Top 15 Things to Do in Shanghai with Kids: Disneyland, Parks, Museums & More

Written by Natalia | Updated May 12,2026

If you’re planning on a trip to Shanghai with kids, here are some top things to do. Shanghai is one of the most popular destinations in China. Its dynamic urban culture provides many activities to do for families. This article will cover a wide range of options from iconic landmarks, theme parks, to museums, and cultural experiences.

Content Preview

• Visit the Iconic Landmarks of Shanghai
• Have Fun Together at Theme Parks
• Have an Educational Experience at Shanghai Museums
• Local Cultural Experiences & Other Fun Things to Do
• Essential Tips for a Family Trip in Shanghai
• Plan a Shanghai Family Tour with China Xian Tour
• FAQs about Taking a Shanghai Family Tour

Visit the Iconic Landmarks of Shanghai

1. Take a Walk along The Bund

• Hours: all day
• Tickets: free

The Bund is the most iconic landmark of Shanghai. It’s a walking sightseeing zone by the Huangpu River, offering the most iconic city landscape of Shanghai. On one side, the street is lined by historical buildings lit up in golden light. The other side extends along the riverbank where you’ll have an excellent view of the famous Shanghai skyline. Walking along the Bund is a top thing to do in Shanghai with kids across all ages.

It’s a relatively light activity that doesn’t require a ton of planning. A lot of the areas are easy to stop in to take photos, do some shopping. The best time to do it is dusk before it’s dark. All the lights come on after the sunset in the city.

2. Visit Yu Garden & Yuyuan Bazaar

• Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm (around 10 am – 10 pm for the bazaar)
• Tickets: CNY 40 during peak season (April – June, September – November), CNY 30 during off season (July – August, December – March)

Yu Garden is a historic landmark of Shanghai. It’s a classical Jiangnan garden with traditional architectural style. Pavilions, bridges, rockeries, and greeneries complement each other. After a pleasant walk in the gardens, make your way to nearby Yuyuan Bazaar which borders the edge of the garden. There are stalls of every stripe, from refreshing street snacks, souvenirs, novelty souvenirs like cute toys and figurines, and arts, crafts, and food specialities of Shanghai. Try some local dumplings or noodles (the kids will love it).

3. Take a Huangpu River Night Cruise

• Hours: differ by service, generally from noon to 9/10 pm
• Tickets: about CNY 115-135

A fun family activity at night is to take a Huangpu River Cruise. It’ll bring you close to the iconic skyline on the water. Feel the evening breeze as you cruise along the mother river of the city. It’s a classic activity to do in Shanghai taking you past all of the city’s iconic skyscrapers. Prices and cruise duration vary by the service you choose.

4. See Shanghai from the Top of Famous Skyscrapers

• Hours: differ by building, around 9 am – 9 pm
• Tickets: around CNY 150-180

A different angle to approach Shanghai is from above. After getting a distant view of the impressive skyscrapers, on a clear day you can head for the top to view these marvels from above. The four most famous ones of Shanghai skyscrapers are the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower. All of them have observatories from where you can overlook the city, a thrilling activity to do with the kids getting to know this modern metropolis!

5. Tour the Ancient Zhujiajiao Water Town

• Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Tickets: free but certain scenic spots require entrance fees

Zhujiajiao Water Town is a classic Jiangnan water town. They are known for traditional residential architecture and waterscapes. The river courses separate the narrow paths connected by stone bridges. Even in modern day, the water town still preserves its original look and way of life. It’ll feel like you’ve entered into the past. Kids would love taking a little boat ride through the town.

Have Fun Together at Theme Parks

6. Feel the Magic at Shanghai Disneyland

• Hours: typically from 8:30 am – 9:30 pm
• Tickets: from CNY 475

Shanghai Disneyland is undoubted one of the best places to visit for families traveling to Shanghai. It’s the first Disneyland Park in the mainland of China with 8 themed areas including the first and only Zootopia themed area across the world. On top of that, it also has the world’s largest and tallest Disney castle. The rides and parades are so much fun. You’ll experience the classic Disneyland vibe with the addition of some traditional Chinese themes. >> See How to Buy Shanghai Disneyland Tickets

7. Take a Day Trip to Legoland Shanghai Resort

• Hours: 10 am – 7 pm
• Tickets: from CNY 300

Legoland Shanghai is the most recently opened theme park, which began welcoming guests in July 2025. It’s an absolute dreamland for kids with 75 fun rides and attractions all acted out as Lego bricks (85 million Legos used!). It’s outside the city center of Shanghai. You’ll want to jump on the highspeed train to Jinshan North Station about a 20min ride away. Legoland is highly recommended if you have young kids under 7 years old. Probably not the best venue for teenagers or adults.

8. Explore Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

• Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
• Tickets: CNY 110 for kids between 1.0m and 1.4m in height; CNY 160 for adults

The aquarium is very centrally-located in Lujiazui near the Oriental Pearl Tower, so easy to include in your day of Shanghai highlights! With nine exhibition areas and more than 12,000 marine animals of over 450 species from all over the globe, it’s a fun visit suitable for kids as well as adults.

9. Visit Shanghai Wild Animal Park

• Hours: vary by months, generally 9 am – 5 pm
• Tickets: CNY 190

Shanghai Wild Animal Park is one of the best Shanghai attractions to visit with kids. It is known for its interactive activities. You can join the feeding sessions of some animals, see kangaroos and capybaras up close, and meet the biggest stars of the park, giant pandas.

It’s important to note that there are two zoos in Shanghai. The other one is called Shanghai Zoo in Changning District. Shanghai Wild Animal Park is located in Pudong.

Have an Educational Experience at Shanghai Museums

10. Explore Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
• Tickets: CNY 45, free for children under the height of 1.3m

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has a wide range of activities for kids and families. There are many interactive exhibitions showcasing modern technologies of China in fun and educational ways. To help kids better absorb the information, plenty of screenings are available on different topics. A visit to the museum will fill your Shanghai family tour with fun and eye-opening experiences.

11. Marvel at the Collection of Shanghai Natural History Museum

• Hours: 9 am – 5:15 pm
• Tickets: CNY 30 for adults, free for kids under 6 or the height of 1.3m

If your kids are into wildlife and the world around us, Shanghai Natural History Museum is the perfect destination for your family vacation. It showcases the evolution of animal species and the environment through its collection of fossils and geographic records. You can even sign up for a Fossil Excavation session to learn about the archeological process and techniques used.

12. Uncover Wonders of Shanghai Astronomy Museum

• Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm
• Tickets: CNY 30

Shanghai Astronomy Museum is the largest planetarium in the world and one of the top museums to visit in Shanghai. Learn about the universe that we live in, its history, observe its changes and current state. There are screenings and interactive exhibitions for kids to learn. Kids of all ages will have lots of fun and can develop an interest in the subject.

Local Cultural Experiences & Other Fun Things to Do

13. Enjoy a Show at Shanghai Circus World

• Hours: depend on the showtime
• Tickets: from CNY 120

Shanghai Circus World is a great place for having some family fun together. It has amazing acrobatic shows every night that will leave everyone impressed. Two regular shows are also available throughout the day, ERA – Intersection of Time and Happy Circus.

After dinner, seeing a performance there is one of the top evening activities in Shanghai. The professional actors, excellent stage design, and music will give you a wonderful experience.

14. Traverse the Beautiful City Streets

Shanghai is a great city for just strolling along the streets. You’ll discover a different side of this metropolis, its local life is vibrant and intimate. Some great places to explore on foot include Xintiandi. It’s a pedestrian walking area with lots of historical buildings. They have been preserved and redone for all kinds of shops. You’ll find everything from fashion, accessories, to food, and drinks.

Shanghai Old Street has a different vibe to Xintiandi. It is the center of old Shanghai when the city first started to thrive. The earliest banks, jewelry stores, tea houses are all located here. You can still visit some of them, see the original architecture, and experience the cultural atmosphere.

Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s most famous shopping street. Whether you’re looking for retail items or high-end luxury brands, you’ll find what you seek here. It’s a must stop for anyone enamored with shopping. Kids will love the toy shops and fun souvenir shops too.

Tianzifang is a great place to explore for art lovers and older kids. It used to be an industrial area and was turned into an artistic hub with galleries, studios, and creative spaces. You’ll also find boutique stores selling vintage fashion, traditional arts and crafts like papercuts and ceramics.

15. Taste Delicious Local Foods

When you visit Shanghai, make sure you taste the various kinds of local foods. You can go to a restaurant to try out classic Shanghai dishes like Braised Pork Belly and Hairy Crabs. For breakfast or lunch, Xiaolongbao, Shengjianbao, and Scallion Pancakes are famous across the country.

Essential Tips for a Family Trip in Shanghai

• Where to Stay in Shanghai: Shanghai is a very big city. It’s best to stay in the most central and busiest districts like Huangpu, Jing’an, Pudong, and Xuhui. There are may family-friendly hotels to choose from. Make sure you’ll be near a subway station, then you’ll be able to get around easily.
• How to Get around in Shanghai: Shanghai has a very convenient subway system with a total of 21 lines. It’s the easiest way to get around with so many lines connecting most attractions and commercial areas. There are signs in English to make it easy to navigate for international travelers. Taxis are also readily available but will be more expensive. The traffic condition may not be ideal during the morning or evening rush.
• Checking the Business Hours: Before you visit museums or other exhibition venues, make sure you check their hours. Different from major attractions or restaurants, these venues tend to be closed on Mondays (or some other day of the week).

Plan a Shanghai Family Tour with China Xian Tour

Plan your Shanghai family trip with China Xian Tour. We can help you customize an itinerary that suits the need and interests of your family. Getting around will be easier with our private transfer service. You and your kids can sit back and enjoy your trip. Here are some of our most popular Shanghai tours to inspire you.

FAQs about Taking a Shanghai Family Tour

Q1: What to do in Shanghai with kids for a 3-day trip?

With 3 days in Shanghai, you can visit the most iconic attractions like Yu Garden, the Bund, Nanjing Road, and take a Huangpu River Cruise. It’s a good idea to spend a day at Shanghai Disneyland Resort. You can even choose to spend a night at the resort.

Q2: How many days should I spend in Shanghai?

There are many things to in Shanghai with kids. We usually recommend at least 2 days to cover the highlights. With 3-5 days, your Shanghai itinerary can be more flexible. You can even take a day trip to some nearby destinations.

Q3: Is Shanghai stroller friendly?

Yes, the city of Shanghai is stroller friendly. You can travel with them on the metro. Many museums and other venues have services where you can store them.

Q4: What are some destinations to visit nearby Shanghai?

It’s common for people to take side trips from Shanghai. There are many water towns in Hangzhou and Suzhou. Huangshan is also a popular destination where you can see some of the most beautiful mountains of China.