We landed in Shanghai from Bangkok — not a long flight, but enough to leave us a little out of sync. That Day 1 fog is real: you’re not wiped out, but you’re not quite yourself either. So instead of diving into museums or trying to cross half the city, I always plan for something soft and local on arrival day. People’s Park was exactly that.
No entry fee. No tickets. No pressure. Just a slow, open space where you can wander and exhale.
Why People’s Park?
If you’ve read So You Want to Travel the World, you know I always recommend building margin into your travels — especially the first day in a new country. People’s Park is perfect for this. It’s central, walkable, and gives you an immediate pulse on the city without demanding much from you.
The park itself is right above People’s Square metro station (Lines 1, 2, and 8), and if you’re staying near The Bund like we were, it’s an easy ride or walk. It’s green and shaded, full of trees and benches, little ponds, and older folks playing cards or just chatting on stools they’ve carried from home. You’re not going to “do” much here — and that’s kind of the point.
It’s a place to be in the city without needing to hustle through it.
The Marriage Market
People’s Park is also famously home to the marriage market — a weekend ritual where parents gather to find spouses for their adult children. Picture rows of handwritten flyers taped to umbrellas, listing height, age, income, zodiac signs, job details, whether or not they own a home.
It’s matchmaking the old-school way — no apps, just parents negotiating in person. It’s one of those things that travelers sometimes stumble into and think, is this real? (It is.) If you're there on a weekend, it's a fascinating glimpse into generational values, dating culture, and family dynamics in modern China.
Even if you miss the market itself, the park still holds a quiet kind of rhythm that makes it worth visiting.
Good to Know
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Where: People’s Park (人民公园), above People’s Square Metro Station
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Cost: Free
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Time Needed: 1–2 hours
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Best Time to Visit: Weekdays for quiet, weekends if you're curious about the marriage market
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Nearby: Nanjing Road, the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall (closed Mondays), and plenty of street food or shops
People’s Park gave us space to arrive without trying too hard. We didn’t need to be anywhere, didn’t need to “accomplish” anything. We just walked, sat, took it all in, and let the energy of Shanghai sink in slowly.
From there, we wandered down Nanjing Road and made our way to The Bund before wrapping the night with an all-you-can-eat BBQ near our hotel for around $10. Nothing fancy — but it was the perfect first day.
If you’re landing in Shanghai and want something low-key but local, this is it. Start soft. It sets the tone.
