There are lots of things you can do in Shanghai, China but in many cases, these activities come with a price tag. Nonetheless, there are free things to do in Shanghai to help you stay within your budget. Here are some of them:
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Free Things to Do in Shanghai – Appreciate Outdoor Art
The city of Shanghai in China also has its share of street art and graffiti, like those found at M50 Creativity Space. If you want sculptures, the Shanghai Sculpture Park and Jing An Diao Su Gong Yuan are definite places to visit.
M50 (50 Moganshan Road) – photo by Asian Development Bank under CC BY 2.0 
Shanghai Sculpture Park – photo by Wang Qiliang under CC-BY-SA-4.0 Jing’an Sculpture Park – photo by Another Believer under CC-BY-SA-4.0
Free Things to Do in Shanghai – Explore Tianzifang
Tianzifang is the former French Concession district of Shanghai. Its narrow streets are renowned for the quaint cafes, bars and shops that line them.
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One of the alleys in Tianzifang – photo by lienyuan lee under CC-BY-3.0
Free Things to Do in Shanghai – Evening Stroll along Shanghai Old Street
Despite of the heavy foot traffic, strolling along Shanghai Old Street at night allows you take pictures of exotic structures all lit up.
Shanghai Old Street at night – photo by Good Free Photos under CC0 / Public Domain
Feel the Local Vibe at Shanghai People’s Square
A great spot for people watching, Shanghai People’s Square is a popular meeting venue among locals and tourists alike. It’s a convenient starting point for visiting various landmarks. While the square might be busy, its shaded green areas are nice places to take a rest and watch the activities that go by.
People’s Square in Shanghai, where Dimei Shopping Center is found underground – photo by puffin11k under CC BY-SA 2.0
Go Cultural in Shanghai Museums and Galleries
Shanghai Museum issues 8000 free entrance tickets each day. This allows visitors to view its permanent collections, including sculptures, bronze and jade artifacts and paintings. China Art Musuem, formerly Shanghai Art Musuem, also offers free admission, except for its special exhibitions. At Minsheng Art Museum, the public has free access to its mostly Realist and Modernist collections. The 800 Art District in the Yangpu area of Shanghai has 40 galleries where visitors can take a peek at the artworks being created there.
Shanghai Museum – photo by 寒江2009 under CC BY 2.0 China Art Museum in Shanghai – photo by DavidXiaoDaShan under CC BY-SA 3.0
Have a Taste of Old Shanghai in Qibao Ancient Town
There are still preserved ancient towns in Shanghai where you can have a feel of what the city was like in the centuries past. A good example is Qibao Ancient Town that has preserved workshops, eating places, ancient temple and stores reminiscent of the Song dynasty.
Qibao Ancient Town – photo by Esin Üstün under CC BY 2.0
Roam around the Parks in Shanghai
There are several parks in Shanghai where you can take break, relax, have picnics or roam around. These include Fuxing Park that is reminiscent of the French colonial era. Century Park in Pudong is the largest in Shanghai and celebrates woods, lawns and lakes. Another example is Zhongshan Park and its flowers and trees.
View in Fuxing Park, Shanghai, China – photo by Jpbowen under CC-BY-SA-4.0 Century Park, Shanghai – photo by Peripitus under CC-BY-SA-3.0 Zhongshan Park – photo by Szalai.laci under CC-BY-SA-4.0
Step Inside the Former Residence of Ba Jin
113 Wukang Road is where Ba Jin used to live. The former residence of this Chinese writer has been transformed into a museum and welcomes the public. Inside, you can view manuscripts, books and photographs of Ba Jin.
Garden view at the Former Residence of Ba Jin – photo by Jpbowen under CC-BY-SA-4.0
Take in City Views from Chenyi Square
This waterfront public plaza is a great spot for taking in views of Shanghai’s skyline. There’s also a large bronze statue of Chen Yi in the plaza.
Chen Yi Plaza, part of the Bund in Shanghai, China – photo by Windtrain under CC-BY-SA-3.0
Window Shop along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Nanjing East Road is closed to vehicle traffic, making it a wonderful place to window shop. This street in Shanghai brims with vendors, buskers, souvenir shops, restaurants and retail stores.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street – photo by Mgmoscatello under CC-BY-SA-3.0
