Go walking along the Bund at night, which is the stretch of road on the west side of the Hunagpu River. There is a lot going on here, and you'll be able to see the rapidly growing skyline of Pudong across the river, as well as the older buildings often reminiscent of a European city across the road.
Go to the Jinmao Tower (currently the tallest building in Shanghai, at about 87 floors). It is an impressive building, both for its looks and the views from within. The observation tower at the top of the building costs something under 10 USD, but if you want to do something different, take the elevator up to the 54th floor, which is the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. You can then go up a coup
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Go to the Jinmao Tower (currently the tallest building in Shanghai, at about 87 floors). It is an impressive building, both for its looks and the views from within. The observation tower at the top of the building costs something under 10 USD, but if you want to do something different, take the elevator up to the 54th floor, which is the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. You can then go up a couple of floors and have a coffee in the impressive cafe, which has an atrium reaching 30 floors upward to the top of the building (the decor is a little tacky, but it's a small drawback).
Quick Tips:
Walk around on a back street and get something to eat at a stall with a Chinese-only menu.
Take a ride on the subway. It's a little confusing sometimes, but for the most part clean and efficient, and pretty cheap.
Go into one of the major shopping centers sprouting up around town to see firsthand the explosion of capitalism and all that it brings with it.
Be careful on the streets. The drivers are insane and will not hesitate to drive through you, and the bike riders are equally pushy, although slightly less dangerous.
Unless you like mind-blowing humidity and heat, don't go in the summer. It is difficult to stay out for more than a few hours in August.
Best Way To Get Around:
Taxis are extremely cheap. We were in one for 20 minutes while the driver tried to find his way, and it cost about 1 USD. That's one drawback, though--they don't often know exactly where they're going.
The subway is also cheap and fast, but sometimes it's a lot easier to get into a cab.
Walking is fun because it's a challenge. You will get jostled often by the intense crowds which seem to be everywhere, and crossing the street means risking your life. If it's hot out, you can always fall back on a cab for a few minutes of air-conditioning.
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