[Qingdao Departure · Shanghai 3 Days 2 Nights] A Modern and Vibrant Urban Journey Interwoven with Fireworks

Dear friends, a warm family of four (two parents + two elementary school students) flew from Qingdao to the "Magic City" Shanghai, carefully planning a 3-day, 2-night light luxury parent-child urban trip with a total budget of 12,000 RMB, averaging 3,000 RMB per person. Staying in a Bund river view room, taking a Huangpu River cruise, visiting Disneytown, dining at local eateries, and feeling the pulse of China’s most international city under the light and shadow of the Oriental Pearl Tower.

✈️ Transportation | Convenient round-trip direct flights + subway travel
It is recommended to book Spring Airlines or Juneyao Airlines special tickets 10 days in advance:
Qingdao Liuting → Shanghai Hongqiao, including tax about ¥680/person × 4 = ¥2,720 (Hongqiao Airport is close to downtown, easy to take a taxi)
Return trip at the same price, total: ¥5,440
Within the city, take the subway all the way (scan code to pay, children under 1.3 meters ride free), supplemented by short taxi rides and shared bikes, transportation cost about ¥360.

🏨 Accommodation | Quality hotel with North Bund river view
Stay at [All Seasons Hotel · North Bund Branch] or [InterContinental Haichang Select] family room/twin room, a 10-minute walk to the Bund. Every night, open the window to see the Lujiazui skyline at night. The room is quiet and comfortable, with children’s slippers and toiletry kits provided.
¥980/night × 2 nights = ¥1,960
Saving half the budget compared to staying in the Bund’s expensive area, but without compromising the experience.

🍽️ Dining | Local flavors + child-friendly restaurants
- Arrival lunch: Lao Zhengxing Restaurant (century-old brand) ordering fermented glutinous rice pot, oil-burst shrimp, and salted fresh pork stew: ¥320
- Afternoon tea: Butterfly pastry from the International Hotel + fresh meat mooncakes from Guangming Village Restaurant: ¥120
- Dinner: Nanxinya Cantonese Restaurant crispy chicken + pan-fried hairtail fish: ¥400
- Second day lunch: Disneytown "Barbosa BBQ" parent-child set meal: ¥280 (kids love the pirate theme)
- Dinner: Near Yuyuan Garden, Green Wave Corridor soup dumplings + eight-treasure rice: ¥260
- Daily supplies: Guangming milk, Chenghuangmiao pear syrup candy, coffee and light meals, etc.: ¥200
✅ Total dining: ¥1,580

🎫 Experiences | City landmarks + parent-child interaction
- Huangpu River cruise (night light show, 1-hour trip): ¥120/person × 4 = ¥480
- Shanghai Natural History Museum (perfect for kids! Dinosaur fossils + ecological exhibits):
Tickets ¥30/person × 4 + parking reservation service = ¥140
- Disneytown free visit (see the castle, take photos, watch street performances): free ❤️
- China Art Museum (former China Pavilion of Expo) exhibitions + rooftop viewing: free
- Chenghuangmiao + Yuyuan Garden combined ticket: ¥40/person × 4 = ¥160
✅ Tickets and other experiences: ¥780

📅 Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive in Shanghai → Check in North Bund → Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street → Bund night view (avoid peak crowds)
Day 2: Shanghai Natural History Museum (immersive study in the morning) → People’s Square feeding pigeons → Afternoon check-in at Disneytown → Huangpu River cruise to watch the sunset
Day 3: Yuyuan Garden + Chenghuangmiao snack first experience → China Art Museum check-in at the red landmark → Buy souvenirs (International Hotel butterfly pastry, Taikang canned yellow peaches) → Return trip

💰 Total cost: ¥11,960, with ¥40 left to buy a bottle of Zhengguanghe salted soda as a souvenir.

This trip was the daughter’s first time pointing at the Oriental Pearl Tower saying, “Mom, doesn’t it look like a magical tower from a fairy tale?”
It was the son squatting in front of the Natural History Museum counting dinosaur footprints, serious like a little scientist.
Every step we took told the children:
A big city is not just about towering buildings, but a convergence of culture, technology, and dreams.

Grateful for this inclusive and exquisite city,
Illuminating the way home with a river of lights,
Warming the stomach and heart with a bowl of scallion oil noodles,
Allowing us to still hold hands and walk slowly in the fast pace.

If you also want to take your family on a “not expensive but high-quality” urban short trip,
Shanghai is truly worth adding to your list.