How to Visit Shanghai on a Budget

Plan your Shanghai tour on a budget?  Each year millions of travellers and businessmen visit Shanghai,  the largest metropolitan city in China. Shanghai boasts plentiful splurge hotels and posh restaurants, local and international.

But you don't need to break the bank  to visit this most advanced and futuristic city showcasing the fast development in the contemporary China . The 10 steps and tips will help you arrange your Shanghai trip on a budget without forgoing your enjoyment.

 1. Travel out of season

First,  you ought to avoid visiting Shanghai during China public holidays:  May 1-3 and October 1 - 7 each year in particular. If possible, visit Shanghai in shoulder or even off season when everything is cheaper – discounted accommodations, entrance fees, flights and many more.

In addition, the hordes of domestic tourist crowds are gone so you can enjoy the city peacefully without  too may other tourists jumping into your pictures.

2. Shanghai airport or rail transfer by metro

Shanghai has the highest taxi fares in China. When you arrive at Shanghai by air or rail, basically you should forgo taking taxis except something emergent or you cannot roll your luggage.

3. Looking for cheap hotels

Though it is rife with luxury hotels,  Shanghai is also a purse-friendly city opening its arms for all with large choices of budget hotels and hostels. You can easily find a cozy hotel  on your budget.

4. Shanghai's abundant free sites and attractions

Many of the must see attractions in Shanghai are free of charge including the Bund, Pudong New Area,  Nanjing Road,  People's Square, Shanghai Museums, Tianzifang, Xintiandi, etc.  Just a note,  most of the museums in Shanghai are free  for entry as well as many city parks.

5. Tour Shanghai by Metro

As you know, Shanghai has the highest taxi fares in China, plus the possible traffic congestion, in most occasions,  you should just avoid using them except that you cannot manage your large pieces of luggage on your way to your hotel or airport.

6 Hop on hop off Buses

Apart from using the convenient metro system in Shanghai for city sightseeing,  joining in a Shanghai bus tour can also be money-saving and more sociable, a good way of traveling Shanghai: picked from and returned  your lodging hotel.

7. Eating out Cheap

Yes, as an international metropolitan city,  Shanghai provides many sorts of cuisines from all parts of  the world with countless posh restaurants. But this doesn't put you off eating right and affordably at local restaurants. Breakfasts usually are covered by your hotel package.

8. Bargain shopping

Shanghai is a shopping paradise, with countless bustling commercial streets and shopping centers beckoning the visitors. Shopping malls in Shanghai are most fashionable inside country as Shanghai is the window of modern China.

Most of the shopping malls are located in busy commercial centers. Window shopping is a fun even if you don't  like to do shopping in these expensive shopping malls. 

9.  Splurge occasionally

Traveling on a budget doesn't mean you should not splurge on food, a high-priced attraction or shopping occasionally and forgo everything expensive Shanghai has to offer.

10. Tourist Scams

When you are traveling in Shanghai and planning your city trip on a budget,  you must be vigilant on possible tourist scams which may happen to you.

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Further Readings