Best Photography Spots in Shanghai. The busy city of Shanghai is filled with endless photo opportunities as well as many experiences with local culture, city life, and traditional customs. It is no wonder that it is one of the most visited cities in the country. With so much to capture when it comes to everyday life, architecture, and classical Chinese scenes, it can be overwhelming to decide what to add to your list. Here is a guide to the best photography spots in Shanghai to help you out.
The Gear
The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity. A wide-angle lens. 14-24mm or something similar. A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.
If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.
Are you looking for incredible sky overlays for your images? Check these out.
1. Shanghai Oriental Sports Center
This is an indoor sports venue that is used to host many home games for a variety of teams. The grounds are extremely expansive and well maintained. You are able to find some really cool shots of the building from multiple sides.
2. The Bund
The Bund is a waterfront area that is located along the river that runs through the middle of the city. It is about one-mile long which makes for an easy stroll and comes with plenty of spots that offer great photo opportunities. This is also a beautiful location after a rainstorm and people use it for reflection photography.
3. Zhu Jiao Jiao Water Town
This town is located about an hour outside of the city and is almost 2,000 years old. There is plenty to see here that is reminiscent of China from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Make sure to plan an earlier trip to avoid crowds.
4. Disneyland
Disneyland may seem like a cliche place to miss but along with great rides, Shanghai Disneyland also offers some classic shots of the most magical place in the world.
5. Yu Garden
This is one of the most famous gardens in the city and its elegance and beauty will leave you in awe. There are multiple pagodas that make up the garden that sits on the pond. These are all covered in lights that look magical lining the buildings at night.
6. Oriental Pearl TV Tower
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the Shanghai skyline. It is a futuristic tower that has a sphere near the top. It is usually featured in all the pictures you see of the city. The second sphere of the tower is also a revolving restaurant and observatory deck so you can really get the best views of the city.
Best Photography Spots in Shanghai
7. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
The aquarium is a place you could spend all day because of all the amazing sights you will find inside. This is a large aquarium that has long tunnels that allow you to see different types of fish and habitats from reefs to zones in different countries.
8. Longhua Temple
The Longhua Temple is the largest temple in the city and stands at a towering height with about half a dozen floors in the building. It is definitely an impressive sight and is a great place to add to your list.
9. Jade Buddha Temple
Another stunning temple in the city is the Jade Buddha Temple. This is a good place to visit in the spring or summer when all of the trees in the area are blossoming with pink flowers.
10. Shanghai Skyline
The Shanghai skyline is located on the east bank of the Huangpu River and is made of many skyscrapers and towering architectural masterpieces. You can head to the Bund to take some really iconic photos of the skyline or find your own spot that offers a different view.
11. Jin Mao Tower
This is an iconic tower in the city and not only has a cool view of the city from the 88th floor, it also has unique design features inside that make it photo worthy. The building houses hotels, offices, and residential living spaces. The inner atrium and the skywalk offer some of the best shots.
12. 1933 Slaughterhouse
This was actively used back in the day to slaughter cattle but has since been retired. While it might sound gruesome, all that is left of the building is the interesting architecture and stairs that reminds you of an M.C. Escher piece of art. The building is made completely of concrete, steel, and glass which makes photos even more impressive.
Best Photography Spots in Shanghai
13. Nanjing Road
This road encompasses one of the major shopping centers in the city of Shanghai. You can expect to find a million other visitors to this area as well as bright signs and shimmering advertisements. Because of the hustle and bustle of this area, it is great for getting that city shot.
14. Ngs Plaza Starbucks
Starbucks may be an odd location to include on the list but this location in Shanghai is special because it was modeled after the Louvre’s glass pyramid. The mall that it is attached to is also interesting and takes inspiration from the Venice canals.
15. Shanghai World Financial Centre
The World Financial Center was built in 1997 and is a stunning piece of architecture in the building. There is an observatory and bar located at the top floors which offer amazing views of the city below. You can capture some really cool shots of the building from far away or use it as a vantage point for city shots.
16. Waibaidu Bridge
This bridge is the very first steel bridge built in the country and is also the last bit of the Camelback Truss bridge in China. You can head to the road on the opposite side of it to get the best view. If you have time to head here at night, it is also a cool sight because the bridge is lit up against the Pudong skyline offering an interesting contrast of modern to historic.
Best Photography Spots in Shanghai
17. Shanghai Museum
The museum is one of the most photogenic locations in the city due to its building design and architecture. There are also many interesting exhibits to explore inside which cover the history of ancient Chinese art. The best part is that admission is free.
18. The Wukang Mansion
This mansion is located in the French Concession which was a territory conceded for a French settlement between mid-1800s to mid-1900s. The museum is a protected historic apartment that was designed by a Hungarian-Slovak architect that is still being used to this day.
19. Xin Tian Di
This is the place you should head if you are looking for shots of Shanghainese Shikumen architecture. The name means “New Heaven and Earth” and houses many bars, cafes, and shopping stores. The buildings in the area are a unique blend of western and Chinese style and have rows of traditional houses mixed with western brick doors, roofs, and walls.
20. Shanghai Old Town
The Shanghai Old Town is located south of Yu Garden and gives you the opportunity to reminisce on traditional customs, art, and cuisine from China’s past. There are lots of moments in this area that will offer you insight into the culture.
21. Huangpu River
Huangpu River covers the span of the city and offers an expansive view of the city. Any spot along the river will have unique views and photo opportunities. If you time it right you can even get the boats and river cruises that are located on the river.
These are the Best Photography Spots in Shanghai
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