Shanghai was everything I had dreamed, and more. The city is driven and exciting city during the day, at night it becomes a hub of entertainment with bright lights, glamorous bars and restaurants. Don’t be put off if you are thinking of a family holiday though, there is plenty to do for all ages and the sights to see are endless. Taxis are cheap, bringing ease to getting around with the younger ones, and there are food and restaurants on all corners offering delicious morsels of both Chinese and international cuisine.
What I love about Shanghai is that it is always pushing the boundaries. Some of the tallest buildings in the world grace the Shanghai skyline, it has the largest port in the world, and the largest, biggest, tallest, best…well, the list could go on and on. The city is constantly forging change fighting absolutes. It makes for an exciting place to visit.
Venturing around with children can make it testing at times, purely because of the sheer amount of people around. But the ease of transport around the city makes it bearable. After visiting 100’s of cities around the world Shanghai is definite now one of my favourites.

Best Things To Do With The Little Ones

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
Filled with all sorts of ocean wildlife Shanghai Ocean Aquarium features someone of the most diverse range of sea life you will find in any aquarium around the world. It is also one of the largest of its kind, featuring a record-breaking 168-meter underwater tunnel. The downside is the crowds. Weekends are definitely worst hit but can be quite crowded during the week as well.

Disneyland Shanghai
I am a Disneyland fanatic so of course, I am going to recommend Disneyland Shanghai. If you want somewhere clean and new you will find it here. One of the first things I noticed was how spotless it was, including the bathrooms regardless of the number of people, and because Disneyland was built here in Shanghai only a few years ago everything us in pristine condition. One of the largest Disneylands in the world I highly recommend it.

Shanghai Tower Observation Deck
With the worlds, fastest elevator and the equally the worlds highest observation deck taking a short trip to the top will thrill the family regardless of age. You can book tickets in advance. Try to visit on a clear day.

Yu Garden
One of the oldest gardens in Shanghai this 5-acre garden has plenty to see and do for the little and big. Featuring ponds with cute bridges and bountiful blossoms, it was built in the Ming dynasty and has a rich history. The Mid-lake Pavillion Tea House sits next to the garden which is arguably the most famous tea house in Shanghai.

Zhongshan Park
This tree-lined park (featuring actual grass) can be a welcome break from the concrete pavements and buildings of Shanghai’s inner city. There is ample space for your little one to go wild and also plenty of fabulous cafes and restaurants surrounding it. It is worth the diversion

Shanghai Natural History Museum
Built only recently and therefore offers some incredible exhibits with current technology. The Dinosaur area is superb and features animatronic Dinosaurs which are life-size and also make incredible sounds. There is also scheduled ‘fossil’ digging for the children. The butterfly area is stunning and if the kids need to let out some energy there is also a playground.

Getting Around
Public transport is good. Trains are always on time, and the subway is reliable and fairly pleasant. Taxis are cheap so don’t be afraid to hail one down. Private cars can also be organised by most hotels.

When To Go
It is fairly hot and crowded in Summer so I suggest going in September, October or November – which is their Autumn.