Sights Overview

Shanghai is divided into east and west sides by the Huangpu River. The metro area is huge, but the city center is a relatively small district in Puxi (west of the river). On the east side lies the district that many think is Shanghai's future -- Pudong (east of the river). The city is loosely laid out on a grid and most neighborhoods are easily explored on foot. Massive construction makes pavements uneven and the air dusty, but if you can put up with this, walking is the best way to really get a feel for the city and its people. Taxis are readily available and good for traveling longer distances.

Major east-west roads are named for Chinese cities and divide the city into bei (north), zhong (middle), and nan (south) sections. North-south roads divide the city into dong (east), zhong (middle), and xi (west) segments. The heart of the city is found on its chief east-west streets -- Nanjing Lu, Huaihai Lu, and Yanan Lu.

Transport cards costing Y10 are available from the metro stations and can be charged with however much money you like. These can be used in taxis, on metros, and on some buses. They aren't discounted, but they'll save you time you would have spent joining queues and fumbling for cash.