Famous places in Shanghai facts for kids

Shanghai is a huge city in China with many amazing places to visit! From super tall towers to fun amusement parks and ancient gardens, there's something for everyone. You can explore museums, see cool animals, or just enjoy the busy streets.

Exploring Shanghai's Iconic Landmarks

The Oriental Pearl Tower: A Giant Pearl in the Sky

The Oriental Pearl Tower stands tall in the Lujiazui area of Pudong New Area. It's a massive 468 meters (about 1,535 feet) high! From 1994 to 2007, it was the tallest building in China. The tower looks like giant pearls stacked on a green plate. Thousands of people visit it every day to see the amazing views.

The Bund: Shanghai's Famous Waterfront

The Bund is a must-see spot in central Shanghai, right along the Huangpu River. It's about 1.5 kilometers (almost a mile) long. On one side, you see the busy river. On the other, there are 52 old buildings with different styles like Gothic and Romanesque. People call it the "World Architecture Expo Group." It's especially beautiful to visit at night!

Nanjing Road: China's Busiest Shopping Street

Nanjing Road East is known as China's number one street! It's a long street just for walking, filled with shops and restaurants. You can find all sorts of unique products and tasty foods here. It's a perfect place to shop, eat, have fun, and sightsee. It's almost always packed with people!

People's Square: The Heart of Shanghai

People's Square is the biggest public square in Shanghai. Since 1994, it has been the city's main political and cultural center. It's like a big, open garden. All around the square, you'll find important buildings for government, culture, transportation, and businesses.

Discovering Shanghai's Amazing Museums

Shanghai Museum: A Treasure Chest of Chinese Culture

The Shanghai Museum is located in People's Square in Huangpu District. It's a fantastic place to learn about Chinese culture. The museum has many different exhibits. You can see old Chinese money, beautiful Chinese paintings, and amazing Chinese calligraphy (which is like artistic writing). Its most famous exhibit is the Bronze Exhibition Hall. The most special item there is the Dake Ding, a huge bronze cooking pot with very old and important Chinese writing inside.

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: Fun with Science

The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is at 2000 Century Ave. in Pudong. It's a great place for both locals and tourists to enjoy and learn about science. This museum has Asia's largest collection of science-themed cinemas. It has two IMAX theaters, a 4D IWERKS cinema, and a Space Digital Cinema.

China Art Museum: A Giant Art Gallery

The China Art Museum is at 205 South Road, Pudong New Area. It's a huge museum! The building itself looks like the Chinese character hua (華). Inside, you'll find many art shows from all over the world. The best part? Entrance to the museum is free! All the paintings and artworks inside are very valuable and famous.

Shanghai Natural Museum: Exploring Nature's Wonders

The Shanghai Natural Museum is a part of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. It's located at 128 Shimen Road, Jinan District. This is the largest natural history museum in China. You can see lots of different samples and exhibits about nature here.

Exciting Parks and Gardens in Shanghai

Shanghai Disneyland Park: A Magical Adventure

Shanghai Disneyland Park is in Chuansha new town, Pudong District. It's the sixth Disneyland Park in the world and the first one in mainland China. It's eight times bigger than the one in Hong Kong! The park has many exciting areas, like Mickey Avenue, Land of Dreams, and Adventure Isle. You can get there easily by taking Line 11 of the subway. Even though the food can be expensive, lots of people visit every day!

Jinjiang Amusement Park: Thrills and Fun Rides

Jinjiang Amusement Park is at 201 Hongmei Road, Minghang District. It's a very big amusement park with many thrilling rides. One of its most famous attractions is the Ferris wheel. It was the first giant Ferris wheel in China!

Shanghai Wildlife Park: Meet Amazing Animals

The Shanghai Wildlife Park is at 178 S. Sixth Road in Pudong. It's the largest wild animal park in China! You can see many different kinds of animals here, like pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, and crested ibises.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium: Underwater Worlds

The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is at 1388 Lujiazui Ring Road in Pudong. It's one of the biggest aquariums in Asia! It has nine different areas with all sorts of sea animals. You can see animals from China, Africa, and even polar regions. There's also a park right next to it, which kids would love!

Yu Garden: A Beautiful Ancient Garden

Yu Garden (also called Yu Yuan) is a classic Chinese garden at 218 Anyan Street in the Huangpu District. A government official started building it in 1559 during the Ming period of Chinese history. It took him 20 years to finish! Between the garden and the nearby City God Temple, there's a big shopping area. It's full of traditional Chinese foods and goods.

Guyi Garden: Lotuses and Delicious Dumplings

The Guyi Garden (also called Guyi Yuan) is at 218 Huyi Road, Nanxiang Town, Jiading District. Many tourists come here to see the beautiful lotus flowers. This garden is also famous for Xiaolongbao, which are popular Shanghai-style dumplings filled with meat and vegetables. Both tourists and locals visit the Guyi Garden Restaurant day and night. They sell over 20,000 xiaolongbaos every single day!

Happy Valley: A Park with 100+ Rides

Happy Valley (欢乐谷, Huānlè Gǔ) is an amusement park on Linhu Road in Songjiang District, close to Sheshan. It has seven different themed areas, including Happy Time, Typhoon Bay, and Shangri-La. There are over 100 rides to enjoy! A ticket costs 230 yuan for adults and 120 yuan for children.

Lu Xun Park: Honoring a Famous Writer

Lu Xun Park is a park in Hongkou District. Its Chinese name is Lú Xùn Gōngyuán (鲁迅公园). Lu Xun was a very important writer in China in the early 1900s. Inside the park, you'll find a museum about Lu Xun and his tomb. The museum shows photographs of his life and some of his personal items, like his stories written in his own handwriting. The headstone on his tomb in the park says "Tomb of Lu Xun" and is written in Mao Zedong's handwriting.

Unique Cultural Spots in Shanghai

Zhujiajiao: An Ancient Water Town

Zhujiajiao (朱家角, Zhūjiājiǎo) is an old water town and suburb in Qingpu District in western Shanghai. It's over 170 years old! It got its name from the Zhu family, who used to live there a long time ago. It's the best-preserved of Shanghai's four ancient towns.

Tianzifang: A Hip Art and Shopping Area

Tianzifang (田子坊）is a neighborhood in Huangpu District, just north of the Dapuqiao Subway Station. It was built in 1998. You can find many art shows here, along with lots of shops. It's a popular place for young people to shop. You can buy food, traditional clothes, and local crafts. Some older people still live here, loving their old homes, even if you don't often see them outside.

Wen Temple: A Place of History and Learning

The Wen Temple has moved four times over the years. Now, it's located on Wenmiao Road. It was built in 1895. The Wen Temple was created to honor Confucius, a very important Chinese philosopher. Inside, you can see many examples of beautiful calligraphy from famous emperors like Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong.

Shanghai Grand Theater: A Modern Cultural Hub

The Shanghai Grand Theater is in the northwestern part of People's Square. It covers a huge area of 70,000 square meters. It's actually made up of three different theaters! These theaters can host all kinds of performances, like ballet, opera, symphonies, and musicals. The theater also has the largest, fully automatic stage in Asia. It has become a symbol of modern culture in Shanghai.