Top Attractions
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Fudan University is one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, consistently ranked among the top universities in Asia and the world. Founded in 1905 as Fudan Public School by the renowned educator Ma Xiangbo, the university takes its name from a passage in the Confucian classics meaning "unceasing renewal day by day" (日月光华，旦复旦兮). Today, Fudan stands as a comprehensive research university with particular strengths in the humanities, social sciences, medicine, and natural sciences.
The main Handan Campus (邯郸校区) in Yangpu District offers visitors a pleasant walking environment. The campus features a mix of architectural styles — from historic red-brick buildings dating to the early 20th century to modern research facilities. The Guanghua Twin Towers (光华楼), standing 30 stories tall, are campus landmarks visible from across the district. The tree-lined avenues and landscaped gardens create a scholarly atmosphere that has attracted generations of China's brightest minds.
Visitors are welcome to explore the public areas of campus, though some buildings require student or faculty ID for entry. The Fudan University Museum houses archaeological artifacts and historical documents tracing the institution's century-long history. The campus is particularly beautiful in spring when cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom, and in autumn when the ginkgo trees turn golden. Adjacent to the main gate, Wujiaochang's commercial district provides abundant dining and shopping options for visitors. Fudan's intellectual energy — students debating in courtyards, researchers rushing between labs — makes it a fascinating glimpse into China's educational excellence.
Gongqing Forest Park is Shanghai's largest urban forest park, spanning nearly 2,000 acres along the Huangpu River in northern Yangpu District. Originally established in the 1950s through the efforts of the Communist Youth League (hence the name "Gongqing," meaning "Communist Youth"), the park has evolved into one of Shanghai's most beloved recreational spaces. Unlike the more manicured gardens elsewhere in the city, Gongqing retains a wilder, more natural character — dense woodlands, rolling meadows, and serene lakes.
The park is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Over 200,000 trees representing hundreds of species create a genuine forest environment within city limits. Well-maintained hiking trails wind through wooded areas, past lotus ponds and over wooden bridges. The park's hills — rare in flat Shanghai — offer elevated views across the canopy. Renting a bicycle is popular; the park's paved paths are ideal for leisurely rides. Horse riding facilities, a small amusement area, and barbecue zones add family-friendly options.
Seasonal highlights make repeat visits rewarding. Spring brings cherry blossoms, peach blossoms, and tulip displays. Summer sees the lotus ponds in full bloom. Autumn transforms the park into a tapestry of red and gold as maples and ginkgos change color — the fall foliage is considered among the best in Shanghai. Winter offers stark, peaceful beauty and fewer crowds. The park's riverside location provides excellent views of passing cargo ships and, across the water, the developing waterfront of Pudong. For Shanghai residents seeking escape from urban density, Gongqing Forest Park is an indispensable green lung.
Yangpu Bridge is one of Shanghai's most impressive engineering landmarks, a cable-stayed bridge spanning the Huangpu River to connect Yangpu District with Pudong. When it opened in 1993, it was one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world, with a main span of 602 meters. The bridge's distinctive H-shaped towers rise 208 meters above the water, and its 256 suspension cables create a striking fan pattern against the sky. At night, architectural lighting transforms the bridge into a luminous ribbon reflected in the river.
For visitors, the best vantage points are from the riverside parks on both banks. On the Yangpu side, the North Bund Green Space (北外滩绿地) offers unobstructed views of the bridge with the Pudong skyline as backdrop. Photographers flock here at sunset when the golden light illuminates the cables and towers. The bridge is particularly dramatic during typhoon season when clouds scud rapidly overhead, creating dynamic patterns around the suspension cables.
While pedestrians cannot walk across the main span (it's a limited-access expressway), the bridge's presence defines the district's character. The surrounding area has undergone significant redevelopment, with riverside promenades, creative parks, and converted industrial buildings now housing offices and cultural venues. The bridge represents Shanghai's transformation — a modern engineering marvel connecting the historic industrial heartland of Yangpu with the gleaming towers of Pudong. For those interested in infrastructure and urban planning, Yangpu Bridge is a compelling stop.
1933 Old Millfun (1933老场坊) is one of Shanghai's most remarkable examples of adaptive architecture — a former slaughterhouse transformed into a creative hub of boutiques, restaurants, and event spaces. Located near the Yangpu-Hongkou border, the complex was designed by British architects and completed in 1933 as the Shanghai Municipal Council Slaughterhouse. At the time, it was the largest abattoir in Asia, capable of processing 1,200 cattle and 6,000 sheep daily. The building's maze-like design — with spiraling ramps, interlocking corridors, and angular courtyards — was optimized for the efficient movement of livestock, but today creates an otherworldly architectural experience.
The raw concrete architecture is brutalist yet strangely beautiful. Light filters through narrow windows and skylights, creating dramatic shadows across the weathered walls. The central atrium, formerly the killing floor, now hosts fashion shows, product launches, and art exhibitions. The labyrinthine corridors — some barely wide enough for one person — lead to unexpected spaces: design studios, craft breweries, photography galleries, and chic restaurants. The building has become a favorite location for film shoots and photo sessions, its industrial aesthetic providing a striking backdrop.
Exploring 1933 Old Millfun feels like entering an M.C. Escher drawing. The 26 "air bridges" connecting different sections create vertiginous views, and the central core's concentric ramps spiral upward in a hypnotic pattern. History buffs will appreciate the preserved signage and explanatory plaques detailing the slaughterhouse's original functions. The surrounding neighborhood, part of the broader North Bund creative corridor, has seen similar industrial conversions, making this an excellent base for exploring Shanghai's urban regeneration. Allow extra time simply to wander and get (happily) lost.
Wujiaochang (literally "Five Corners" or "Pentagon") is Yangpu District's premier commercial hub and one of Shanghai's major sub-center shopping destinations. The area takes its name from the five-way intersection at its heart, where major roads converge in a distinctive urban configuration. Over the past two decades, Wujiaochang has transformed from a traffic-choked junction into a pedestrian-friendly shopping paradise, with the five points of the intersection now connected by underground passages and surrounded by massive retail complexes.
The district's anchor shopping centers include Hopson One (合生汇), a sprawling mall with international brands, a cinema, and an extensive food court; Bailian Youyicheng (百联又一城), offering mid-range fashion and dining; and Wujiaochang Wanda Plaza (五角场万达广场), one of Shanghai's first Wanda developments. The newest addition, University Town Center (大学路), caters specifically to the nearby student population with trendy cafes, independent boutiques, and affordable eateries. On weekends, the pedestrian areas fill with young people, families, and shoppers from across northeastern Shanghai.
Wujiaochang's proximity to Fudan University and other institutions gives it a youthful, energetic vibe. The University Road (大学路) corridor, running between Wujiaochang and Fudan's south gate, has emerged as one of Shanghai's hippest lifestyle streets — think artisanal coffee, craft beer bars, bookstores, and design studios. At night, the intersection's circular elevated highway is illuminated by colorful LED displays, creating one of the city's most recognizable urban spectacles. For visitors seeking to experience the everyday life of young Shanghai professionals and students, Wujiaochang offers an authentic, un-touristy alternative to Nanjing Road or Xintiandi.