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Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)

I've been to Shanghai a couple of times and was not overwhelmed, at least as a place to keep going back to. That said, at least a couple of days can be filled well with things as Adder suggests. I will add going to an acrobatics show, going to Yu Yuan gardens, and the Shanghai Museum. Staying in Xintiandi isn't a bad idea (it's a nice area with some good dining options and a more sophisticated feel), although near the Bund is also convenient. If you have more time a day trip (or overnight) to Hangzhou and/or Suzhou could be worth it. Hangzhou has the famous West Lake, and Suzhou is lots of courtyard gardens (I haven't been to Suzhou). Pudong is probably not worth a trip--you can see the Oriental Pearl from the Bund as well as anywhere--or take a 1 hour river cruise.

If you can, stay near a metro stop--that's as fast a way to get most places as taxis.

And the airport is southeast of town--at least the one you're likely to fly into/out of for international (Shanghai-Pudong/PVG). Shanghai-Hongqiao (SHA) is west of town and mostly domestic flights, plus a mammoth train station (to Hangzhou among other places).

ETA: Having read your original post more carefully, if you have a week in Shanghai, definitely plan to do a day trip to both Hangzhou and Suzhou. High speed rail gets you there in an hour. Get the hotel concierge to buy the tickets--round trip for both so you don't need to deal with buying a ticket to get back (total zoo).

Not a week in Shanghai. A week total. So probably a couple of days of wandering time in each. And I found out today Shanghai could become Beijing. Which I'm less thrilled about mainly because I worry about the pollution there making it impossible to see anything. Is this fear unfounded?