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Stroll along The Bund riverside promenade on flying trip to Shanghai

An extended stopover on the way to your destination can be an exciting experience in itself, and China’s most European city is no exception

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Shanghai’s impressive skyscrapers viewed from The Bund promenade along the Huangpu River. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00pm, 18 Apr 2025

Hardly anyone misses this popular selfie spot on The Bund waterfront along the Huangpu River in Shanghai with its amazing backdrop. Shanghai’s equivalent of the Manhattan skyline and the 623-metre Shanghai Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, dominate this cluster of skyscrapers that almost touch the sky.

After dark, the skyscrapers come to life and colourful lights sparkle on the facades. It is an ideal spot to experience the most spectacular features of China’s metropolis of millions as freighters and tour boats bustle past on the river.

People take photos of Shanghai’s skyline at night from The Bund promenade along the Huangpu River. Photo: AFP

Snapshot tourists are likely to stay only briefly, although Shanghai is well worth a stopover. But a tour of this cosmopolitan city is way better than just wandering around the airport on arrival or killing time in a lounge until your connecting flight. Stopovers are common at an airline’s home airport, whether in Dubai, Singapore, Madrid, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

Stopovers are an often-underestimated travel experience but you need to plan them well. Pack enough for perhaps two overnight stays and book tours of the main attractions online in advance. Consider buying a sightseeing bus ticket and a city pass or guided tour.

Do not worry about your onward flight. Some airlines offer stopover programmes to give passengers a chance to explore a city. If you wish to prolong your stopover by a few days, some airlines do not charge extra for the ticket while others advertise discounted accommodation.

The Stage, a new observation deck atop White Magnolia Plaza, has just opened to the public in Shanghai. Photo: Xinhua

The idea is to see as much as possible in a short time. Visitors can see Shanghai’s main attractions in an admittedly fully-packed day, says guide Pu Yihua. To get to The Bund as quickly as possible, take the metro from Pudong Airport to the city centre and get off at People’s Square or East Nanjing Road station. From there, you only have a short walk to the famous promenade with its spectacular views of the skyline.