Shanghai in 3 Days: What Every First-Time Visitor Must See

In this video, we are exploring Shanghai – one of China’s most famous cities over 3 days. There are so many spots to visit in the city but I focused on the must-visit spots that a first-time visitor, like me, should see and visited some hidden gems in addition to that. I absolutely fell in love with the city and I think you will too.

Try LetsVPN with a 1 day free premium subscription: https://g5q5r8.onelink.me/o39Z/l32m0y1l

🏨 The hotel in Shanghai: https://www.trip.com/t/609P36zopP2
🇨🇳 Book hotels, experiences, train rides, flights and more on the best site for China: https://www.trip.com/t/2lDJAvkktY1

☕️ Support me by buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ritalovestravel

CHINA RECOMMENDATIONS
🇨🇳 The hotels I stayed at in China:
Beijing: https://www.trip.com/t/jSZalDc0oO2
Chongqing: https://www.trip.com/t/B7hytaeeaP2
Zhangjiajie: https://www.trip.com/t/KXWdsyLCXO2
Longji Rice Terraces: https://www.trip.com/t/xpIlsRpQcO2
Yangshuo: https://www.trip.com/t/nErxNlX0oO2
Shenzhen: https://www.trip.com/t/d9ISHCm0JP2
Shanghai: https://www.trip.com/t/609P36zopP2

☘️ Activity recommendations in China
Beijing – Forbidden city walking tour: https://gyg.me/T3xUlc4F
Chongqing – River Cruise: https://gyg.me/IASMrNQd
Longji Rice Terraces – Guided tour from Guilin: https://gyg.me/fiHs1Q6A
Yangshuo – Li River Cruise: https://gyg.me/prsC1zV5

GREAT OFFERS AND MORE FOR YOU
🏥 Get the best travel health insurance (German company): https://genki.world/?with=ritalovestravel
📱15% off your eSIM: https://saily.com/ritalovestravel or use code “ritalovestravel” on the app
💸 For the best experiences on Klook.com – use code RITALOVESTRAVEL for a discount

💌 For cooperations: heyritalovestravel@gmail.com

WHO AM I?
I’m Rita, born in Ukraine, raised in Germany, and living in London for the past decade. I share captivating travel destinations, from bustling cities to hidden gems, exploring the unique stories, flavors, and cultures of each place. My videos inspire you to embrace the unknown and make life an endless adventure, creating priceless memories beyond our comfort zones and smile along the way. Join me on that adventure 🚀

兴奋姐

CHAPTERS
00:00 – This is Shanghai
00:37 – Nanjing road Shanghai
03:57 – People’s Park Shanghai
08:51 – Jia Jia Tang Bao Soup Dumplings Shanghai
10:14 – Exploration of Shanghai
14:27 – The Bund Shanghai
17:00 – Public Ferry Ride Shanghai
18:57 – The Bund to Pudong by Ferry
20:05 – Bicycle ride in Pudong Shanghai
22:31 – Dinner in Pudong Shanghai
14:10 – Oriental Pearl Shanghai
26:36 – The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel Shanghai
28:48 – The Bund in Shanghai at night
29:53 – Nanjing Road at night in Shanghai
32:45 – Jing’an Temple Shanghai
36:48 – Coffee Culture in Shanghai
29:13 – Yuyuan Gardens and Bazasr Shanghai
48:07 – Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant Shanghai
51:08 – French Concession Shanghai
59:00 – Fuxing Park Shanghai
01:01:01 – Tianzifang Shanghai
01:04:53 – Xintiandi Shanghai
01:09:56 – Ferry Ride across Shanghai

*I’d be thankful if you considered using the affiliate links above. I may make a small commission, which helps to keep me travelling and reinvesting into my videos, at no extra cost to you at all. Rest assured, these are the products and services I use and love.

#Shanghai #上海 #ShanghaiIn3Days #上海三天 #FirstTimeInShanghai #第一次来上海 #ShanghaiTravel #上海旅游 #ShanghaiTour #上海必去景点 #TravelGuide #上海探索 #MustSeeShanghai #上海旅行 #HiddenGemsShanghai #上海秘密景点 #ShanghaiAdventure #旅行视频 #TravelVlog #上海冒险

We are exploring one of the most famous cities in 
China in just 3 days. And as a first-time visitor,   I packed in as much as possible—from unbelievable 
skyline views to ancient alleys and secret   underwater tunnels. How interesting! Never been on 
that before, so that’s new. This city is full of   surprises. Shanghai moves fast and is constantly 
shifting between the ultramodern and international   to the deeply traditional and rooted in its 
history. Shanghai is truly a unique place. So,   if you’ve ever been curious about what it’s 
really like to explore Shanghai for the   first time, this one is for you. Let’s go!
My first stop of the day is Nanjing Road,   which is this really long and busy shopping 
street. There are so many shops around,   but I read online that about 1 million people 
visit this street every single day, which, in the   perspective of Shanghai, sounds small because 
Shanghai is one of the most populated cities   in China. And I’ll be coming back here in the 
evening because, at the moment, it kind of feels   like a regular shopping street. But at night, 
this is when the street really comes to life.  And over here, there is a food market 
already happening during the day,   so we don’t even have to wait for the night to 
start exploring food markets. Looks good! Maybe   later—it’s too early for octopus. Thank you!
Shi: Oh my god, I think it’s a robot   coffee machine! It has an arm and cups.
Oh, cool. Okay, okay. Of course, I want to   get the robot cafe because I’ve never done that 
before. And they have so many coffee shops here   in Shanghai. In fact, I read that it has more 
than London, more than New York, more than all   the fun places. And that’s going to be my first 
one: Champagne cappuccino, Champagne Americano,   many, many types of coffee in here. I don’t 
know what to think, but I’ll order it. Yay! It’s   already started. There, the milk and the coffee 
are coming in. Oh, it’s delicious. Honestly,   it’s really delicious. Yay, first robot coffee!
Nanjing Road is not only one of the most famous   shopping roads in China but also one 
of the busiest. So, flying the drone   here is not a good idea, but I was just a 
little bit too excited about my new drone.  No, no, no. Okay, what happened? Police came and 
told me no drone here. It’s okay. Luckily, though,   the police here are never like arresting 
you or anything. They just tell you no,   and that’s it. And I really like that because 
every time I imagined police in China,   I thought they’d be way more like, “That’s it.” 
But not at all. And the police are generally so,   so friendly all the time. I just love that.
There are not only shopping stores around   here on the street but also malls, and 
not just one but many, many malls. So,   it’s definitely fun to come here for 
shopping. However, I’m not going to be   shopping now. It’s the middle of the day. I 
want to get to other points first. Let’s see,   maybe in the evening we’ll come back and 
do a little bit more mall exploration here.  Hello! And while the big shopping 
street is super packed and busy,   there’s a nature escape just nearby, and 
that’s where we are heading now. Here,   the Shanghai that is hustling and full of life 
comes to a pause and is filled with its own life.  And, of course, I had to visit People’s Park. 
What a beautiful park it is. It literally gives   me the vibes of Central Park in New York 
because we are so, so central, and I can   see all these high skyscrapers around me, yet I 
am surrounded by beautiful, dense green nature.   All the local life happening around—elderly 
people playing chess, sitting on the benches,   just enjoying their day, chatting to each other. 
There’s a little local cafe here as well, and I   think they all play chess inside. Let’s enter.
Oh, wow! There’s definitely a lot of life   happening here. Everyone is playing.
And real quick—Rita from the future   here! When I was in China, staying connected 
was essential. I needed access to my everyday   apps in a fast, reliable, and secure way. 
And after searching for quite some time,   I found just the right tool for it. What I love 
the most is how smart the app is. It uses AI to   connect you to the most stable server, so you 
don’t have to go through country settings and   choose the one that suits. The app does it for 
you. All you have to do is click the big red   button in the middle, and you’re connected.
Now, what gave me real peace of mind is that   the app is certified by Google, which basically 
means it’s been seriously vetted for security and   privacy. Your personal data is not being stored. 
You can also use the app on all main devices:   phone, tablet, laptop—it’s up to you! And you can 
connect two devices per account, so if you’re like   me and you want to switch between your laptop 
and phone all the time, perfect. It covers that.  And if you’re traveling short-term, that’s not 
a problem at all. The app has flexible weekly   solutions, so you’re not locked into anything 
long-term if you don’t want to. However,   if you do want a long-term solution, 
it’s available as well. The app works   from anywhere around the world, but for my 
trip in China, it was an absolute must-have.  Oh, and I’ve got something for you! You can 
try out the app for free with a 1-day premium   subscription. All you have to do is scan the 
QR code that you’re seeing on screen right now   or find the link in the description box down 
below. But now, let’s get back to the video!  Very good. Very good. Bye-bye, bye-bye. 
Oh, the people of Shanghai are so nice! I   love the people of Shanghai. Honestly, 
so friendly, everyone so smiley. Every   time I say “Ni hao” to someone, I get a big, 
big smile. A smile is a universal language.   We don’t have to speak the same language to 
understand that this moment is a nice one.  Oh, wow! Oh, wow! I just saw more 
locals singing. I need to join them!  Join us! Have fun!
How cool! They have that in   the park. It was amazing! There are more rides in 
here—horse rides, kids’ entertainment facilities,   and here there’s something else. Really cool!
And in the park, there is a display that shows   you which toilets are occupied and which are 
not. In fact, it shows you a little man. Even   the sinks are displayed here. How cool is that? 
The technology I’m seeing here in Shanghai is   already next level. I mean, have you seen such 
a machine in a park before? The only time I’ve   seen it was in Taiwan in a metro station, 
but in a park? That’s really, really cool.  Speaking of Taiwan, have you seen my Taiwan 
series yet? I’m going to link it here or here   somewhere on the screen because Taiwan is equally 
a place you need to explore. By the way, have you   subscribed to my channel already? Make sure to 
click that subscribe button so you don’t miss out   on my other videos about Asia or the world.
Okay, it’s time for some lunch.  Oh my god, they do it fresh here! Wow! You can 
literally see them cooking right here. That’s   the type of place I really, really love. A quick 
look at the menu—but who am I kidding? I came   here because I’ve read about the soup dumplings 
that are a must-try in Shanghai. And I will take   one of these. So, I’m going to be having the 
crab dumplings, but it’s not just dumplings.   It has soup inside, and from what I’ve read 
online, this is like a typical Shanghai food   to try. In fact, it costs 88 yuan, so I think 
it’s one of the premium foods you could have   in this restaurant because the other one only 
costs 13 yuan. So, I’m really, really curious   to try that. And I’m really curious to try 
my first authentic Shanghai food right here!  They look really wobbly. I am so excited for 
my first proper Shanghai food experience.   Let’s grab one of these beauties. Oh wow, 
it’s so soft and wobbly already. Oh my god,   it’s already exploding! Wow, that is very fishy. 
I think it’s a bit too much for me, maybe.  I’m very full now. That was a nice lunch. Although 
I didn’t like one of the dishes, but that’s okay.   The other ones were really, really delicious, 
and it’s super packed, so it’s definitely a   really popular space to come to. However, here 
on the street, we’re not too far from People’s   Park. There are many, many restaurants around, 
so you can definitely find anything to eat here.  The buildings we are passing now on our 
way back to Nanjing Road look absolutely   incredible. They are really, really historical. 
It’s a traditional Gothic design. It comes   from the history of Shanghai. And this area was 
partially influenced by the West. And nowadays,   you see these beautiful buildings all around here.  Back on the main shopping road here, and I’m going 
to head now to The Bund, which is right at the   opposite end of the shopping street. It’s quite a 
long ride, so I’m going to jump on one of these to   get to the other end. Woohoo! We got the last row 
here! With that, we will have a view on the ride   all the way. Now, where do we pay? How much?
He came to pay. And we are off! Woohoo!   I know this is quite a touristic activity, but it 
helps to get across this super gigantic shopping   street in a quick way, and you get to see all the 
shops you might want to come back to later. And   while we’re driving here in this little tram, let 
me tell you about our hotel where we are staying.   It’s actually right here in the perfect location, 
nearby to this main busy shopping road. It looks   literally like such a cozy luxury hotel. It has 
the perfect interior design, a perfect location,   big, big room sizes. You have nice facilities 
around you, like a gym, a laundry machine,   and the staff is equally really nice. And just 
because of the location, I honestly think it   is the best hotel we could have taken while being 
here in Shanghai. And if you want to book the same   hotel, check down below in the description box 
because I’m going to leave the link to this hotel.  We have arrived. Not exactly to the right spot 
where I wanted to get to, but we are pretty,   pretty far already. So now, we’re going 
to keep walking in this direction to see   the water promenade. Awesome! You’re one 
step closer to the best view in the city.  One thing that I have also noticed while 
walking around the street here is how much   police presence there is. The police are here 
in cars and on little scooter machines. There   are lots and lots of cameras around as well. Am 
I bothered by it? Not at all. I just feel so safe   and secure here in China at any given point of 
the day, wherever I am. And I have rarely in my   life felt this level of security that I have 
here. Not once am I worried that something’s   going to happen to me or anyone around me. Not 
once am I worried about my phone being stolen   or anything theft-related. It just feels like 
a really nice law-abiding place, and for me,   as a German, that is ideal because I love places 
that follow the law. So, China is perfect.  Oh wow! Oh my lord, The Oriental Pearl is right 
in front of me! The whole skyline that I have seen   so many times in pictures—it’s all here right 
in front of me. How beautiful is this, my god!  Wow, what a view! Oh my god, I’m at the 
famous Shanghai skyline viewpoint. Wait,   wait a second! I need a moment. I need a moment 
to process this. Wow, that is so beautiful.  If you wait a little bit, you will definitely get 
this first-row spot here from which you have this   perfect straight view onto the Oriental 
Pearl, onto the Shanghai Tower, onto the   Bottle Opener building—all of that. But if you 
don’t want to wait for this spot right here, you   can actually walk around a little bit, in either 
direction, because it’s kind of like a circle. So,   you’re going to see the view from every angle. 
Did I just call it the Bottle Opener? Of course,   it’s the Bottle Opener. It looks like 
a bottle opener, not a bottleneck.  And the prime building right here to look at, 
of course, is the Oriental Pearl—the symbol   of Shanghai, the symbol that I have seen all 
my life since I was a child and saw pictures   of Shanghai. That’s what I think of when 
I think of the Oriental Pearl. But seeing   it in person is absolutely mind-blowing.
And did you know that the Oriental Pearl   is actually not the tallest building here in 
Shanghai? The tallest building is the Shanghai   Tower. In fact, it’s either the second or the 
third largest building in the whole world. And   the area where we are walking on right now is 
called the Bund. This area, back in the day,   used to be the financial district of Shanghai, so 
all of these beautiful buildings around had some   kind of association with finance. And as you can 
see, the architecture of them very much resembles   European style, and that is because this area had 
a really, really strong influence from European   countries or the West. And on this side over here 
is Pudong. That is New Shanghai, and it’s the new   financial district of this city. And you can see 
all the big banks standing out there. I see HSBC,   I see Citibank, some other banks as well.
Shanghai is really a unique place. I mean,   I keep thinking about it as I walk 
around here and explore the city,   but I think a lot of it comes from the point that 
the architecture, especially here at the Bund,   looks very different than anything else 
I have seen so far in China. And then,   combined with this very historical Gothic-looking 
architecture on the other end, you have all these   new builds—super high-rises, everything 
glass buildings. The contrast right here,   and the history of Shanghai, 
simply make it a unique place.  While the Bund is super nice to walk around, 
we’ll come back here in the evening. For now,   let’s head to the other side of the river. 
There are multiple ways to get there,   but the most fun one is probably a quick 
ferry ride. Trying to enter the ferry now.  A quick security check after we 
are already boarding the ferry.  But as you can see, it is very, very packed 
around me. I’m not sure I’m going to see too   much. There’s also inside seating and upper 
deck seating, but the windows are kind of   tinted. So this should be the best way to see 
the view from here while you ride. And the ride   only cost 2 yuan. That’s a public transport boat. 
It’s not one of the tourist boats that go around;   it literally goes from one end to the other. 
I can’t even show anything. Is there no space?   If you do manage to be a little bit further at the 
front, the views are simply incredible. And this,   while literally being on a public transport 
vehicle. I think we are almost docking,   so let’s head down before everyone else heads 
down—although people are already running.  The views at the port are already so 
different from where we just came from,   yet we literally just took a boat for a couple of 
minutes. We’ve made it to the other side! Woohoo!  Wow! And now I can see the Shanghai Tower 
from here. It is so tall and so beautiful.   And it’s actually rotating around. It’s 
not a straight tower as I thought. It’s   a little bit like a roundish shape, and I 
can definitely see how this is one of the   tallest buildings in the world. It is huge!
Straight from the boat, there is a little   pathway up to this elevated bridge walk, and 
you see it’s shining with yellow and blue   light. So, it’s equally really, really pretty. But 
many people are cycling here instead of walking,   so I wonder if we can grab one of those 
AliPay bikes and cycle around. And luckily,   we can. Oh no, I have really, really long pants 
today. I hope I don’t get stuck with them,   so I’m going to tuck them in a little bit. 
Whoop, and now they’re shorts! Let’s go!  The plan is to basically cycle up that 
path that we saw people cycling on. It   seems to be like an elevated bridge, and I 
hope to have a view onto the Bund. The Bund,   the Bund. The Bund is in German. Yeah, yeah, 
it’s in German. Oh, how fun! And we get a view   of the other side from here with no one around.
To be honest, I’m not even sure where this route   will lead me, but let’s see. I think the beauty 
of Shanghai is that you can explore it by walking   around or by cycling around without much of a 
plan. It is quite a dense city, so wherever you   go, something is going to happen. There are some 
key spots which I’m still going to visit over   the next couple of days. But I think part of the 
fun is literally just to explore without looking   at the map, and cycling is perfect for that.
Wow, the lights have just turned on! It is exactly   6:00 p.m. sharp. There’s been like a bell tower 
ringing and boom, lights around me. Because I was   like, “It’s a little bit dark here.” It’s quite 
surprising. “Why is the Oriental Pearl not on?”   But it was because sunset was happening. It was 
getting darker and darker, and now all the lights   are on. On the other side, I see the beautiful 
historical buildings shining in this perfect   yellow light that makes them even prettier.
And   I think it’s time to park a bike somewhere 
in a designated parking area because that   one needs to be found, and then we can walk 
around here. There are also some restaurants,   and they are really, really alive. So I 
think we’re going to have dinner right here.  Hey, we decided to come to Chili’s. There were 
three restaurants here on this water promenade.   One of them was German, one Italian, and one 
Chili’s, which is kind of Mexican-American,   something in between. It seemed to be very, 
very packed, so I hope this is really good.   And the menu looks massive. I think I’m going 
to go for the Mexican dishes here. That’s the   thing about Shanghai—you can easily find all the 
international cuisines. For a change, I still love   my hot pot, but for a change, Mexican is great.
After dinner, we jump back onto the bikes. Wow,   look at what I have just cycled towards! Wait, 
can you see it? The Oriental Pearl is right in   front of me! Oh wow! Oh my god! I’m literally 
seeing the Oriental Pearl, the building that   I’ve seen all my life in pictures, in 
videos, in screen savers, on anything.   I’ve dreamed about that thing a bit. It is right 
here! I’m too excited to care even about that.  The bike is all locked up, so now let’s walk 
around here. And this view on the Oriental Pearl,   from being so, so close to it, seeing 
it from the bottom view, feels like a   different universe here. Absolutely stunning.
Also, a little bit sad at the moment because I   just noticed that I forgot the case of my camera 
in the buggy of the last bicycle I drove. And I’m   not sure I can buy a separate part from DJI, 
and I’m not sure how I can store this camera   without the cover. So, that’s a little bit of 
a mood downer. But you know, there are worse   places to be sad than here with the Pearl.
Wow, it’s a full-on circle here—observation   platform circle. Wow! I’m absolutely speechless 
right now. Yet again, China has absolutely   outdone itself in the infrastructure here. The 
view from here, plus this observation circle,   and there’s also some animation on the circle 
itself—stunning, stunning, stunning, stunning.  So, I’ve just seen that this section outside 
of the circle goes over the road right there,   and then it leads into another mall. 
It’s called IFC Mall, but otherwise,   it leads straight up this way. And I think it 
continues. And if that’s the case, that would   be absolutely crazy because it’s literally a 
massive area to build on a second level. And   yet it’s so optimized because we are above a 
busy, busy road. We all get to enjoy the view,   the cars, us, the people, the mall, everyone. 
And you don’t hear a thing from the road   because everything is electric. So, it doesn’t 
really feel like you’re next to a massive road.  So the place that I’m heading to is a sightseeing 
tunnel with which I should be able to cross back   over to the Bund. It seems to be like a capsule 
that drives through a tunnel to the other side,   and you have to pay an entry price, which is 
50 yuan per person for one way, or 70 yuan if   you want to do both ways. And that’s as far as I 
know. I’m really not sure how the capsules look   like or what to expect, but there’s a security 
checkpoint, and I’m heading to the other side via   a capsule here. Oh, that looks nice. That is so 
cool. How interesting! Never been on that before,   so that’s new.
That capsule…  I understand the ocean theme now because we are 
going in a tunnel underwater. I literally forgot   that part because it looks so futuristic and cool. 
Look at it! How amazing! So amazing! Oh my god.  Salt in blue water.  I’m loving this! I think we have already arrived.
Shia, and now we are back on the other side. Just   like that! That’s how close both sides are to 
each other. And we took the ferry today. Now   we took the tunnel. The other option is, of 
course, to take the metro or I think there’s   also a bridge to go by car somewhere as well. 
And the exit from this tunnel is right here,   which is literally the point where we started 
earlier today when we went to see the beautiful   view from the Bund. And we’re going to be heading 
up these stairs right now to see it at night.  And guess what? I just sat down here 
on these stairs to look at the view,   but the lights turn off at 10:00 
p.m. sharp. And equally on that side,   everything is pretty much dark. There 
are some individual smaller lights,   like the logos and the names of things, but that’s 
it. The towers are off—10:00 p.m. sleeping time,   but the shopping street does not sleep at 
10:00 p.m. Yep, I was right. The street is   not sleeping. There are so many people around 
me. During the day, it was packed already,   but now it literally feels like everyone in 
Shanghai is right here, right now. And there   is one thing that has so much light. I think it’s 
a food court. And I think it’s the one that’s like   in Chongqing. Really bright and really packed. 
Oh my god, it is. No way! Look how fun it is!  Wow! Oh my god, what is happening? 
So much light! So much food!  Wow! Look at these sticks. That’s 
a big one. Oh my god. On this side,   there’s so much food. Can you imagine the smell in 
here? Like everything is being fried and cooked.   But now that I have come out of this 
lovely cool thing, I think it’s really,   really closing up here. People are reducing. 
Shops are closing. So, I think it’s time to   head to bed for me as well because tomorrow is 
another full day of sightseeing in Shanghai,   and I’m going to be seeing very, very different 
things. So see you tomorrow. Good morning!   It is day two in Shanghai, and I am already 
out and about on the metro heading to my next   destination this morning, and it’s going to 
be a temple, which I’m so excited to see.  Wow! I mean, I just came out of the metro station 
here, and there is a full-on bakery eating area,   good-looking cakes, food section—literally a 
centimeter from the exit of the train station.   Really, really convenient. Situation escalated! We   have a full-on baguette now because it’s 
been a while since the last baguette,   and it smells like garlic. So nice. And 
some dessert-y parts with cookie and all.   Not going to have all of that together, but 
I mean, it smells amazing. I need to buy it.  We have arrived at the Jing’an Temple, and 
it is a historical Buddhist temple. A really,   really beautiful one and definitely one 
that you must visit as a first-timer   in Shanghai. At least that’s what I 
read online, and that’s why I’m here,   and I’m so excited to explore the whole complex 
because there’s a lot to see in here. And the   first thing that I have noticed already is that 
in the middle of the temple, there is this metal   statue or monument. I’m not really sure how it’s 
called, but people are throwing coins at it, and   then they are bouncing off. Because my theory is 
that they are trying to reach the second, third,   or fourth floor with these little holes in there, 
and maybe the coins are supposed to fall inside,   but you can’t reach them. So, they just bounce 
off, and as you walk around here, you just see   coins flying around like little fireworks. It’s 
really, really unique. Never seen that before. So,   let me know in the comments below what the meaning 
of that is. What are they trying to achieve?  Decided to start exploring by heading up these 
stairs in the middle of the temple, because I   think… wow, that is impressive. How beautiful! 
That is a giant golden Buddha, I think. Really   impressive! The temple is incredibly beautiful. 
Really, really, really stunning and unique. The   roofs are golden. They have golden details on 
them. The structure itself is dark wood-colored.   And that’s not all, because there are also 
intricate carvings everywhere in the wooden   structures, like these fences around everywhere. 
Wherever you look, it’s just like a wow effect.   And I haven’t even left the city center of 
Shanghai. All I did is take the train for two   or three stops, and I’m here in this beautiful, 
beautiful temple complex that I could explore.  And since this temple is an active place of 
worship, I happened to be there at the time   of prayer.
Hey,   the temple basically borders the shops. 
That is literally the same wall there,   and it’s a whole district area with shopping, 
many, many restaurants. It’s quite fun here   as well to just walk around the temple.
Can we also just talk about the crazy   weather changes in Shanghai? Yesterday it 
was nice and sunny, around 25–26°C. Today,   I’m wearing a sweater, and I have another jacket 
with me and a scarf. It’s really, really windy.  The selection of coffee places is 
absolutely gigantic in Shanghai. In fact,   it’s said that there are more than 7,000 coffee 
places in the city. Wherever you look, you will   find not only aesthetically beautiful places but 
the coffee equally tastes amazing. It also gives   you a little opportunity to sit and reflect.
I’m also really, really regretting starting   the day quite late today. I think you need 
to start early in Shanghai when it comes to   exploring because sites are actually quite close 
to each other. You can access them by walking,   by cycling, by public transport, all of that. And 
if you have a longer day, you can see more of that   in one day. So I’m still hoping to see as much as 
possible of what I’ve planned for today. But if I   don’t see something, that doesn’t mean you can’t 
see it. Because if you start your day earlier,   you definitely can squeeze in more activities.
Feeling way, way better after my coffee. The   caffeine is definitely going through the 
bloodstream right now. And I plan to go   to the French Concession next, but it is very 
gloomy today, very grayish, and I think it’s   going to get dark even earlier today just 
because of the whole no-sun situation. So,   I’m heading to the Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar 
instead. That area doesn’t only have some nature,   but also comes alive during the night, 
which I think is perfect for today.  And on the way now to the train, there’s a little 
bit of a park area in here that has a market,   between a food market and a shopping market, 
and there was a stall with cats inside. I’m   not sure what was happening there. Are 
they for sale or are they his cats? No   idea. Let me know in the comments below if 
you know why there are cats at such a market.  Wow, what a station we have arrived to! Look how 
beautiful it is. As usual, stations in China just   keep on surprising me every single time. But at 
this point, I should be like, “Okay, it’s going   to be beautiful.” And this one is definitely 
really pretty. Oh wow, it gets pink up there.  Wow, it looks so packed in the street there. 
I’m going to be heading there after the park. At   least that was my plan—to explore the Yu Yuan 
Bazaar later on today. About the buildings:   the architecture is quite different 
from everything else that I’ve seen   in Shanghai so far already. Looks really unique.
A man came up to us, offered us to see his tea   shop, and then we asked him where is the Yu Yuan 
Garden, and he was like, “Yu Yuan Garden closed.”   And now he’s walking somewhere. We are following 
him. I think to the garden. Maybe it’s not closed   after all, but he’s bringing us there. So nice! 
Oh, so pretty here. Can’t wait to explore this   area later. It’s really, really beautiful. 
It’s so packed. Wow, so yummy. Very nice.  Wow. Wait, wait, wait. Wow! Amazing.
Thank you!  Oh, so nice that he brought us here, but it’s 
closed already. I didn’t think it would close that   early. It’s supposed to be like a really, really 
beautiful garden. It used to be a private garden,   so you know, when something used to be private, 
it’s really special from the looks of it.   The garden looks so special. Look at the 
roofs of the buildings over there. Like   almost hyper-historical. But next time, you know, 
I’ll come back another day when it’s not closed.  And there’s this garden right here as well, just 
across it. I don’t know what it’s called, but it   equally looks pretty. And that looks like 
a bamboo path—a bamboo forest right in the   middle of the city, right next to this busy, 
touristic, fun shopping area. And yet we have   this little piece of nature and greenery. 
And that is what Shanghai really shines in,   I think—combining big, beautiful, diverse parks 
with really fun city vibes just next to it.  Okay, I’ve left the park, and let’s explore 
this area. We still have a little bit of light,   but I think it’s the perfect time to see 
the transition period in here. I think this   is really a place that shines at night. So, 
if you come, I guess around afternoon time,   visit the gardens and then explore this 
area. I think that sounds like a perfect   itinerary plan for me. But as you see, not 
everything works out as planned. It happens.  The architecture is incredibly special here. 
We have French-style-looking architecture   here in this white building. 
Then, very, very beautiful,   I think, like ancient Chinese. And 
then on this side, we have kind of   a combination with white and then the same 
roof structure with yellow lights. So pretty.  It says chocolate museum here.
Is that chocolate? Wow!   I am fascinated. It’s really such an artistic 
skill to be able to carve out animals from   something that is melting right under your 
hands. And even there, the decoration looks   like little chocolate drops. And it has 
another floor as well. And to my knowledge,   it’s free! Like I just entered, nobody asked me 
to buy a ticket. That’s incredible. They also have   really cool shops. They have this little scooter 
luggage. I tried it out already at the electronic   market in Shenzhen, but right here, in the middle 
of the street! Absolutely, I want to try it out.  Wait, I want to bring it to the main road. 
Come, my little luggage. Come. And that’s   how I disappear with the luggage. 
No, they have my backpack in exchange   like this. Right? Yeah, yeah.
Oh, it’s not very stable, I have to tell you that.   Oh, ni hao. Hello! Look at us on our two luggages 
next to each other. Woohoo! That’s so fun!   Okay, I think I can rent them from 
them for the whole evening here.   It doesn’t really take corners well.
Amazing, right? I don’t know what it   is. I don’t speak Chinese. I want this for a 
race. Ah, to race? No, I’m not good at racing.   It’s really fun. I’ll return it now though. 
Woohoo! Being filmed by the seller as well. That’s   it. Let me return it. Want to explore the area 
further? I wish I could take the suitcase with me,   but I will continue on foot. And this place is 
like stepping into old Shanghai, but with a lot   more snacks and souvenirs around. There are 
tons of little shops selling everything from   tea to toys. The lights on the red architecture 
create that matching mystical and relaxing vibe   at the same time. This is central Shanghai, but it 
honestly feels like a mini-city within Shanghai.  And look, they have a little bit of a 
Venice, Italy, feeling here with a path   on a water canal and then a beautiful garden 
in the middle that has this scenery to look   at from the side. And I know that it is 
kind of a tourist place. There are many,   many souvenir shops—everything towards 
shopping and buying something, which is fun.   But I think they’ve made it in a really, really 
pretty way to have all that architecture around.   So you don’t feel like you’re on a tourist trap. 
You feel like you’re in a really pretty place   that just happens to have a lot of shopping 
here. And it’s more fun this way, I think.  But the fun doesn’t end here. There are also 
many shows. Let’s get some water. And of course,   we are in China, so it’s a digital display 
instead of a vending machine with bottles   where you can see it. Um, this one, 3 
yuan, and it’s a QR code. So, Alipay…  Wait, I don’t think my wallet will work. What 
should I do? I haven’t set up the payment there.   Uh, this? Yeah. Yeah, I don’t have 
money there. Oh, and this right here   is the Chinese friendliness in just one perfect 
example of many that I encountered. This lady   saw me struggling with the payment and jumped 
in, scanned the QR code herself, paid for me,   and then I transferred her the money back. But 
she didn’t even hesitate a second to help me   out here. And this is really the essence of the 
Chinese friendliness that I saw so, so many times.  And the transfer continues here with 
another QR code. 31. Yeah. Okay. Shia.   So sweet that she helped me directly with 
her payment, and it’s coming through. Yeah,   there we go. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Tada! And 
cold water from a digital vending machine.  Let’s get back to the food options in this 
area because with so many food options around,   you can grab anything—especially some soup 
dumplings, which are famous in this area. But I’m   heading to a different restaurant. Two. Oh, wow. 
Here we go. Ni hao! Two people, please. Here I am.  And I’ve had this restaurant planned to eat 
at—or one of the options—and now I saw, oh,   shia! So now I saw that it has a Michelin 
recommendation as well, which makes it even   nicer. Now, my expectations are super high to see 
what I’m going to get here. So we ordered some   steamed buns, some pickled hot cabbage, or like 
sour cabbage. It was some spring rolls and sour,   ah, sour and sweet pork. That was the one. 
Okay, that is the sweet and sour pork. Oo,   smells really fragrant. And that is the cabbage. 
Oh my god! I think it’s like Russian cabbage,   fermented pickles. If that’s the case, I’ll be 
the happiest person on earth in exactly 5 seconds.  54, like Russian cabbage. Oh, I love 
that pickled cabbage. Really crunchy,   has a little bit of carrot inside, and it has 
a sourish and sweet feeling to it. It hasn’t   been fermented too long, so it’s not too sour.
I’ve actually read that the sweet and sour sauce   that I’m quite familiar with from Chinese 
cuisine takeaway in Europe is coming a lot   from Shanghai—from this region. That’s the place 
that brought it to us, and I’m forever grateful.  After the meal, I headed back toward the direction 
of the Bund with the goal to go on a night cruise,   but the last ferry had already left. Instead, 
I decided to walk around the Bund—Shanghai’s   historical waterfront, where grand colonial-area 
buildings are facing the modern skyscrapers of   Pudong. And once the heart of international 
finance and trade in the early 20th century,   it is now a symbol of the city’s dramatic 
blend of old and new. And really,   the best time to walk alongside these 
buildings is at night when the gentle   yellow light brings out the best 
in these historical architectures.  Conveniently, the beautiful street with the 
old houses leads straight to Nanjing Street,   the shopping street. If you take a left, that’s 
where I am now, because that’s the path to my   hotel. And I’m going to head to bed very, 
very soon because tomorrow is going to be   a better sightseeing day. Hopefully, I’ll arrive 
at things before they are closed and see you soon!  Good morning from day three in Shanghai! I’m 
exploring the French Concession this morning   and currently I’m working toward Wukang Road, 
which I read online is the place to come to   for a first-timer to get the full vibe, the full 
feeling of the French Concession because the area   is actually massive. So I’m really curious to see 
what happens when I get there because already now   as I’m walking there from the metro station, 
there are trees lining up on the roads. The   houses look a little bit different. The whole vibe 
around here starts to feel a little bit European,   I would call it. But let’s see what happens 
when we get to the main place, the main road.  The reason why this feels very much like Europe 
is because back in the day, this used to be a   French administrative district in Shanghai and is 
now known as the Paris of the East. There’s also   a huge amount of that colonial architecture still 
preserved here. So it’s very much a example of the   past in the French Concession. And nowadays, this 
is equally quite a hot spot to live in Shanghai,   especially for international people. And I 
think one of the reasons for that is because   there is quite a vibe here. It really feels 
like a cool place to be—a place that has many   international restaurants, many coffee shops. 
Like it’s fun around here. It’s definitely fun,   and even if you walk around here as a tourist, 
you definitely get that sense of the fun vibe.  Oo, that was a loud one! 
That’s what this district has.  So my plan is to just walk around this area and 
see what I can find. And I think I found something   really, really nice. So I came from Wukang 
Road, took a right, and now I’m on Anfu Road,   which has even more coffee shops, restaurants 
here, lots of seating areas with small chairs to   do some people-watching. Perfect for people like 
me who love to do that. So there are also many,   many queues around. So I think it’s very much 
the Instagram place, the place of the cool coffee   houses. You want to try out all of that fun stuff.
Right here it is! And I may have just found the   coolest place. Is that a human? Ni 
hao! Oh, that is a human! Hello! Hug   a hug! What is that even? Let’s enter. Bye-bye.
What are we in here? It’s like a shop for toys.  I don’t know what is happening 
here. It feels just so, so cool!  I mean, I’ve never seen a 
nicer staircase than here,   I think. But I do think it’s like 
a toy store. Really cool toy store.  And overall, this street is just super 
walkable and so photogenic. Wherever I go,   I just want to stop and take pictures. And 
I’m definitely not the only one with that   wish because there are so many photographers 
around here. I would be really, really curious   to know how much it is to rent a flat here. Let 
me know in the comments below if you’re from   this area or if you know the prices in Shanghai.
Exactly! I’m for lunch, and there was this little   restaurant just on the road with the perfect 
outdoor seating in the sun. The weather is ideal   for that today, and it is definitely packed. Every 
single table is full. I think we got the last   outside table. The food in here is very western, 
so I got an avocado toast. Very looking forward to   that! Haven’t had that in forever. And I think 
here in the French Concession is the place to   have a little bit of western food. This really 
felt like I’m back in Europe and not in China   anymore. Sure, you can always find Chinese food in 
Shanghai, but trying out some of the international   restaurants is equally part of what Shanghai is, 
and that is a very internationally friendly place.  There is such a nice vibe here. It’s very 
difficult to put into words because it’s very   much not comparable to anything I’ve seen before. 
As such, the combination of the Asian vibe, the   western vibe, the European vibe, the international 
vibe—it’s all in here. And it’s really,   really special to walk through here. Even if you 
walk through such a, I guess, hipstery street that   is filled with coffee houses and many boutique 
stores, you will still find the local Chinese   food chain, the local fruit shop, and all of that. 
So it doesn’t disappear. It just blends in the   most perfect way here. And I’m loving it. I wish 
I could stay here longer. Like, plant me here!  Coffee shops — What a surprise! Coffee. It’s 
the one we can get. Oh, true! Should I get the   Mana coffee one? I think that could be, yeah. How 
much’s the price here for the coffee? Flat white   for 15! That’s really a bargain. And I’ve actually 
noticed that a lot of coffee shops here in this   area have really good prices for coffee because 
there are so many coffee shops, so you need   to stay competitive if you want the customers.
Yum! Very, very strong. Right, I have my coffee,   and I’m seeing lots of bikes around 
this area because it’s actually very,   very cyclable. And my next destination is going 
to be the Fuxing Park, a really, really popular   park in this area. From what I’ve read, this used 
to be the first French-inspired park in Shanghai,   so I need to go there and see it for myself right 
now. And instead of walking, I’m keen to grab one   of these bikes. But, well, the bike rental didn’t 
quite work for me. Instead of taking the bike,   I’m taking the bus. And it has already arrived. 
First time on a bus in Shanghai! And it’s a   double-decker. How cool!
Ni hao!  Okay.
Yes! Look at that bus! Wow!   This chair is soft and plastic-covered. 
I like that. And the view is so nice.  There’s so much more to see in Shanghai, but one 
area specifically was on my itinerary for the day,   and that’s where I’m heading to now. 
Tada! Welcome to the Fuxing Park. I made   it to the next stop of the day, and this is a 
French-style park. It is really, really big,   really, really green, and beautiful. All I 
hear are birds around me. There are a few   spots in the park which are kind of notable 
to visit, and I’m heading toward one of them,   which is the rose garden. Let’s just 
find the right direction here. Now,   if that doesn’t look French, then I don’t know 
what does. We are still in Shanghai! Every time   I have to keep telling myself this in my head 
because everything around me looks like Europe.  Also, the parks are the place to come to if 
you want to see real local life in China,   especially with the elderly generation. They 
are dancing, exercising, walking around here,   sitting. And with that comes natural human 
curiosity. I love to just smile at them,   say hello, they say hello. I feel like 
I’m part of that big community somehow.  Woohoo! Want to dance with 
them already! Beautiful!  Beautiful! I love it! He has like a vest and a 
white shirt and all that—really fancy. So cute!  And while I’m waiting for my red light 
to cross here, let me tell you about   this area where I have arrived to. It’s called 
Tianzifang. At least that’s how I read it. Well,   probably I’m saying that wrong. And it used to be 
a factory district around the 1930s but has been   transformed into an art district in the 2000s 
or a little bit later than that. So I’m really,   really curious to see what it is, how that looks 
like. It’s supposed to be like small alleyways,   lots of artsy shops, cool vibes, all 
of that fun stuff. And it’s still red,   and I already said my whole 
introduction to this area.  Wow!
Mi hao! I thought it’s a bag,   but it’s small little bags! Coins! Coin coins! 
Oh, nice! Oh, also the pig. Very pretty! And   everything! Leather bags, right? Really pretty. 
Everything! I like your chandelier, Shishi!  There is a little bar in the middle of 
the street. It definitely feels very,   very artsy in here. Compared to the place that we 
visited yesterday, the Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar,   this has kind of a similar vibe, but yet again, 
not. It feels way more artistic, way more cute,   like a little rabbit waiter. Oh, sorry! Really, 
really pretty. There are many designer stores,   really unique small items, like cool 
pieces that you wouldn’t find somewhere   else. It’s definitely not like chain shops.
I think just the fact that this used to be a   factory complex and now has been transformed 
into this beautiful area, a touristic hub,   just speaks a lot about the change that Shanghai 
has gone through in its history. It has changed   all these places to become something nicer, 
more for the people, more for the public.   And every time I visit a place like this, I’m 
literally jealous of the Chinese people who   can have all these things in their city and 
come here. You know, you have so much variety   and things. It’s really, really fun!
Ever wanted a lobster as an earring?   You can find that here. Or like 
an orange. Is that a real fruit?  So creative. So creative.  I had such a fun time exploring Tianzifang 
and browsing through all the little stores,   but I think it is time to head to another area 
that I had planned for today. And it’s not too far   away. Just a short bicycle ride for me again. So 
I’m going to unlock this one now and head there.  Arrived at Xintiandi. It’s a really vibrant 
area with so many restaurants around. It’s   like really the place to be at in the evening, 
and that’s exactly why I came here. So I’m going   to be walking around, see what there is, see 
if there’s anything I want to eat and explore.  Oh, wow. There is this soap place here—a shop. 
It’s called AO Soap. I think I really don’t know   how to pronounce that correctly, but it is this 
really nice smelling soap and hand lotion. I’ve   seen that many, many times, but I don’t think I’ve 
actually ever tried their soap products. And then   here they have a sink outside. Like, literally, 
you don’t even have to feel bad for coming in and   trying the soaps but then deciding not to buy it. 
So, I’m going to try the soap, of course. Oh, it   smells so nice already! Ah, you know, that smells 
like a nice spa somewhere. Wow, that feels really   nice. Okay, scrub is done. I’ll be so clean there. 
There’s no seller at all. Is it even open? Nice!  Now, use my big pants as a hand towel. 
They also have hand lotion. Of course,   I won’t say no to that. It’s empty. Nobody 
said no to that! This one is also empty.   Got a bit of a smell. So nice. Let’s continue. I 
need to wait to soak that in before I continue.  Wow, look at the coat that I just found. Let me 
stand next to it for comparison. It’s very big.   Is it real though? That’s the question. We 
make it bigger. That’s crazy! That’s very,   very… it’s like a bed almost.
It came from Norway, where? From   a Norway company. So it’s very warm. Yes, 
it’s really nice. Really like high-quality   down pouch to keep your phone also nice and 
warm. It looks like the Uniqlo pouch though.  In fact, I’ve just seen that they 
have a gelato store, this one, Veni,   and we also have it in Covent Garden in London. 
So, I was thinking, you know what? Let’s get   an ice cream! This chain serves Italian 
gelato. It is a bit pricey, but oh my,   the flavors are simply excellent! I always go for 
a hazelnut and pistachio combo as a must. And with   a small seating option outside, it’s also cute to 
sit there and feel the atmosphere of this area.  From what I can see, there’s a lot of 
international food here—like Italian,   Spanish food. I saw really nice pizza. 
Pizza! You want pizza? Maybe? Maybe, yeah,   why not? We’ve been seated now, and definitely, I 
can see a lot of pizza here. I feel like getting   a good pizza in China is like striking gold. 
So I’m hoping that we’ve struck gold here,   and it looks like it because I’ve seen the 
pizzas. They look really thick-crusted and   really nice—like the sauce on top. It smells 
amazing. Now, let’s just see how it tastes.  The menu is definitely big because 
there’s also pasta, steaks, salads,   and starters. A lot, a lot of good stuff. And 
the restaurant itself has outside seating,   inside seating, upstairs seating, backyard 
seating—like a lot of people are here right now.  Pizza has arrived! Oh, I’m so excited. First bite.   Was this the best pizza of my life? 
Probably not, but it was a pizza,   and sometimes you need one, right?
The nice part about this area is   that it’s so compact as well. And you can 
definitely have a look at where you want   to eat and then go for cocktails later. You 
can also come to a nice-looking Starbucks   over here. Definitely a fun area, with lots of 
energy and vibes around here. Good for dinner,   specifically because, look at those lights. Looks 
like Christmas, and it’s not Christmas right now.  But now, let’s move on from here. Next place!
Hello! Oh, so cute! Look at this fluffy… is it a   puppy baby? Oh, you’re so cute! Five months. Okay, 
just a few dog cuddles in between, and we can go!  We are heading back to the iconic skyline view 
of Shanghai, but this time for a cruise around   the water. The one that I didn’t make the other 
day. The weather has changed completely to rainy,   and it’s also quite cloudy. So, some of the 
buildings are hidden, but it’s okay. We’re   still going to see lots and lots of other 
lights, covering my cameras with my life,   my mic, and my camera almost on the boat. 
It’s really pretty! It’s a really big one.   I hope it can be on the very top. Although it’s 
a little bit too rainy, probably maybe a little   bit. They also have second floor and ground floor.
Wow! That’s definitely nice here. I’m so excited.   Look at that pretty boat passing! Unfortunately, 
even the Oriental Pearl is almost fully covered   by now with cloud. The Shanghai Tower is properly 
fully covered. That’s okay though, because I want   to see like what else we’re going to see around, 
apart from the ones we can see here from the Bund.   And obviously, seeing them now while driving is 
going to be really, really different as well.  Wow, that’s really, really pretty!
Woohoo, so excited! I really, really,   really wanted to get on this boat, and this 
is literally one of the top activities you   can do in Shanghai—taking this boat. There 
are so many ticket booths along the water.  It just gets better and better, because all 
this I haven’t even seen once! So this is   my first view on everything that is beyond 
the Bund view, and it’s incredible! I think   all this is residential buildings, hotels, 
and I think some companies, ladies as well.   All that. Look at the colors. Like the 
colors everywhere are spectacular. They   make everything so beautiful. And I feel like 
China knows exactly how to utilize color and   light to make something so beautiful even more 
beautiful. It simply amazes me all the time.  Okay, the rain is getting 
too strong. Let’s head down!  Made it off in one piece off the boat, but 
the rain is getting stronger and stronger.   So I think it is a good time to call it a night 
and end my 3 days of exploring Shanghai right   here. I have enjoyed exploring the city so, 
so much. And I feel like I got to see the   must-visit spots over the last couple of days, 
but of course, there’s so, so much more to see.  So let me know in the comments below what else 
should I be seeing on my next visit to Shanghai   because most definitely, I will be back here. 
And if you have enjoyed watching this video,   please be sure to hit that like button 
to support me and so that other people   can find it as well. And make sure to 
subscribe so you don’t miss out on my   other videos about Asia or the world. And if you 
haven’t watched my other videos about China yet,   that’s a good spot to jump over to them now. 
And I will see you in the next one. Bye!