectural styles represented here include Baroque, Gothic and ancient Greek architecture. The different forms can be viewed as distinct architectural responses within a single cityscape, rather than reducing the Bund to one architectural style.

This historic character is complemented by cultural offerings: the Bund has several art museums and performance venues. Those interested in architecture will therefore find a different way to experience Shanghai here than in an exhibition on the city’s history or in a traditional garden. The buildings and cultural venues together provide a specific reason to include the Bund as a focus when planning your stay.

Gardens and Squares as Different Urban Experiences

Yuyuan Garden offers a different focus. It is an expansive traditional Chinese garden beside the City God Temple in Huangpu District. It was originally created as a private garden during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). This historical background sets it apart from the buildings at the Bund: here, the history of a garden takes center stage. Yuyuan Garden is also connected with the City God Temple and the shopping centers at Yuyuan Garden—a way to explore that takes the temple and shopping into account alongside the garden.

People’s Square, in turn, offers a view of a garden-like square that brings culture, transport and commerce together. Unlike Yuyuan Garden, its focus is not a historic garden but a square that combines various urban functions. To understand Shanghai’s different sides, you can consider its garden, square and historic architecture as separate themes without combining them into a single itinerary.

Two Museums, Two Cultural Themes

The Shanghai History Museum tells the story of the modern metropolis from ancient times to the present day. Its permanent exhibition features more than 1,000 relics and presents 6,000 years of Shanghai’s history. Its broad historical perspective makes the museum a suitable choice for anyone wishing to connect their stay with the city’s development, beyond individual buildings. The museum can be reached on Metro lines 1, 2 and 8, by getting off at People’s Square station. Check the latest metro information before setting out.

The Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts is housed in a snow-white French Renaissance-style building in Xuhui District. It focuses on arts and crafts: it preserves endangered traditional skills and displays both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The museum has ten workshops on the third floor. If you plan to visit the workshops, check in advance whether they are open to visitors.

First decide which cultural focus suits your stay, then choose the visits that fit.

For the broader travel overview: China.