Pudong travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Pudong, Shanghai, China.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Pudong.
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1
Oriental Pearl Tower
Completed in 1994, the 468 m Oriental Pearl Tower with its stacked pink spheres was the first icon of the Pudong skyline. Observation levels include the main deck, a glass skywalk and an outdoor gallery, and the Shanghai History Museum occupies the base.
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2
Shanghai Tower
At 632 m, Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the tallest of the three Lujiazui supertalls. Its Top of Shanghai observatory is reached by some of the fastest elevators in the world.
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3
Jin Mao Tower
Completed in 1999, the 421 m Jin Mao Tower blends Art Deco and traditional Chinese pagoda motifs. It houses offices and the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, and its 88th-floor observation deck sits above the hotel.
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4
Shanghai World Financial Center
Completed in 2008, the 492 m tower is known as the Bottle Opener for the trapezoid opening at its crown. Its observation levels, including a glass-floored walkway on the 100th floor, sit lower than Shanghai Tower's and are typically less crowded.
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5
Lujiazui Riverside Promenade (Binjiang Avenue)
This riverside walkway runs along the Pudong bank of the Huangpu River and faces the historic Bund across the water. It offers the standard view of the Bund's 1920s and 1930s facades and is busiest at dusk when both banks are lit.
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6
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The aquarium is organised by region, from Yangtze River habitats to Antarctic and Australian zones, and is known for a long underwater tunnel and a collection of Chinese freshwater species.
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7
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
One of the largest science museums in China, with permanent exhibition halls on life science, space, robotics and natural history plus an IMAX theatre. Current prices are listed on the official English site, en.sstm.org.cn.
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8
Century Park
At about 140 hectares, Century Park is Pudong's largest city park, with lawns, a central lake and cycling paths. It is a common spot for picnics, bicycle rental and boating away from the Lujiazui towers.
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9
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016 and is the largest Disney park by land area outside the United States. Signature attractions include Enchanted Storybook Castle and the TRON Lightcycle Power Run; Disneytown and Wishing Star Park are adjacent.
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10
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
A large drive-through safari and walk-through zoo with giant pandas, lions and elephants. A bus or self-drive route passes enclosures of free-roaming herbivores, and animal shows run through the day.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Skyscrapers_and_viewpoints
Oriental Pearl Tower
Completed in 1994, the 468 m Oriental Pearl Tower with its stacked pink spheres was the first icon of the Pudong skyline. Observation levels include the main deck, a glass skywalk and an outdoor gallery, and the Shanghai History Museum occupies the base.
Shanghai Tower
At 632 m, Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the tallest of the three Lujiazui supertalls. Its Top of Shanghai observatory is reached by some of the fastest elevators in the world.
Jin Mao Tower
Completed in 1999, the 421 m Jin Mao Tower blends Art Deco and traditional Chinese pagoda motifs. It houses offices and the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, and its 88th-floor observation deck sits above the hotel.
Shanghai World Financial Center
Completed in 2008, the 492 m tower is known as the Bottle Opener for the trapezoid opening at its crown. Its observation levels, including a glass-floored walkway on the 100th floor, sit lower than Shanghai Tower's and are typically less crowded.
Lujiazui Riverside Promenade (Binjiang Avenue)
This riverside walkway runs along the Pudong bank of the Huangpu River and faces the historic Bund across the water. It offers the standard view of the Bund's 1920s and 1930s facades and is busiest at dusk when both banks are lit.
Museums_and_galleries
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
One of the largest science museums in China, with permanent exhibition halls on life science, space, robotics and natural history plus an IMAX theatre. Current prices are listed on the official English site, en.sstm.org.cn.
Shanghai Himalayas Museum
Formerly the Shanghai Zendai MoMA, this private non-profit museum is located inside the Himalayas Center and shows contemporary art, architecture and design exhibitions.
Museum of Art Pudong
Opened in 2021 and designed by Jean Nouvel, the museum is a glass-clad building on the Huangpu waterfront hosting rotating international exhibitions, with an outdoor terrace facing the Bund.
China Art Museum (China Pavilion)
Housed in the red inverted-pyramid China Pavilion built for Expo 2010, this is among the largest art museums in Asia, covering modern and contemporary Chinese art from the 19th century to the present.
Shanghai Astronomy Museum
The astronomy museum opened in 2021 and is shaped around three spiral forms inspired by orbits. Tickets are booked online through the museum's WeChat mini-program; the dome theatre film is sold separately.
China Maritime Museum
Located beside Dishui Lake, the museum covers China's seafaring history with ship models, navigation instruments and a simulated bridge.
Parks_and_nature
Century Park
At about 140 hectares, Century Park is Pudong's largest city park, with lawns, a central lake and cycling paths. It is a common spot for picnics, bicycle rental and boating away from the Lujiazui towers.
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
A large drive-through safari and walk-through zoo with giant pandas, lions and elephants. A bus or self-drive route passes enclosures of free-roaming herbivores, and animal shows run through the day.
Family_and_theme_parks
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016 and is the largest Disney park by land area outside the United States. Signature attractions include Enchanted Storybook Castle and the TRON Lightcycle Power Run; Disneytown and Wishing Star Park are adjacent.
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The aquarium is organised by region, from Yangtze River habitats to Antarctic and Australian zones, and is known for a long underwater tunnel and a collection of Chinese freshwater species.
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
A large drive-through safari and walk-through zoo with giant pandas, lions and elephants. A bus or self-drive route passes enclosures of free-roaming herbivores, and animal shows run through the day.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums in Pudong open Tuesday-Sunday and close on Mondays; the Lujiazui towers keep long daily hours into the evening.
- Fees
- Observation towers run about ¥180-¥399 (~$26.83-$59.46); Shanghai Disney Resort about ¥475-¥799 (~$70.79-$119.08); most museums ¥30-¥160 (~$4.47-$23.85); the riverside promenade and China Art Museum permanent exhibition are free.
- Best Times
- Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November); sunset to evening at the Lujiazui towers and riverside.
- Booking
- Buy tower and Disney tickets online by date; Astronomy Museum tickets are reserved through its WeChat mini-program; state museums may require a passport or ID at the gate.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Lujiazui's three supertall towers, the Pearl Tower and the aquarium all sit within a 10-minute walk of Lujiazui Station on Metro Line 2
The Museum of Art Pudong and the riverside promenade can be combined with a view back across the river to the Bund
Lingang attractions (Astronomy Museum, China Maritime Museum, Dishui Lake) are far from central Pudong and are best grouped on one day
Pudong's museums are mostly closed on Mondays
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season to visit Pudong's attractions?
March-May and September-November bring mild temperatures and lighter crowds than the hot, humid summer or the cold, damp winter. Early morning and weekdays are quieter at Lujiazui's towers and at Shanghai Disney Resort.
Do the Lujiazui towers need advance booking?
Shanghai Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center sell tickets on-site and through resellers, but weekend and holiday time slots can fill, so buying a timed ticket online a day or more ahead is a safe step.
Which Pudong attractions are free?
The Lujiazui Riverside Promenade is free at all hours, the China Art Museum's permanent exhibition is free, and the Xinchang and Chuansha old towns have no entry gate.
How far is Shanghai Disney Resort from Lujiazui?
Shanghai Disney Resort lies in the south-east of Pudong and is reached directly on Metro Line 11 to Disney Resort Station; the trip from central Pudong takes roughly an hour with a transfer.