Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai (must see)

To gain an understanding of urban Shanghai's development and its history, consider visiting the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. This distinctive building, designed in the shape of a white magnolia, the official flower of Shanghai, boasts an innovative design and comprehensive exhibits. It provides valuable insights into the ambitious plans of the city's urban planners. It's advisable to visit this attraction early in your trip to Shanghai, as it offers a wealth of information on the city's past and future, covering various aspects like geology, transportation, and offering useful facts and recommendations.

Shanghai is situated in the Yangtze River delta, currently one of the world's fastest-growing urban areas. This growth is vividly depicted on the 3rd floor, where you can find Shanghai's largest scale model, showcasing the city's potential future spread over 100 square meters. This model includes skyscrapers, apartment blocks, and urban transportation systems, all meticulously detailed at a 1:2,000 scale.

Adjacent to this area, there's a video room where you can embark on a virtual 3D tour of this plan, referred to as the "Journey of Wonder in Shanghai." Another highlight is the panoramic view of People's Square from the top-floor cafe and gift shop, providing a bird's eye perspective.

Other floors house maps of upcoming construction projects and a collection of vintage images depicting colonial-era Shanghai, which is particularly fascinating if you are already somewhat familiar with the city's modern appearance. If you are new to the city, don't worry – after exploring Shanghai at the Exhibition Hall, you'll be well-prepared to delve deeper by exploring the actual streets. Be sure to carry a notebook and jot down notes about the places you'd like to visit.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Shanghai. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall on Map

Sight Name: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Shanghai, China

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Creating your own self-guided walk in Shanghai is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund is a waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The term "bund" was borrowed into English from Hindi and originally referred to a dyke or embankment. The Chinese name for the Bund is unrelated in origin: it literally means "outer bank", and distinguishes this part of the riverfront from the "inner bank" adjacent to the Old Town...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

The Old Town of Shanghai, historically the heart of the city, is a part of Shanghai's urban core. Shanghai's importance as a trade hub led to its elevation to county status in 1292. In 1554, during the Ming Dynasty, the area was surrounded by protective walls to safeguard against Japanese pirate raids and remained so until 1912, when the walls were dismantled.

During the colonial era,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Leaving Shanghai without calling local shops and procuring something truly original to bring home as a souvenir would be a pity. Indeed, souvenir shopping in Shanghai is an exciting experience.

Nanjing Road, commonly known as Nanjing Lu – Asia's longest and perhaps most famous thoroughfare – is a popular destination in Shanghai. Here, you can find a plethora of shops and boutiques...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Perhaps more than any other Chinese city, Shanghai deserves to be called the “face of modern China.” Despite modern look, the city emerged on a map as far back as 751 AD. Shanghai County was established under the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, although the city character, as we know it today, began to take shape in the aftermath of the first Opium War in 1842. The post-war treaty opened...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.2 Km or 3.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


15 Uniquely Chinese Things to Buy in Shanghai

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Prepare a Shanghai surprise for your loved ones back home! Bring them a piece of exciting China from one of the country's most iconic destinations. Luckily, the choice of things fit to do the job is enormous. All you need is a knowledgeable advice on where to go to get a fair price and decent...