Urban Explorer's Guide: Shanghai's Most Thrilling Adventures and Hidden Corners

Shanghai's skyline tells a story of ambitious reinvention unlike anywhere else I've witnessed. The city unfolds like a living architectural textbook, from the colonial-era buildings along the Bund to the sci-fi silhouette of Pudong across the river.

Start your exploration at dawn on the Bund when the early morning light bathes the Art Deco facades in golden hues. This is when I captured some of my most striking photographs, with the contrast between historic European-influenced buildings and the futuristic Pudong skyline creating a visual tension that perfectly encapsulates Shanghai's identity.

For the true architectural adventurer, venture beyond these famous vistas. I spent a fascinating afternoon exploring the former French Concession's longtangs (lane houses)—these narrow residential alleyways offer glimpses into Shanghai's pre-revolutionary past. The Tianzifang area has been beautifully preserved, though I prefer the more authentic feel of the less touristed lanes near Xiangyang Road.

The real architectural thrill comes from accessing Shanghai's hidden rooftops. Through connections with local photographers (easily made via Instagram or architecture forums), I gained access to several buildings with spectacular vantage points. The most memorable was an unassuming apartment building near People's Square that offered a 360-degree view of the city—the perfect spot to witness sunset with my travel binoculars which proved invaluable for spotting architectural details across the cityscape.

For those interested in contemporary Chinese design, don't miss the West Bund Museum District. The Long Museum, designed by Atelier Deshaus, is a masterpiece of concrete brutalism softened by thoughtful spatial design—I spent hours photographing the interplay of light through its dramatic central atrium.

Shanghai's art world operates on multiple levels—from state-sanctioned galleries to rebellious underground collectives that push boundaries in fascinating ways. As someone who's tracked emerging art scenes across several continents, I found Shanghai's creative energy particularly infectious.

M50 Creative Park is often the first stop for art enthusiasts, but the real adventure begins when you venture beyond this well-established hub. Through a local contact (a barista at a specialty coffee shop who moonlighted as an installation artist), I gained access to a series of appointment-only studios hidden in a former textile factory in Jing'an District. Here, young Chinese artists create work that subtly challenges social norms while developing distinctly contemporary Chinese aesthetics.

The underground electronic music scene provides another window into Shanghai's creative pulse. TX Juggling Club near Xintiandi looks like an ordinary cocktail bar but transforms into an experimental music venue after midnight. I witnessed an incredible fusion performance combining traditional Chinese instruments with electronic beats—an experience that perfectly encapsulated Shanghai's blend of tradition and innovation.

For photography enthusiasts like myself, Shanghai offers endless visual feasts. I never travel without my compact camera which proved perfect for capturing street scenes without drawing attention. The camera's low-light capabilities were especially valuable in Shanghai's atmospheric alleyways and neon-lit streets.

Perhaps my most memorable art experience was discovering a secret gallery in a residential apartment building near Tianzifang. The unmarked space featured works by female Chinese artists addressing gender and identity—themes that resonated deeply with conversations I'd had with local women entrepreneurs. The gallery operates through WeChat groups and changes location monthly to avoid unwanted official attention.

Shanghai's food scene operates as a microcosm of China itself—diverse, complex, and occasionally challenging for Western palates. But the culinary adventures awaiting those willing to explore beyond tourist recommendations are absolutely worth the effort.

My approach to food exploration in any city is to start at the markets, and Shanghai offers some of Asia's most fascinating. Waking at 4:30 AM to visit the Shanghai Wet Market near Zhongshan Park provided a glimpse into the city's culinary foundation. Elderly Shanghainese haggled over the freshest produce while restaurant chefs selected seafood still wriggling with life. This is where I met Mrs. Zhang, a former restaurant chef who now leads underground food tours. For a modest fee, she took me to family-run establishments that have perfected single dishes across generations.

The highlight was a tiny shop specializing in sheng jian bao (pan-fried soup dumplings) near Tianshan Road—the owner uses a recipe unchanged since 1948, creating perfect parcels with crispy bottoms and soup-filled interiors that require specific eating techniques to avoid scalding yourself. I quickly learned to nibble a small hole and suck out the broth before consuming the rest.

For solo travelers concerned about language barriers, I relied heavily on my language translation device which allowed for seamless communication with vendors and chefs eager to explain their specialties. This small investment transformed my culinary experiences, enabling conversations that would have been impossible otherwise.

Don't overlook Shanghai's vibrant night markets. The one near Qibao Old Street offers local specialties like chou doufu (stinky tofu) and yang rou chuan (lamb skewers). Yes, the stinky tofu lives up to its name in aroma but surprises with a delicate flavor that's worth braving the initial olfactory shock.

For a truly unique experience, seek out private dining clubs operating in residential apartments. These appointment-only venues feature chefs creating regional Chinese cuisines rarely found in commercial restaurants. Through connections made at a local cooking class, I enjoyed an unforgettable 10-course Yunnan feast in someone's living room, complete with wild mushrooms foraged from China's southwestern mountains.

Shanghai transforms after sunset, revealing facets of its character impossible to witness in daylight. As someone who's explored cities worldwide after dark, I can attest that Shanghai offers some of the most fascinating nocturnal adventures for the intrepid traveler.

Begin your night exploration at Yu Garden, but not inside the tourist attraction itself. Instead, wander the surrounding streets as lanterns illuminate the Ming-dynasty architecture. Street food vendors appear around 8 PM, creating an atmospheric backdrop for photography. This area perfectly demonstrates Shanghai's layers—ancient architecture illuminated by modern lighting techniques, creating surreal scenes straight from a Wong Kar-wai film.

For a completely different perspective, the nighttime view from the Lujiazui pedestrian bridge offers spectacular photographic opportunities of the illuminated Pudong skyline. I spent two hours here with my travel tripod capturing long exposures of the futuristic architecture against the night sky. The tripod's compact size made it easy to carry throughout my day explorations before deploying it for these crucial night shots.

Shanghai's rooftop bar scene provides another avenue for urban exploration. While tourist guides direct visitors to the expensive establishments on the Bund, I discovered more authentic experiences in unexpected locations. A personal favorite was a speakeasy-style bar accessed through a fake Coca-Cola machine in a nondescript apartment building near Jing'an Temple. The unmarked venue offered craft cocktails incorporating traditional Chinese ingredients alongside panoramic city views from its 27th-floor location.

Perhaps the most thrilling after-dark adventure came through connecting with Shanghai's urban exploration community via social media. With proper respect for safety and legality, I joined local photographers accessing abandoned spaces that tell the story of Shanghai's rapid development. The most memorable was a former textile factory in Yangpu District, where nature has begun reclaiming industrial architecture—massive looms standing silent under moonlight streaming through broken windows created an eerily beautiful tableau of China's transition from manufacturing powerhouse to service economy.

For female solo travelers concerned about safety, I found Shanghai remarkably secure for night exploration. Common-sense precautions apply, but the city's comprehensive surveillance system and general respect for personal boundaries create an environment where urban exploration feels surprisingly comfortable, even in the small hours.

My architectural background inevitably draws me to cities with rich design heritage, and Shanghai's Art Deco legacy ranks among the world's finest yet remains surprisingly under-celebrated. The city actually houses the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in Asia—a fascinating testament to Shanghai's cosmopolitan history during the 1920s and 30s.

While the Peace Hotel on the Bund represents the most famous example, I created a self-guided architectural treasure hunt to discover lesser-known gems scattered throughout the former International Settlement and French Concession. The Paramount Ballroom on Yuyuan Road stands as perhaps my favorite discovery—this former dancehall where Shanghai's elite socialized before the revolution features a stunning spiral staircase and original lighting fixtures that transport visitors directly to the city's glamorous past.

For serious architecture enthusiasts, I recommend the former Cercle Sportif Français (now part of Okura Garden Hotel) where you can still view spectacular Art Deco mosaics in what was once Shanghai's most exclusive social club. Ask permission at reception to view the ballroom—the staff are accustomed to architecture admirers and usually accommodate polite requests.

The most rewarding experiences came from exploring residential Art Deco buildings in the former French Concession. The Wukang Mansion (formerly Normandie Apartments) designed by László Hudec features a distinctive ship-like wedge shape responding to its position at a road junction. While its exterior is well-documented, gaining access to the interior requires either staying with apartment-sharing hosts who live in the building or joining specialized architecture tours.

I documented my architectural explorations using my smartphone gimbal which proved invaluable for capturing smooth video footage while walking through these historic spaces. The stabilized footage allowed me to create a compelling visual record of these architectural treasures without carrying bulky equipment.

The most thrilling aspect of this architectural treasure hunt was discovering how many original interior elements survive behind unassuming facades—from stained glass skylights to marble staircases and brass elevator cages. These details tell the story of Shanghai's brief but spectacular era as the "Paris of the East" before war and revolution transformed the city's trajectory.