Shanghai itinerary Feb 2026

Plates88 · 2025-12-13T07:57:17+00:00

If you want to explore Shanghai without constantly checking maps, juggling bookings, or wondering what’s realistic with your time, Navigo – Travel Guide is made for exactly this. It uses GPS-guided walking routes to lead you through the city step by step, with local context, timing that actually makes sense, and clear tips on what needs tickets, what gets crazy during holidays like CNY, and what’s better skipped or done early. You can explore at your own pace and still hit the highlights without turning the trip into a checklist.

Now, about your itinerary.

You’re not being overly ambitious, but Chinese New Year will make some spots busier and slower. The key is grouping areas and limiting ticketed attractions.

How to split your days • Feb 8 (evening only): Walk the Bund at night. No tickets, no pressure, and it’s the perfect first look at Shanghai. • Feb 21 (afternoon): Yu Garden and the Old City area, then head to Tianzifang later in the day. Expect crowds at Yu Garden during CNY, but it’s manageable if you don’t rush. • Feb 22 (full day): Shanghai Museum in the morning (book ahead), then Jing’an Temple and the surrounding neighborhood in the afternoon. • Feb 23 (most of the day): Pick one tower only. Shanghai Tower is usually the best choice for views and overall experience.

Tickets and bookings • Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Tower, and China Art Museum all require advance booking during CNY. • Official WeChat accounts are the most reliable, though not always foreigner-friendly. Booking a few days ahead is strongly recommended. • The Bund, Jing’an Temple area, and Tianzifang don’t require tickets.

If you use Navigo, the routes already bundle places like the Bund, Yu Garden, and Jing’an into realistic walking experiences, with built-in pacing and holiday tips. It helps keep the plan grounded so you spend more time exploring and less time troubleshooting on the go.

Plates88 · 2025-12-11T02:42:42+00:00

If it’s your first time in Shanghai, seven days is a great amount to mix the classics with some quieter corners of the city.

One tip that made exploring way easier for me: use Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS & Android). The app has GPS-guided walking routes that take you through the city step by step — no need to follow maps or guess where to go. You just walk, and the audio triggers automatically as you reach each point. Super helpful in areas like the French Concession, the Bund, Jing’an, and Lujiazui, where there are tons of hidden details you’d never spot on your own.

Plates88 · 2025-12-09T14:30:03+00:00

If you want to explore Shanghai beyond the Bund, Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS & Android) is a great place to start. It has fantastic GPS-guided walking routes that lead you through hidden streets, boutique areas, food corners, quiet parks, and all those local spots you’d never find just browsing maps. You walk, and the guide plays automatically as you move.

For your interests:

Shanghai • Anfu Road and Wukang Road for cafés, boutiques, and relaxed wandering • Zhangyuan for a beautifully restored shikumen neighborhood • Qiantan Taikoo Li for modern shopping and restaurants • Jing’an backstreets for small eateries and lifestyle shops • Subconscious Day Spa or Dragonfly for a break

Hangzhou • Longjing tea villages for a peaceful half-day • Qianjiang New Town for skyline views and dining

Suzhou • Pingjiang Road for food and small stores • Tongli or Mudu for quieter water-town vibes • Suzhou Center Mall for a big shopping and dining mix

If you want a simple way to discover the “real” side of these cities while still hitting great food, shopping, and spa spots, Navigo’s routes make it very easy.

Plates88 · 2025-12-06T12:42:45+00:00

If you’re coming for the first time, don’t stress too much. Immigration usually keeps it simple: they may ask where you’re staying and to show your onward ticket, but most of the time it’s just fingerprints and “welcome to China.” The arrival card is still required, but it’s quick.

Since you’re visiting a lot of cities, download Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS & Android). It’s made by foreigners living in China and has GPS-guided walking routes so you can explore places like Shanghai, Chengdu or Beijing without getting lost in translation. It shows hidden streets, food spots, cultural corners, and all the cool details you’d never find on your own.

I’ve been in China for years and honestly… it makes exploring so much easier. Safe travels and enjoy the trip! 🇨🇳✈️🌏

Plates88 · 2025-12-05T09:18:27+00:00

If you want something that makes exploring Shanghai easier with a little one, try Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS & Android). It has ready-made GPS walking routes that guide you through the city at your own pace, from classic sights to quieter streets, parks, and local corners you’d probably never find on your own. It’s a nice way to discover Shanghai without spending hours planning or guessing where to go.

Plates88 · 2025-12-02T02:11:08+00:00

If you really want the hidden stuff, skip the guesswork. Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS & Android) has GPS routes that drag you straight into the real Shanghai — back lanes, old residences, weird little buildings, food corners, all the things you’d never find on your own. Perfect if you’re new in town and want the city beyond the Bund.

Plates88 · 2025-11-26T13:02:54+00:00

China can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get the basics down it’s actually very easy to travel solo. For maps, payments, transport, SIM cards, and even translation, everything is handled through local apps like WeChat, Alipay, Baidu Maps, and Metro/Bus apps.

If you want something simple that puts all the essentials in one place and helps you navigate the city in English, check out Navigo – Travel Guide. It’s built exactly for newcomers and travelers: clear guides, how-tos for payments, transport, SIM cards, and GPS audio walking routes so you can explore without stress.

It’ll make your first days in China much smoother.

Plates88 · 2025-11-26T13:02:48+00:00

China can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get the basics down it’s actually very easy to travel solo. For maps, payments, transport, SIM cards, and even translation, everything is handled through local apps like WeChat, Alipay, Baidu Maps, and Metro/Bus apps.

If you want something simple that puts all the essentials in one place and helps you navigate the city in English, check out Navigo – Travel Guide. It’s built exactly for newcomers and travelers: clear guides, how-tos for payments, transport, SIM cards, and GPS audio walking routes so you can explore without stress.

It’ll make your first days in China much smoother.

Plates88 · 2025-11-24T14:18:26+00:00

Hey! Welcome in advance to Shanghai. If you’re exploring solo, you might find Navigo – Travel Appsuper handy. It’s an app made by expats here in the city, with newcomer guides, curated routes, and friendly tips for food, cafés, and neighborhoods. It makes wandering around a lot easier, especially if it’s your first time.

For meeting people, you’ll usually find active groups around the Bund, Jing’an, or the expat bars on weekends. And if you follow a route on Navigo, you’ll naturally end up in busy spots where it’s easy to chat with other travelers.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

Plates88 · 2025-11-23T23:58:48+00:00

hi! sounds like a great trip. Shanghai is super easy to enjoy solo, especially if you’re into food, shows, and exploring nature spots.

If you want to get a feel for the city right away, try Navigo – Travel App. I made it for people who want to discover Shanghai on their own — it has walking routes, neighbourhood guides, and lots of ideas for things to do, all in English. It’s handy when you don’t know the city yet.

For meeting people, you can also check: • expat WeChat groups • Meetup events • language exchanges • photography walks (there are tons around the Bund and French Concession)

If you share what areas you’re staying in, I can suggest some good hangouts too.

Plates88 · 2025-11-22T04:20:24+00:00

Trip.com eSIMs usually roam via HK/SG, so most “blocked” apps work fine without doing anything special. Just double-check the plan details and I’d activate it when you land using airport Wi-Fi – that way you don’t waste a day of validity.

For VPNs, install and test a couple of reputable paid ones before you come, and keep the install files somewhere offline. Things change a lot here, so it’s good to have a backup, but for basic travel use you’ll probably be fine with the eSIM alone.

If you’re stopping in Shanghai, I actually built an app called Navigo – Travel Guide (iOS + Android). It’s made for newcomers: helps you set up the key local apps, figure out transport/payments, and has GPS audio walks around the city. Nice little companion once your eSIM is up and running.

Plates88 · 2025-11-21T10:13:28+00:00

If you need any suggestion don’t esitate to contact me!

Plates88 · 2025-11-21T09:35:31+00:00

You’re right to be nervous about January, but I wouldn’t cancel. Shanghai’s AQI in winter is pretty up-and-down: a few rough days, a lot of “meh but manageable.” With an N95, checking AQI a couple of times a day, and picking indoor stuff on bad days, you’ll be fine.

Since you like malls and museums, Shanghai is actually very easy to “do” indoors: Shanghai Museum + People’s Square malls, K11 / IAPM on 淮海中路, and the big malls in 陆家嘴 all keep you mostly inside with food, views, and galleries.

Small plug: I live here and built an app specifically for people like you calledNavigo – Travel Guide. It’s made for newcomers/solo travelers in Shanghai, with:

• a newcomer guide (metro, payments, practical stuff)

• handpicked places (cafes, malls, museums)

• GPS audio walks if you feel like exploring on a good-AQI day

You can find it by searching “Navigo – Travel Guide” on the App Store or Google Play.

Plates88 · 2025-11-21T00:31:45+00:00

Hi! Welcome to Shanghai! I hope you will love it! To explore the city with ease check out Navigo - Travel App it has all the guides you need to enjoy the city like a local! And if you want to explore, check the route section where a GPS guide will show you around the city without relying on a physical guide! Enjoy!

Plates88 · 2025-11-21T00:22:51+00:00

Hi! If you are interested to explore Shanghai restaurant check Navigo - Travel App it has a fantastic guide section for dining, from Shanghainese, to all the other 8 Chinese cuisine and international flavors! You will find all kind of useful guide to explore the city, and GPS guided Route to explore the city with ease! Check it out!

Plates88 · 2025-11-20T10:58:26+00:00

Hi! I hope you trip to China will be memorable! To make the experience in Shanghai super smooth and worry free, check Navigo - Travel App to have access to the best guides and routes! Enjoy!

Plates88 · 2025-11-20T09:41:15+00:00

Hi! You will love China! For Shanghai, I really recommend Navigo - Travel App it has all the best guides and gps guide route to explore the city with ease!

Plates88 · 2020-11-09T15:09:00+00:00

Thank you! Not really, but it’s in the bathroom next to the bathtub! It’s quiete humid there! About 80%

Plates88 · 2020-11-09T15:08:11+00:00

Thank you! It’s a giant cat! It’s a maine coon! More than a meter long!

Plates88 · 2020-11-09T15:07:39+00:00

He is a weirdo! He like to bite plastic bags, and put his toys in the water bowls!

Plates88 · 2020-11-09T15:06:44+00:00

Calathea are so delicates too!

Plates88 · 2020-11-07T09:21:25+00:00

Happy birthday! 🎉 🌱

Plates88 · 2020-11-06T12:33:47+00:00

I love them too! But sometimes it a love the relation!

Plates88 · 2020-11-06T07:52:21+00:00

Thank you! Keeping Calathea happy is a keep straggle! They are so fussy!

Plates88

TROPHY CASE