The 3rd installation to the “virtual travel” series is Shanghai! Another country that I’ve never been there yet. I’m always skeptical about China, with all of those deceiving acts and fake goods; but with the power of social media, I learnt that Shanghai is actually a really developed city! Not all things from China are cheap. Shanghai for instance, is ranked as the most expensive city of China, followed by Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing. This trip was planned to take place last April during the cherry blossom season, 2 months before the Perth trip.
Shanghai is China’s largest city, with The Bund being its heart, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings. It is China’s most populated city, and world’s third most populated city. It is a global center for finance, research, technology, manufacturing and transportation, and the Port of Shanghai is the world’s busiest container port. Shanghai has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of China.
It has developed tremendously over the years since the 19th century. As of 2020, Shanghai is classified as a Alpha+ (global first tier) city by the Globalisation and World Cities Research Network, and ranks third globally on the Global Financial Centres Index, behind New York and London. The Shanghai Stock Exchange is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation. The Shanghai Free-Trade Zone is the first free-trade zone in China. It has the second highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, the fifth largest scientific research output of any city in the world, and is where highly ranked educational institutions can be found.
One thing that is very inconvenient about China is having its own network system, so apps like google maps and instagram will not work in China without a VPN connection. It is also advisable to download and use China’s version of apps for better accuracy. Here are some recommended apps:
- Baidu Map 百度地图 = Google Maps
- WeChat = WhatsApp
- Da Zhong Dian Ping 大众点评 = TripAdvisor
- Ele.me 饿了么外卖 = GrabFood / UberEats
- Explore Shanghai / Shanghai Metro 上海地铁 (for Shanghai’s metro map)
- Hexatech (for VPN connection)
- Shanghai Disney Resort (if you’re visiting Disneyland)
This itinerary includes day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and a night stay at Toy Story Hotel + Disneyland. Click on the individual days for more details!
Arrived at Pudong Airport > Shanghai City, check-in to Airbnb (Kanglecun, Yan'an Middle Road) > brunch at Dieji Soup Dumpling > Columbia Circle, Seesaw Coffee > Sihang Warehouse Museum > M50 Creative Space > Starbucks Reserve Roastery (world's largest Starbucks!) > dinner at Elixir Health Pot
Jing’an Temple > breakfast at Jian Bing Huang > Suzhou, Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator’s Garden > lunch at Taohua Yuanji > Suzhou Old Town (Pingjiang Road) > dinner at Su Di Ren Jia > back to Shanghai
Breakfast at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant > Yu Garden, City God Temple of Shanghai, Yixiulou > lunch at Yang’s Dumpling > Shanghai Natural History Museum > Qibao Ancient Town + dinner
Disney Resort, check-in to Toy Story Hotel > Shanghai Disneyland, daily fireworks at 8:30pm
Breakfast at hotel, check-out of hotel > explore Disney Resort, Wishing Star Park > back to airbnb to place extra baggage > Tianzifang, lunch at Old Shanghai Dim Sum > Sinan Mansions / Sinan Open Air Museum (Sinan Mansions turned into Sinan Open Air Museum), Hotel Massenet > Miette Cafe > Former Residence of Sun Yat Sen (first president of China) > Metal Hands > Cathay Theatre (oldest cinema in Shanghai) > dinner at Siu Loon Fung Restaurant > Barber Shop (hidden bar)
Breakfast at Pancake Headed > Hangzhou, Fajiao Shitang (canele shop) > explore West Lake > lunch at Hangzhou Restaurant > back to West Lake + boat ride (many shops and museums to discover along the lake) > dinner at Yuanxing Noodle Restaurant > back to Shanghai
Breakfast at Pain Chaud > Shanghai Film Park > lunch at Fuchun Xiaolong > SMAKA Cafe > Xintiandi, Shikumen Museum > dinner at Zhending Chicken > 404 Not Found (bar)
Breakfast at Blatage Coffee >1933 Old Millfun > lunch at Jia Jia Soup Dumpling > Shanghai Postal Museum > %Arabica Roastery > The Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower + sunset > dinner at Cejerdary > check out the lighted up Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Check-out of airbnb > breakfast at RAC Coffee & Bar > French Concession (Wukang Road), Wukang Mansion > lunch at Man Long Chun > chill at Dear You Cafe > back to airbnb to pick-up luggages > Pudong Airport > back to S’pore
*Alamak, people in China don’t really use Instagram. Most of the photos will be from Dazhong Dianping (大众点评) instead - a China app where users can share their photos and videos, rate and review food and places.
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