Every neighbourhood rated and reviewed — read through or save as a PDF for your trip.
🟢 Safe (16)
🟢 Huangpu
The Bund, Nanjing Road, centre
The Bund waterfront, Nanjing Road shopping, People's Square. Shanghai's showcase district. Very safe with heavy police presence. Tourist scams exist but violent crime is extremely rare.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸The Bund is spectacular at night — safe to walk
▸⚠️ Tourist zone: fake art student scam, tea ceremony scam on Nanjing Road
▸People's Square is always busy and safe
▸Yu Garden area is touristy but beautiful
▸Shanghai is one of the safest major cities in the world
📸 Must-See🏛️ Culture🛍️ Shopping⚠️ Scam Zone
🟢 Xuhui
French Concession, excellent
The former French Concession — tree-lined streets, colonial architecture, excellent restaurants and bars. One of the best areas for solo travellers. Very safe and beautiful.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Former French Concession streets are gorgeous for walking
▸Excellent restaurant and bar scene
▸Tianzifang for shops and cafés
▸Very safe at all hours
🍽️ Food🛍️ Shopping☕ Cafés🏨 Great to Stay
🟢 Changning
Residential, expat area
Popular expat neighbourhood. Safe, well-maintained, good international restaurants.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Safe expat area
▸Good international restaurants
▸Hongqiao area for convenient airport access
🏨 Great to Stay🍽️ Food
🟢 Jing'an
Modern centre, temples, safe
Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road shopping. Modern, upscale, safe. Good mix of old and new.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Jing'an Temple is beautiful
▸West Nanjing Road for upscale shopping
▸Very safe modern area
🛍️ Shopping🏛️ Culture
🟢 Putuo
Residential, M50 art district
Home to M50 art district. Mostly residential. Safe.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸M50 art galleries are excellent and free
▸Safe residential area
▸Jade Buddha Temple
🎨 Street Art🏛️ Culture
🟢 Hongkou
Historical, safe
Historical Jewish refugee quarter. Lu Xun Park. Safe and interesting historically.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Jewish Refugees Museum is moving
▸Lu Xun Park for local life
▸Safe and affordable area
🏛️ Culture💰 Budget-Friendly
🟢 Yangpu
University area, safe
University district. Young, vibrant, safe. Not touristy but authentic.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸University area — young and vibrant
▸Safe and authentic
▸Good student-priced food
💰 Budget-Friendly🍽️ Food
🟢 Pudong
Lujiazui skyline, modern, safe
The futuristic skyline — Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao. Very modern, very safe. Century Park is lovely.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Shanghai Tower observation deck is the highest in China
▸Oriental Pearl Tower is iconic
▸Century Park is huge and peaceful
▸Extremely safe — heavily monitored modern district
📸 Must-See🌆 Views🌿 Park
🟢 Minhang
Suburban, safe
Suburban residential. Safe but far from centre.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Safe suburban area
▸Not touristy
🌿 Quiet
🟢 Baoshan
Northern suburban, safe
Northern suburbs. Safe residential. Not touristy.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Safe suburban
🌿 Quiet
🟢 Jiading
Suburban, car racing
Home to F1 circuit. Jiading Old Town has some charm. Safe but far.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸F1 Chinese Grand Prix venue
▸Jiading Old Town is pleasant
▸Very far from centre
🌿 Quiet
🟢 Jinshan
Beach area, far out
Far southern district with beaches. Very safe but very far from the city.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Jinshan City Beach
▸Very safe
▸Very far from central Shanghai
🏖️ Beach
🟢 Songjiang
University town, safe
University district. Thames Town (replica English town) is quirky. Safe.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Thames Town is bizarre but fun to photograph
▸Happy Valley amusement park
▸Safe suburban area
🏛️ Culture
🟢 Qingpu
Water towns, safe
Home to Zhujiajiao water town — a popular day trip. Safe and scenic.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Zhujiajiao water town is a beautiful day trip
▸Safe and scenic
▸Far from the city centre
🏛️ Culture📸 Must-See
🟢 Fengxian
Far suburbs, safe
Far southern suburbs. Safe but nothing touristy.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Safe suburban
🌿 Quiet
🟢 Chongming
Island, eco-tourism, safe
Large island in the Yangtze. Eco-tourism focus. Very safe and peaceful.
💡 Tips for solo travellers
▸Dongtan Wetland Park for birdwatching
▸Very peaceful and safe
▸Unique island experience near a megacity
🌿 Park🌿 Quiet
