Shanghai is one of Asia’s hottest tourist destinations. It is China’s urban metropolis best known for its xiaolongbao, luxury shopping, remarkable skyline, and historical landmarks. Shanghai was part of my Asia trip in April 2015. It was my first time in China and I spent 4 days 3 nights there. Here’s an overview of my experience in Shanghai to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Journey
Taipei (TSA) → Shanghai (PVG)
Total Flight Time: 1 hr and 40 mins
Culture
Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China and very modern. I was surprised at how different the Shanghainese dialect sounded from Mandarin.
The pollution was apparent given the smog overcast in the city. The roads were quite dusty due to heavy motorbike traffic.
I had trouble finding a dim sum spot and discovered that yum cha wasn’t really a thing in mainland China outside of the Canto region.
Top Attractions
Here are a few attractions we were able to visit during our short trip:
Yu Garden
Yu Garden is a beautiful garden oasis in the center of the city with plenty of restaurants and shops.
The Bund
The Bund is a historical waterfront promenade known for offering amazing views of the city skyline. We were actually on the opposite side of the Bund so we got a great view of the Bund itself.
Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower is the iconic postcard landmark of Shanghai.
Zhujiajiao
Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town with several lovely bridges. This picturesque location was my favorite part of the trip.
Memories
- SCORPION skewers being sold as street food among other questionable items- Uhh, no thank you
- Riding a boat through charming Zhujiajiao
- My sister’s friend and her husband treating us to a ton of delicious food
- Shopping for pretty satin scarves
- Drinking (literally) a giant xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Mantou Dian in Yu Garden
Last Impression
I enjoyed my Shanghai trip. My sister’s friend and her husband were incredible hosts!
Alot of people rave about how great Shanghai is but although I do agree it’s a cool city overall it isn’t one of my top picks. It was alright not too spectacular in my opinion. It felt like just another big city to me but lacking character and with clearly visible air pollution.
So come decide for yourself which side of the spectrum you fall on.
If you’re planning to stop by Beijing as well make sure to check out my guide for Beijing’s best attractions.
Are you planning a trip to Shanghai? What are you looking forward to most? Let me know in the comments!
