Shanghai: Future & Past — 5 Days
China’s window to the future
Shanghai is where China prototypes tomorrow. In five days you’ll see the colonial architecture of the Bund, the 400-year-old Yu Garden, and the world’s most advanced automated port — all within reach.
The tech you’ll actually experience
- Yangshan Port — the world’s largest automated container terminal (40M+ containers/year, almost no humans)
- A driverless Robotaxi — a paid commercial ride, no safety driver, on Shanghai’s public roads
- The Pudong skyline — built from farmland in 30 years, now one of the most futuristic skylines on earth
Why Shanghai now
For international travelers, Shanghai is the most accessible entry point to “modern China” — English is widely spoken, infrastructure is world-class, and the contrast between old and new is everywhere. The Robotaxi ride is the moment most travelers realize how much has changed.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Day 1: Arrival & The Bund
Check in. Sunset walk along the colonial Bund facing the futuristic Pudong skyline — the same waterfront that defined Shanghai 150 years ago, now facing the city that defines China's future.
- 2
Day 2: Yu Garden & Old Town
Classical 400-year-old Chinese garden, dim sum lunch, silk museum. The Shanghai of temples and tea houses.
- 3
Day 3: Future Day — Yangshan Port & Robotaxi
Morning: Yangshan Deep-Water Port — the world's largest automated container terminal, moving 40M+ containers a year with AI bridge cranes and driverless trucks, almost no humans visible. Afternoon: ride a Robotaxi in Shanghai's Pudong self-driving zone.
- 4
Day 4: Suzhou Day-trip
Bullet train to Suzhou: UNESCO classical gardens, silk production, 2,500-year-old canal towns. Contrast ancient Jiangnan with the megacity you left.
- 5
Day 5: Departure
Free morning, airport transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the autonomous vehicle ride safe? +
Yes. Shanghai's Pudong zone licenses fully driverless Robotaxi services (AutoX, Pony.ai, others). These are paid commercial rides operating daily — an experience still unavailable in most Western cities.
What's so special about Yangshan Port? +
Yangshan's Phase IV terminal is the world's largest fully automated container port. AI-controlled bridge cranes and unmanned AGV trucks move containers 24/7 with almost no human workers on the dock. Nothing else on earth operates at this scale autonomously.
Can I actually see the port operations? +
We arrange a viewpoint and, where access permits, a guided briefing. The terminal itself is operational (not a tourist site), so viewing is from approved vantage points — but the scale alone is unforgettable.
Can I extend to other cities? +
Absolutely. Many travelers combine this with our Beijing tour for a 12-day grand tour.