I have been to Shanghai many many times and have seen most if not all of the tourist sights, but I've never been to Shanghai alone. In fact, I've never been to China alone because I don't think it's a single-traveler-friendly country. Any recommendations on what to do for an old timer going to visit Shanghai alone for the first time?

I am fluent in English and Mandarin. I will be staying at the FS Pudong, or Le Meridien (most likely the FS).

HUH? Why does traveling alone make such a big difference? Return to the museums and galleries you love, shop, take walks. fly a kite, ride the Maglev, whatever. Indulge yourself by doing exactly what you want at your own pace.

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Why are you going if you've been many times and done all the tourist sites? That would help us help you....

My perception of China is not a single-traveler-friendly place because of how I was raised in China - big banquets, big parties, large family, always something to do with a relative or friend. I don't mean China is dangerous to travel alone or anything... China may be the most single traveler friendly place in your unbiased and pragmatic view, but it's not to me. I'm going there because I booked the tickets 11 months ago, but some plans changed with relatives, so now I'm going alone.

Who says China isn't service oriented.

Shanghai�s booming rent-a-companion business
November 2015
While this sort of rental service can be found on online shopping platforms, they are now flourishing on mobile phone social networking apps. Take WeChat for example - if you search "friend rental," you will find a long list of people "available" for rental in major cities across China alongside pictures and detailed personal information.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/954598.shtml

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1. Get into wechat
-in addition to joining the "ft people on wechat" group, there are many groups out there comprised of people with interests similar to yours

2. Add some business into the mix
-one of the main reasons Shanghai is lame is the fact that few of us would be here were it not for the pursuit of money
-if you can get a little into this groove, you'll fit in perfectly (and, meet interesting folks during the process )
-the recently opened WPP building would blow you away, but you need a "business" reason to visit

3. Hang out at solo friendly venues
-while I now completely accept the fact that you like pudong, I encourage you to stay on this side of the river during your solo trip (worry not; we can still pop over to Flair if our dates line up)
-hengshan lu is a good target area

I guess this is the next step after the "rent a handicapped person" scheme to bypass long lines during Shanghai Expo.

If you know Shanghai so well and your relatives don�t have time for you, I would go out of the city to visit a more interest place as Shanghai.

Go hiking in Yunnan, explore minority villages in Guangxi.... so many things to see in China

And if you speak fluent chinese it�s no big deal for you to travel around.

OP, what are your interests and how much time to do you have? And, I guess, what time of year? I was in Harbin two weeks ago and the high one day was -20C. Not that good for sightseeing....

Ahh... forgot to mention... I get in Shanghai on a Thursday afternoon and out on a Saturday morning in April. I have dinner plans on Friday night, so a day trip is the most I can do on Friday. Just need to find some things on Thursday not too far away.

I have been to surrounding places like Wuzhen, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, and a few more smaller cities and towns near Suzhou.

Perhaps you've already been there as well, but Yangzhou has some interesting sights and good food.

Zuwoba is a social platform that lets you find and rent people with similar interests for activities like shopping, eating, or seeing a movie

Step 3. Create an app.

Don't think this would work in west. Like "talking bars"...