Located on the Yangtze River Delta in East China, Shanghai is among the world’s most populous cities. It is a major financial center and transport hub that has undergone significant redevelopment since the 1990s. Downtown Shanghai is bisected by the Huangpu River. Remnants of the old part of the city are on the west bank, while the central financial district Lujiazui, with its enormous skyscrapers, has risen on the east bank in Pudong. Running in Shanghai can be a challenge, given the city’s density, development, heat, and poor air. But the scene has been improving, especially with the development of extensive trails along the Huangpu River.
The best places to run in Shanghai center on riverfont paths and several notable parks. On the west side of the Huangpu is a famous run on The Bund (recently expanded to include the North Bund), paths along Suzhou Creek, and the Shanghai Corniche in the Xuhui District. On the east bank in Pudong, there’s now ~23 km of nearly continuous path along the river from the Yangpu Bridge to the Xupu Bridge. We also have routes in these excellentparks for running include World Expo Park, Century Park, Qiantan Youcheng Park, Daning Lingshi Park, & Gongqing National Forest Park. Destination runs include Yangcheng Lake and Sheshan National Forest Park.
Public transport in Shanghai is a necessity and is fantastic, with metro, light rail, and buses. **Many thanks to Martin Nexo of RunnersHai, who suggested several routes in Shanghai.**
Shanghai has a humid, subtropical climate, similar to that of Washington, D.C. Winters are chilly and damp, with average January highs in the 40s (8C), and low temps just above freezing. Snowfall is rare, maybe once or twice a season. Summers are hot and humid, with average highs near 90F (32C), and nights that stay in the high 70s (28C). Be sure to plan and hydrate accordingly. Summer thunderstorms and downpours can be frequent. Autumn is the most pleasant season: warm, sunny, and dry.