Best Things To Do in Shanghai with Kids

Shanghai Disneyland is the newest and most impressive Disney castle park in Asia, with the largest Disney castle in the world and unique rides like TRON Lightcycle Power Run and Pirates of the Caribbean. The park is well-organized with stroller-friendly pathways, English and Mandarin signage, and a FastPass system via the official app. Adventure Isle and Fantasyland are best for families with gentle rides and character meet-and-greets.

Shanghai Zoo is a green oasis in west Shanghai with Chinese golden monkeys, giant pandas, and an impressive bird sanctuary kids love. The zoo is laid out like a botanical garden with tree-lined paths and a central lake. The children petting zoo with goats and rabbits is the hands-down favorite and the lake paddle boats offer a quiet break for exhausted parents.

Yu Garden is a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty garden in Shanghai Old City with rockeries, pavilions, and koi ponds. The compact 2-hectare size lets you see everything in 60-90 minutes before kids lose interest. The adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar is a covered shopping street with snacks, toys, and the famous Nanxiang Steamed Bun restaurant. The zigzag bridge over the pond to the teahouse is a must-photo moment kids enjoy.

Shanghai Natural History Museum is one of the best kids museums in Asia -- a stunning modern building with a spiral ramp through floors of dinosaur skeletons, taxidermy, and interactive science displays. The showstopper is the 30-meter-long Mamenchisaurus skeleton in the central atrium, and the hands-on fossil rubbing station keeps little hands busy. The museum has wide stroller ramps and English translations on all major exhibits.

Jinjiang Action Park is Shanghai vintage amusement park running since the 1980s with a charmingly retro feel -- wooden roller coasters, bumper cars, and a massive ferris wheel with skyline views. It has an old-school carnival atmosphere with gentle rides for under-10s and the Giant Drop and wooden coaster for thrill-seeking tweens. Not as polished as modern parks but full of character and much more affordable.