While summer means warmer weather and sunshine, it is also the time when we see many friends leave Shanghai. But it should never be goodbye, it should be see you again next time! Here’s our list of things to do in Shanghai before you or your friend/s leave.
Book A Shanghai Photography Session
A great gift for a friend leaving or for yourself before you go! Capture family moments around the city or the place you called home in Shanghai by booking a session with a personal photographer. These photographers will come to your home or meet you somewhere to capture a special moment with you and the family (pets included).
To find a photographer, ask in our groups for recommendations.
Buy A Shanghai Momento
There are so many beautiful gifts that you can buy to remember your time in Shanghai and China. From the Shanghairen prints, maps of Shanghai, printed linens of the Shanghai skyline, Shanghai-inspired jewellery or books about living in Shanghai (for an excellent children’s book see My Shanghai), there will be something you can take with you or gift your friends when they leave.
For alcohol, some favourites include Julu Gin, Tsingtao Whiskey, Hai Seas Whiskey, Crimson Pangolin Gin, Peddlers Gin Co., The Rambler Gin and Porcelain Gin to name a few locally or Chinese made spirits.
For a list of other gift ideas, see our previous WeChat article on leaving gifts.
Explore Shanghai Sites
From the Bund (外滩) to Jing’an Temple (静安寺), Yu Gardens (豫园) and Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠), there is no better time to visit these popular areas or sites than just before you leave. If you’ve never visited the observation deck of any of the iconic towers or seen the lights at Yu Garden, this is the time to do it! If you make a day of it, take a little trip out to kayak around Thousand Island Lake (千岛湖) or explore the water towns of Qibao (七宝) or Zhujiajiao (朱家角).
If visiting these sites are too much for you to organise, read for further suggestions that can help you do this.
Get Your Documents In Order
While not a fun thing to do, sometimes we need to set aside time for housekeeping duties. Before you leave, there are a few documents which are much easier to obtain while you are still here than once you leave. Are the kid’s vaccination records up to date? Did you and your husband get a police check for your time here (sometimes required when applying for your next job)? Do you need any exit/leaving forms or reports (e.g. from schools, your last job)? Are all the documents properly translated? Do you need to close any bank accounts or get tax records?
Go On A Walking Tour
From groups that delve into the history of Shanghai as you walk the city, such as Historic Shanghai, to food tours that take you on a walk/cycle around the city eating everything delicious, such as Untour Food Tours, there will be a tour just right for you.
To find more of these groups, ask in our Travel group or have a search on WeChat.
See A Show You Can Only Find Here
Shanghai has so much entertainment to offer. There are certain shows/theatre that you will only find here, so catch them before you leave! If you are a fan of the circus, then catching Era2 Intersection of Time is a must, which has been performed since the opening of Shanghai Circus World in 2005.
For lovers of immersive theatre, you cannot leave without seeing Sleep No More, which combines the story of Macbeth with Chinese folk myths and plays out around you in a 5-story building. There is a version in Seoul, but its counterpart in New York closed late 2025 and this show in Shanghai has announced it will also do its final curtain call at the end of August, so catch it while you can!
If you want to eat delicious food and a show, then catching a Shanghai or Chinese Traditional Banquet with a traditional performance (you can even get dressed in Hanfu or traditional clothing for it) might be a great time out before you go. But book early, as these immersive shows are sold out fast!
Visit A Historical Museum
Shanghai is full of museums and exhibits. If you or your friend didn’t have time to check out one or more museums about this wonderful city and how it came to be, now is the time! From the Urban Planning Museum, Shanghai Museum or City/Shanghai Development History Museum, there is never a better time to learn more about this history rich city than just before you or your friend/s leave.
