China's "Magic City" (魔都) has something to offer everyone and every taste.

Iconic Sights

The historic Bund, lined with art deco buildings and views across the Huangpu river to the famous Pudong skyline. Pro tip: take a ferry across the river from Jinling Ferry Terminal using the bus QR code in your Alipay app's Transport to take in the skyline views.

Pudong, home to some of the world's tallest buildings. Ride atop any of them for world class views. Have a drink or take in a free view from Flair Bar at the Ritz Carlton or 100 Century Avenue restaurant at the Park Hyatt. For stunning panoramic views, we recommend the newly opened Stage at the North Bund, especially at sundown. The Museum of Art Pudong offers rotating international and Chinese art exhibits and terrific views.

Yu Garden is crowded for a reason as it is central Shanghai's best example of a traditional Chinese garden (ticketed) and shopping bazaar.

Wander the tree-lined streets of the French Concession. Some of the most charming streets are Wukang Lu, Anfu Lu, Yongjia Lu, Nanchang Lu, Yongjia Lu, the Fumin/Julu/Changle Lu area, Sinan Lu, the Tianzifang area of old Shikumen lanes, and a bit farther East, the Xintiandi shopping and architectural development.

The area that housed the World Expo in 2010 is now the Expo Culture Park and includes Shenyuan, a traditional Chinese garden (with fewer crowds than Yu Garden); the Rodin Art Center in the former French pavilion, with several Rodin originals; the Greenhouse Garden, with hundreds of plant species in a redesigned former steel factory; and the Shanghai Grand Opera House, scheduled to open by the time of our wedding.

Temples: Jing'an, Jade Buddha, and Longhua temples

Parks and good places to jog: along Suzhou Creek, along the Huangpu River at the Expo Culture Park/Houtan Park (Pudong side) or Binjiang Sliding Plate Park/Binjiang Greenland (Puxi side), Mengqing Garden, Century Park, Zhongshan Park, Fuxing Park.

Museums: Besides the Glass Museum, which you can visit complimentary if you arrive early for our wedding, we recommend Fotografiska, Museum of Art Pudong, China Art Museum (free), Shanghai Museum & Museum East (both free for permanent exhibitions, check for special exhibitions), Power Station of Art, Long Museum (West Bund), M50 galleries & creative park (also worth strolling along Suzhou Creek past the 1000 trees mall), Rockbund, Jewish Refugees Museum, Shanghai Urban Planning Center, Natural History Museum, Shanghai Astronomy Museum (advance tickets required through their public WeChat account, books out 3 days in advance).

Eat & Drink

There is more good food and drink in Shanghai than you could try in a lifetime, but a few of our favorites are: Bastard (innovative Chinese), Chaimiduo (Yunnan farm restaurant), Okaeri (Taiwanese), LaiLao Xialong or JiaJia TangBao (two of the best soup dumpling chains), Cila (Northwestern Chinese bistro), YaYa's (creative Chinese-Italian), Yuanyou Peach (Hunan bistro), RAW (excellent Spanish and serious steak with a casual vibe), Bar Blanc (excellent drinks, quality ingredients), COA (agave spirits & cocktails), Root Down (Japanese record & cocktail bar, also where we first met), Mokkos (Shochu bar by the nicest Tibetan-Yunnanese family, reggae music and the occasional singing, Wuding Lu location is hidden down an alley and always feels like discovering a treasure when you walk in), La Diosa (fun Mexican food & drink), Junto beer bar, any bars by the Oha Group, Bar Leone (should be open before the wedding and expect it will be great), and so much more. There are also more coffee shops in Shanghai now than any other city in the world, and it's starting to feel like more ice cream shops too. Follow St. Cavish and Nomfluence for more F&B suggestions, or just message Daniel.

Shopping

Boutiques abound in the French Concession and Jing'an. The West Nanjing Road area includes the Taikoo Hui development, with the Louis Vuitton cruise ship and the world's largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery, and the charming Zhangyuan development along Maoming Lu. East Nanjing Road pedestrian street from People's Square to the Bund. The South Bund fabric market if you want custom clothes made (best only if you are staying for at least one week to make sure you leave yourself enough time for measurements, manufacture, and alterations). Qipu Lu Clothing Market for cheap designer and knockoff clothing (in the buildings on either side of Tiantong Road metro station). Tianshan Tea City to experience tea from around China, tea tastings, and to buy high quality teas. "Fake market" underground at the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum metro station.

Day Trips

Water towns: Zhujiajiao, Tongli, Zhouzhuang, Wuzhen, Qibao (Qibao Ancient Town is accessible by metro at Qibao station on Line 9).

Suzhou is 25 minutes by train and offers some of the most stunning classical gardens in China (most tickets can be booked on Trip.com) as well as a charming old city center with lanes and canals. IM Pei designed the Suzhou Museum, which is worth visiting but should be reserved in advance. Xiyuan Temple and gardens are among our favorite and do not require a ticket to enter. Suzhou is famed for some of China's best noodles, including three-shrimp noodles. The Park Hyatt Suzhou is stunning, and its Chinese restaurant, Xizhou Hall is excellent.

Hangzhou, the home of Alibaba, is 45 minutes by train and sits along the beautiful West Lake. To the west of West Lake are the Longjing Tea fields.

Shaoxing, one of our favorite towns, is 75 minutes by train, with an ancient center that feels like stepping back in time. It has the charm of a water town with the oldest bridge in China, the museum and estate grounds of the poet Lu Xun, and gorgeous rock formations at East Lake. It is also the home of Chinese "yellow" wine (aged, oxidized rice wine, like Chinese sherry), which you can find in Anchang Ancient Town, an adjacent village retaining traditional customs and architecture.