Hit the famed Yu Yuan Garden as early as possible to avoid major crowds, which can detract from the experience. Explore koi ponds, rockeries, classic Chinese pavilions, and souvenir shops galore at the adjacent bazaar. It's also a great place to sample Shanghai's famed street food scene (again, the earlier you go, the less line-waiting you'll encounter). For a comprehensive list of Shanghai specialties, check out CNN Travel's rundown of foodie eats. Head to Nan Xiang Dialing Mantou near the City God Temple for what are arguably the city's best xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). The third floor offers table service, a good stop for an early lunch.
Saturday Afternoon
Stroll down to The Bund and purchase tickets for a boat tour of the Huangpu River, offering relaxed views of both the Pudong and Puxi districts. It's a nice way to get a lay of the land and take in the city's varied architecture, which ranges from art deco buildings that date back to the 1920s and '30s to Buddhist temples to the Jetsons-esque Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
If you're still up for more, pay a visit to the Jìng'an Temple, which dates back to AD 1216 and offers a starkly spiritual contrast to its largely commercial surroundings on Nanjing Road, Shanghai's premier shopping destination.
