Shanghai Road Trip | China Travel Guide | Electric SUV Review
- Exploring Old Shanghai – History, Heritage and Hidden Streets
- Shanghai’s Financial District and Iconic Skyline
- Qibao Ancient Town – A Step Back in Time
- Nanjing Road – Shanghai’s Most Famous Tourist Street
- Night River Cruise – The Best Way to See Shanghai’s Skyline
- Driving Shanghai Made Easy – IM LS6 LiDAR Self-Driving Tech
- Essential Travel Tip: Download WeChat and Alipay
- Why Shanghai Is a Perfect Road Trip City
- Final Thoughts – Road Tripping Shanghai
Shanghai is a city of contrasts — ultra-modern skyscrapers rising beside narrow historic lanes, ancient water towns just minutes from financial powerhouses, and futuristic technology woven into everyday life. In this Road Trip Reviews journey, we explore Shanghai by road in the 2025 IM LS6 electric SUV, capturing the city’s past, present and future in one unforgettable drive.
From Old Shanghai’s traditional streets, to the glowing skyline of the financial district, late-night river cruises and ancient towns like Qibao Ancient Town, this trip shows why Shanghai is one of the most compelling destinations in Asia and how advanced vehicle technology can completely change the driving experience.
Exploring Old Shanghai – History, Heritage and Hidden Streets
One of the most rewarding parts of this road trip was venturing into Old Shanghai, where the city’s traditional architecture and narrow laneways offer a striking contrast to its modern image.
These older districts are full of character. Historic shopfronts, traditional homes, and a slower pace that feels worlds away from the high-rise skyline just kilometres away. Driving here gives you a real sense of how Shanghai has evolved, blending centuries-old culture with rapid modernisation.
It’s also where driving can feel the most challenging, tight streets, unpredictable traffic flow and constant activity, making it the perfect test for modern driver-assistance technology.
Shanghai’s Financial District and Iconic Skyline
No Shanghai road trip is complete without taking in the city’s iconic financial district, home to some of the tallest and most recognisable buildings in the world.
As day turns to night, the skyline transforms into a neon-lit showcase of modern China, glass towers, illuminated bridges and reflections dancing across the river. It’s a reminder that Shanghai isn’t just a historic city; it’s a global financial and technological powerhouse.
This part of the drive highlights just how seamlessly old and new coexist, a recurring theme throughout the journey.
Qibao Ancient Town – A Step Back in Time
A short drive from central Shanghai, Qibao Ancient Town offers a completely different experience.
This well-preserved water town features traditional bridges, canals, street food stalls and historic buildings that feel untouched by time. It’s an easy and highly recommended side trip for travellers who want to see a more traditional side of Shanghai without leaving the city region.
Qibao is also a great example of how having a car opens up experiences many tourists miss, especially when public transport routes become less direct.
Nanjing Road – Shanghai’s Most Famous Tourist Street
Another highlight of the journey was visiting Nanjing Road, one of the busiest and most famous shopping streets in the world.
By day, it’s a hive of activity with locals and tourists alike. By night, it becomes a glowing corridor of lights, signage and movement, a perfect place to experience Shanghai’s energy up close.
Even if shopping isn’t your priority, Nanjing Road is worth visiting simply to feel the scale and pace of the city.
Night River Cruise – The Best Way to See Shanghai’s Skyline
One of the absolute highlights of the trip was taking a night river cruise on the Huangpu River, offering some of the best views of Shanghai’s skyline.
A river cruise allows you to see both sides of the city at once, historic Bund architecture on one side and futuristic skyscrapers on the other, all beautifully lit after dark.
How to do it:
- River cruises are easy to book locally near the Bund
- Most run regularly in the evening
- Tickets are affordable and don’t require advance booking
- Bring a camera or phone — the views are incredible
For anyone visiting Shanghai, this is a must-do experience and one of the best ways to capture the city’s scale and beauty.
Driving Shanghai Made Easy – IM LS6 LiDAR Self-Driving Tech
Driving in a megacity like Shanghai could easily be overwhelming thanks to its narrow lanes, dense traffic, electric bikes everywhere and constant movement in all directions.
This is where the IM LS6’s LiDAR-based self-driving and driver-assistance systems truly stood out.
The system handled:
- Tight urban streets
- Heavy electric bike traffic
- Constant lane changes
- Dense downtown conditions
The result was a remarkably stress-free driving experience, even in some of the busiest parts of the city. It’s genuinely impressive how far this technology has come and it does highlight how far behind markets like Australia currently are when it comes to adopting advanced driver-assistance and autonomous systems at scale.
The potential is clearly there, and experiencing it firsthand makes you realise how transformative this technology could be for everyday urban driving.
Essential Travel Tip: Download WeChat and Alipay
If you’re planning to travel to China, this is critical:
Download both WeChat and Alipay before you go.
These apps are essential for:
- Everyday payments
- Transport
- Restaurants and cafes
- Attractions and ticketing
Many places in China no longer accept cash or international cards, so having these apps set up makes travel dramatically easier and less stressful.
Why Shanghai Is a Perfect Road Trip City
Shanghai offers something rare, a city where:
- Ancient towns sit minutes from financial districts
- History and future tech coexist naturally
- Road trips unlock experiences beyond tourist hotspots
Paired with advanced vehicles like the IM LS6, it becomes clear how mobility, technology and travel are converging in ways we’re only just beginning to see elsewhere.
Final Thoughts – Road Tripping Shanghai
This Shanghai road trip wasn’t just about the destination, it was about how the city is experienced from behind the wheel.
From Old Shanghai’s historic streets, to Qibao Ancient Town, Nanjing Road, and a night river cruise, this journey captures why Shanghai is one of the most fascinating cities on the planet.
And driving it in a vehicle equipped with cutting-edge LiDAR self-driving tech only reinforces one thing: the future of urban travel is already here, just not everywhere yet.