Shanghai 上海

Xiaolongbao 小笼包

Xiǎolóngbāo

Delicate steamed soup dumplings filled with pork and a burst of hot broth.

💡Nibble a hole, sip the soup, then eat. Jia Jia Tang Bao and Din Tai Fung are reliable.

Order this: 小笼包

Shengjianbao 生煎包

Shēngjiānbāo

Pan-fried pork buns with a crisp golden bottom, juicy filling and a sprinkle of sesame and scallion.

💡A Shanghai breakfast icon; eat carefully — they squirt hot juice.

Order this: 生煎包

Hairy Crab 大闸蟹

Dàzháxiè

Steamed freshwater crab prized for its rich roe, eaten with ginger vinegar.

💡A seasonal autumn delicacy (Oct–Nov); the female roe is the prize.

Order this: 大闸蟹

Scallion Oil Noodles 葱油拌面

Cōngyóu bànmiàn

Springy noodles tossed in fragrant slow-fried scallion oil and soy — simple and addictive.

💡A cheap local comfort dish at noodle shops everywhere.

Order this: 葱油拌面

Red-braised Pork 红烧肉

Hóngshāoròu

Melting cubes of pork belly braised in soy, sugar and rice wine until glossy and sweet-savory.

💡A homestyle Jiangnan classic; great over rice.

Order this: 红烧肉

Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn

A world-class collection of ancient Chinese art — bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade — in a building shaped like an ancient ding vessel on People’s Square.

💡Free; the bronze and ceramics galleries are the highlight. A huge new East branch has also opened in Pudong.

Search this: 上海博物馆

Shànghǎi Dāngdài Yìshù Bówùguǎn

China’s first state contemporary-art museum, in a converted riverside power station — bold installations and a striking industrial space.

💡Free general admission (some special shows ticketed); the riverside setting is great at sunset.

Search this: 上海当代艺术博物馆

Zhōnghuá Yìshùgōng

Housed in the red, inverted-pyramid China Pavilion from Expo 2010 — famous for the giant animated version of the painting “Along the River During Qingming Festival”.

💡Free; don’t miss the moving “Along the River” digital scroll.

Search this: 中华艺术宫