Sunny Beach

Shanghai Old City


Life’s a beach, even in the middle of Shanghai. If the sun comes out, pop down to this small but amusing artificial strip of sand right by the river and north of the Cool Docks. There you'll find a backdrop of Lujiazui, a limited bar, deckchairs, beach volleyball and Frisbee. Keep your expectations fairly low.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Shanghai Old City attractions

1. Cool Docks

0.07 MILES

The riverside Cool Docks consist of several shíkùmén (石库门, stone-gate houses) surrounded by red-brick warehouses, near (but not quite on) the waterfront…

2. Dongjiadu Cathedral

0.42 MILES

Just outside Shanghai Old City and once known as St Francis Xavier Church, this magnificent whitewashed cathedral is Shanghai’s oldest church, built by…

3. Temple of the Town God

0.89 MILES

Chinese towns traditionally had a Taoist temple of the town god, but many fell victim to periodic upheaval. Originally dating from the early 15th century,…

4. Shanghai Tower

0.9 MILES

China’s tallest building dramatically twists skywards from its footing in Lujiazui. The 121-storey, 632m-tall, Gensler-designed Shanghai Tower topped out…

5. Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar

0.93 MILES

With its shaded alcoves, glittering pools churning with fish, plus pavilions, pines sprouting wistfully from rockeries, and roving packs of Japanese…

6. Peach Garden Mosque

0.98 MILES

Originally dating to 1917, this famous mosque is the main place of worship for Shanghai’s Muslims.

7. Shanghai World Financial Center

0.99 MILES

Although trumped by the adjacent Shanghai Tower as the city’s most stratospheric building, the awe-inspiring 492m-high Shanghai World Financial Center is…

8. Aurora Museum

0.99 MILES

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Ando Tadao, the Aurora Museum is set over six floors of the Aurora building and houses a stunning collection of…