Shanghai is China’s most cosmopolitan city, a place where century-old Art Deco buildings stand in the shadow of some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. For Singaporeans planning their first visit, Shanghai offers a fascinating blend of the familiar and the foreign — the city’s food scene, shopping options, and efficient public transport feel accessible, while the sheer scale and pace of life deliver a genuine sense of being somewhere entirely different. Here is what you need to know before you book your Singapore to Shanghai flights.
Flights and Arrival
Singapore to Shanghai flights take approximately five and a half hours, with multiple airlines operating the route daily. Shanghai has two airports: Pudong International, which handles most international flights, and Hongqiao, which primarily serves domestic routes. From Pudong, the Maglev train reaches the city’s edge in eight minutes at speeds over 400 kilometres per hour — it is worth riding for the novelty alone. From the Maglev terminal, transfer to the Metro to reach your hotel. Singapore to Shanghai flights are competitively priced, especially outside Chinese public holiday periods.
Visa and Entry Requirements
Singaporean passport holders need a visa to enter mainland China. Apply through the Chinese embassy or an authorised visa agency, allowing at least two weeks for processing. Some travellers qualify for transit visa exemptions if they are passing through Shanghai en route to a third country, but the rules are specific and change periodically. For a dedicated Shanghai trip, a standard tourist visa is the safest option. Download WeChat before you arrive and set up WeChat Pay if possible — mobile payment is how nearly everything works in China, from restaurants to street vendors.
The Bund and Pudong Skyline
The Bund waterfront along the western bank of the Huangpu River is Shanghai’s most iconic stretch. A line of grand colonial-era buildings housing banks, hotels, and restaurants faces the futuristic Pudong skyline across the water. Walking the Bund in the evening when both sides are illuminated is essential. Cross the river via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or take the cheap public ferry for better views. The Shanghai Tower, at 632 metres, is the tallest building in China and offers observation deck views that put the entire city in perspective.
French Concession: Shanghai’s Coolest Neighbourhood
The Former French Concession is where Shanghai’s modern lifestyle culture thrives. Tree-lined avenues, independent coffee shops, vintage boutiques, and excellent restaurants fill the streets between Fuxing Road and Huaihai Road. It is a wonderful neighbourhood for aimless walking — ducking into laneway galleries, pausing at a sidewalk cafe, and browsing the bookshops that line the smaller streets. For Singaporeans, the French Concession feels surprisingly familiar in its cafe culture while being unmistakably Shanghai in its architecture and atmosphere.
Food You Should Not Miss
Shanghai’s signature dish is the xiaolongbao, or soup dumpling — a thin-skinned parcel filled with pork and a burst of hot broth. Jia Jia Tang Bao near Yu Garden serves some of the best in the city at remarkably low prices. Shengjianbao, pan-fried dumplings with a crispy bottom, are the street food equivalent and equally addictive. Red-braised pork belly, hairy crab in autumn, and scallion oil noodles round out the Shanghainese essentials. For Singaporean travellers who enjoy hawker food at home, Shanghai’s street and restaurant food will feel like discovering a parallel culinary universe.
Shopping and Markets
Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s main commercial strip, stretching from the Bund westward through a pedestrianised section packed with department stores and flagship brands. For a more interesting shopping experience, head to Tianzifang in the French Concession, a maze of narrow lanes filled with independent designers, craft stores, and small galleries. The AP Xinyang Fashion Market near the Science and Technology Museum Metro station sells clothing, bags, and accessories at bargain prices with plenty of room for haggling. Booking Singapore to Shanghai flights during sale seasons can align with Shanghai’s major shopping festivals for added value.
Getting Around the City
Shanghai’s Metro system is extensive, affordable, and well-signposted in English and Chinese. A rechargeable transport card works on the Metro, buses, and taxis. Didi, China’s ride-hailing app, is the equivalent of Grab and is useful for trips that the Metro does not cover conveniently. Walking is the best way to explore individual neighbourhoods, and Traveloka Singapore often bundles Singapore to Shanghai flights with hotel bookings for travellers who prefer to sort everything in one go.
