Travelling to Shanghai, or anywhere in the Far East for that matter, is seldom the cheapest holiday option due to the distance involved. If you are looking to keep your holiday costs down, then search online for cheap flight deals outwith the high season, and look out for package deals, which can save you a bundle on accommodation costs.

When you get to Shanghai, you will find plenty to see and do, with many free and low cost attractions for those travelling on a budget. While there is definitely an expensive side to Shanghai, it is also easy to get by here with little money and still enjoy a truly unique holiday experience.

Shanghai is home to some of the finest dining establishments in the world, with first class dishes representing all 8 schools of Chinese cooking. If you have a limited budget however, you can avoid the incredibly expensive luxury eateries and still taste some fantastically fresh, traditional and authentic Chinese cookery at the many and varied street markets and food stalls that cover the city streets.

Street food is incredibly popular in Shanghai. As well as being cheap, it is incredibly fresh and varied. Traditional snacks to try include rice dumplings, cake balls, xiao long bao and more. Head to Yunnan Lu Gourmet Street, where you will find endless stalls and buffets, and you can sample a little of everything.

For some spectacular views out over the whole of Shanghai, there are several towering buildings that have observation decks that are free to access. The tallest skyscraper in China, the Shanghai World Financial Centre is one, also known as the Vertical Complex City, while the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is 1,535 feet tall, is another, with three separate observation points.

For those who hanker after some more traditional architecture, historic Shanghai features several ancient Buddhist temples, the stunning Bund promenade that stretches along the Huangpu River, and many examples of 19th Century European colonial architecture.

Because many of the visitors to Shanghai are here on business, hotels tend to fill up quickly during the week. This means that at weekends, hotel business dies down and rates can be far cheaper then, even in the most expensive of the luxury hotels. Search for rooms at the weekend and you can really save.

A great way to save on accommodation costs is to utilise the many hotel and accommodation facilities of Shanghai universities. While students are away, they rent out their student accommodation to non-students and you can pick up some fantastic deals this way.

Our guide to travelling to Shanghia on a budget was written by Zenobia Vuturo, an experienced travel agent. They recommend checking the Octopus Travel website for the latest deals on Shanghai hotels http://uk.octopustravel.com/hotels/2/china/shanghai-hotels/.