Overview
The speaker shares insider travel tips and highlights for experiencing Shanghai, covering food, attractions, nightlife, cultural insights, and practical advice for visitors.
Top Shanghai Attractions
- Start your tour at Nanjing Road, a major shopping street with numerous malls and affordable street food options.
- Visit the French Concession (Chin Chandi station), known for its European ambiance and outdoor cafes.
- Explore Yu Garden for a peaceful retreat from the city's hustle, noting tight security at metro stations.
- Cross to the financial district for views of iconic skyscrapers like the Pearl Tower, World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower.
Food & Drink Recommendations
- Sample cheap, tasty noodle bowls and milk tea on Nanjing Road.
- Try local dumplings at Jung's and be cautious as they are very hot.
- Experience adventurous dishes like drunken shrimp at Isan restaurants.
- Enjoy sweet, gooey yogurt sold on Nanjing Road, noting that dairy is relatively expensive.
Nightlife Suggestions
- Consider alternative city views at Cloud9 (Jin Mao Tower) or Flair (Ritz Carlton) for skyline sunsets.
- End your evening at the Bund for a view of the neon-lit skyline.
- Explore Shanghai’s premier nightclubs and sample street food like stinky tofu after clubbing.
Unique Local Experiences
- Observe cultural differences, such as disregard for traffic lights.
- Discover the Shanghai wedding market at People’s Park, where parents seek matches for their children on weekends.
- Walking daily is recommended as an effective way to discover the city.
Practical Tips
- Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are blocked in China, so install a VPN such as ExpressVPN for online access.
- Accommodations recommendation: The Fishing Hotel on the Bund, praised for good rates and English-speaking staff.
- Photos, maps, and further details are available on the speaker's blog.
Action Items
- Next Tuesday – Speaker: Reveal more details on Shanghai nightclubs and street food in the following episode.