A Practical Guide to Citywalk in Shanghai for May Day: Explore the Magic City

I've lived in Shanghai for seven years with Teacher Bai, walking so much that our shoes are worn out, and we've come up with these four "no-miss" routes for Labor Day. This year, we didn’t fly anywhere for the short holiday, so we decided to use all those steps right at our doorstep—one route a day. Our legs are tired but happy. Here’s our detailed itinerary, plus a "lazy person's quick reference" sheet that you can just copy and go.

01 Trendy Route: 2.7 km, Steps ≈ 3,500

Test Time: May 1, 10:30 AM–3:00 PM (including waiting to eat noodles)
Weather: 23 °C, sunny, moderate UV

We came out of Exit 3 at South Shaanxi Road Station and were immediately captivated by the dark green window frames of Nanchang Building; a quick snap on the phone gives it a retro filter. Turning onto Nanchang Road, there was already a 10-minute line at the front of GENTLE MONSTER, but the staff handed out iced water, making the wait bearable. The City Boy shirts for men were on discount on the second floor at niko and..., and Teacher Bai grabbed one while I carried the bag.

The Shinian Bookstore's poetry shop is tucked away in a little church building on Fuxing Zhong Road. The air conditioning was great, so we dropped our bag at the entrance and chilled inside, flipping through "The Weight of the Moon" for half an hour. A right turn 50 meters out leads you to Fuxing Park, where old grandpas were dancing, their rhythm steadier than Mill's Techno.

For lunch, we hit Weixiangzhai for sesame noodles at 14 yuan, plus spicy oil for 1 yuan, with the vinegar bottle always half empty. After eating, we strolled south down South Sinan Road, where the elevator at HAI550 was filled with girls in Y2K fashion. The big doll outside FARMER BOB was repainted in metallic colors, and we had to wait in line for a photo, but the security guy helped hold a reflector, which was sweet.

How It Feels: The first kilometer was a slow stroll through shops; the last 1.7 km was pretty straightforward, not tiring at all—perfect for those just waking up.

02 Wutong District Artsy Route: 3.5 km, Steps ≈ 4,800

Test Time: May 2, 2:00 PM–6:30 PM
Weather: 25 °C, cloudy, sun occasionally peeking out

We exited from Door 7 at Jiaotong University Station on Line 10, first stopping for a photo at Wukang Building. The holiday crowd was crazier than a spring festival; to get a shot without anyone in it, I had to hold the camera over my head and shoot with a wide angle. Wukang Road is lined with old Western-style houses, and the ivy on the Romeo balcony was glowing green. But to imitate the stars’ poses, you'd better hurry up and step up; the security watches closely and will whistle.

We didn’t explore all of Anfu Road; we just stopped by SHIMMER to grab a 28 yuan lemongrass Americano, which was sour enough to make us frown, but the frosted cup was a nice keepsake. The line outside goodbai on Wuyuan Road was wrapped around, so Teacher Bai queued up while I ducked into an independent bookstore next door to browse magazines for 20 minutes. I came out just in time for her to check out—it was a win!

Fumin Road and Juli Road are full of boutique shops and bars, and it was quiet during the day, perfect for photos. We spotted a wedding shoot team at Yanqing Road, with a bride dragging a 3-meter-long train across the street, and all the drivers stopped to let her pass. It was more romantic than a movie scene.

How It Feels: There’s plenty of shade and a gentle slope, so stopping to chat with a partner or friend is totally fine. Just watch out, new shoes might rub your heels, so I recommend bringing some Band-Aids.

03 Historical Architecture Classic Route: 3 km, Steps ≈ 4,200

Test Time: May 3, 4:00 PM–8:30 PM
Weather: 21 °C, breezy in the evening

We walked this route twice: once in the afternoon to admire the buildings, and then again at night to see the lights. We started at TianTong Road Station and headed straight to North Suzhou Road, where the stone lions at the Post Museum are the best for photos, but it closed at 5 PM—plan ahead if you want to see the spiral staircase inside. The Zhapu Road Bridge is known as “Little Waibai,” and you can capture both Waibaidu Bridge and the Lujiazui trio from the middle of the bridge—perfect for photography enthusiasts with a 50 mm lens.

The red brick buildings on Yuanmingyuan Road are the Bund Source, and during Labor Day, there's a coffee market happening. Americano is 25 yuan; the taste is average, but the paper cup has an old Shanghai map printed on it, which makes for a nice bookmark. Waibaidu Bridge starts lighting up at 6:30 PM, with a blue glow illuminating it, but don't forget to face the Pudong side for portraits, or your face will go all dark.

Reaching the North Bund Riverside Green Space at 7:00 PM, the lawn was dotted with camping chairs waiting for the night view. We didn’t bring anything and opted to sit on the steps instead. The ferry at the Fairness Wharf is only 2 yuan per person, and if you head to the second deck on the right side, you can snap the golden Bund as soon as the boat starts. The Pudong Art Museum had nighttime openings that day, with tickets priced at 100 yuan, and they stopped admitting at 8:30 PM. We dashed in and caught 40 minutes of the Tate Light and Shadow exhibition; the AC was so cold that I had to put on a jacket.

Looking back from the sunset corridor as we left, the Bund lights turned to a warm yellow right then—it made the tired legs worth it.

How It Feels: The first kilometer is cobblestones and stairs, tough on the knees; the last 2 km is flat by the riverside—perfect for a night jog. Bring a light jacket; it’s about 3 °C cooler by the river than in the city.

04 West Bank Anaya Route: 2.8 km, Steps ≈ 3,600

Test Time: May 4, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Weather: 26 °C, blazing sun

Coming out of Longyao Road Station on Line 11, I was startled by the construction fencing around the West Bank Dream Center, but don’t panic—walk 200 meters in and you’ll have a great view. The facade of the West Bank Dome Art Center looks like a giant concrete bun. They’re currently preparing for an exhibition that opens in June, so we could only take pictures outside. The Oil Tank Art Center had tents all over the grass, and the dogs outnumbered the people; we took a photo of a Corgi’s rear as our model.

The West Bank Art Museum had the “Paris Architecture 1948–2020” exhibition that day; student tickets were 70 yuan and regular tickets were 120 yuan. The AC was nice and chilly, and we spent an hour wandering around. The bicycle and pedestrian paths along Binhai Avenue are separate, so walking won’t get interrupted by bikes ringing their bells. The steps at Long Art Museum are perfect for that “internet-famous sit pose,” but the security staff constantly says “don’t sit,” so if you want a pic, you’d better be quick. The young skaters in the park can do a kickflip at 14; I stood there for 10 minutes, and then decided to put my camera away, feeling shy.

This whole route has a lot of cafes like we+, Manner, and %—iced Americanos range from 15 to 30 yuan, with the most expensive being the pop-up in the oil tank at 40 yuan, but you get a postcard for the exhibition, which can count as a ticket.

How It Feels: The entire route is step-free and stroller-friendly. There isn’t much shade, so bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The sun only gets gentler after 5 PM.

Lazy Person's Quick Reference

Essential Carry List (What We Always Bring)

• Power bank ≥10,000 mAh, perfect for a day of photos and navigation
• Metro one-day ticket 18.8 yuan, faster than queuing at the gate
• Folding water bottle; places like Weixiangzhai and Manner have free water refills
• Mini sunshade umbrella; no shade while waiting in the West Bank section
• 2 Band-Aids, for new shoes that rub

In conclusion: You don’t need to make reservations for any of these four routes; you can eat wherever you walk. On Labor Day, the metro runs extra services until 9 PM, so even if you miss the last train, taking a taxi back to the city won’t break the bank. I hope you also rack up those steps to top the friend list—legs tired but plenty of photos to share.