Seven things to do and see in Shanghai as Formula 1 returns to China
Shanghai, China’s biggest city, is a global hub with the Huangpu River running through the city.
From a fishing village on the east coast of the country, this metropolis has several architectural styles such as Art Deco and shikumen, but is renowned for its Lujiazui skyline.
Here, Travel News Blitz explores seven of the best things to do and see in Shanghai.
Yu Garden
Built in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty, this garden boasts over 40 scenic spots, including pavilions, rock formations and ponds.
Walk across the five acres and admire the bridges and six different areas of this historic garden as it has grown since its inception.
Nanjing Road
Shop to your heart's content in one of the world's busiest shopping streets (at around 5.5 km long with over one million visitors daily), with its history stretching back to the 19th century.
You will find luxury goods, fashion and sport brand boutiques on Nanjing Road, as well as the largest Starbucks branch in the world.
Jing'an Temple
This stunning Buddhist temple made of Burmese teak hosts impressive sculptures, such as a 8.8m-high, 15-tonne silver Buddha in the main Mahavira Hall with 46 pillars and a five-tonne Guanyin statue carved from a 1,000-year-old camphor tree.
The temple also has paintings and calligraphy by Yangzhou's Eight Eccentric Painters (from the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century) and a bronze bell which was made in the Ming Dynasty.
READ MORE: Seven things to do and see in Melbourne, the host city of the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of 2025
Watch the Chinese Grand Prix
Formula 1 returns to Shanghai, from March 21 to 23, for the second year after a break from the Shanghai International Circuit during the COVID 19 pandemic.
F1 Academy also has its first race of the year at this track, with wildcard driver Shi Wei racing in her home country (the first Chinese driver to feature on an F1 ACADEMY grid).
Oriental Pearl Tower
This iconic futurist TV tower has been a staple of Shanghai’s Lujiazui skyline since the 90s, with its pink and gray exterior that lights up at night.
The tower has 15 observatory levels, with lower levels housing a revolving restaurant, indoor roller coaster and museums, and the highest level has panoramic glass floors.
The Bund
Shanghai’s port along the Huangpu River is lined with beautiful neo-classical buildings and a waterfront promenade, which you can navigate by foot or on a river cruise.
The Bund houses 52 buildings of various architectural styles inspired by European cities, with notable structures such as The American Club, The HSBC Building, The China Merchant Bank and The Peace Hotel.
Disc Kart
Drive a go kart at Disc Kart to get your own taste of racing, with the small indoor race track with lots of bends lined with red, yellow and black tires.
There is a single seat kart and also some double seat karts, where children can go accompanied by an adult.
Summary
In Shanghai, explore the history of this port city with its many national and international influences over time by admiring its stunning architecture that charms during the day and night.
"The Pearl of the Orient" has an extensive public transportation system, with the metro taking you from the race track to the city, so make sure to buy a Shanghai Public Transport Card to get around.
