Your Trip to Shanghai

Shanghai is both historic and futuristic, fashion- and food-forward, and full of cultural sights to explore. The food scene (of local, regional, and international variety) is strong, and some of Asia’s (and the world’s) top ranked bars and restaurants can be found here. The city’s wealth of museums and exhibition halls chronicle the country’s history and house its art. The skyscrapers of Pudong district vie for world records of height and luxury, and the Shanghai Fashion Weeks are two of the most important events of the year for the fashion industry. Plan some of your days here, but allow yourself time to wander and discover its diverse neighborhoods. You might find yourself at a jazz show, discover an amazing xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) restaurant, or even stumble into a 400-year-old garden. Make a few plans, but also keep your schedule somewhat open to let Shanghai surprise and delight you.Shanghai is famous for its regional cuisine, which capitalizes on its proximity to the coast. Dishes are known to be sweeter and oilier than other regions in China. Their most famous culinary claims to fame are xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), which were invented in a village just north of the city. Other Shanghai specialties include si da jin gang (the four warriors of breakfast), yellow croaker noodles, and hairy crab. A large number of highly skilled chefs and restaurateurs have also shaped the culinary scene and made the Bund area the epicenter of creative and fine dining in Shanghai. However, for street food, head to Fangbang Xi Lu by Yuyuan Garden.Microbreweries, wine bars, speakeasies, and rooftop bars can all be found in Shanghai. For a drink with a view, head to the Bund. For hip haunts, head to the Former French Concession. Baijiu is the national cheap spirit, but in recent years, it has received a makeover by being used as a base in cocktail bars, featuring higher-end varieties from different regions. Healer in the FFC is particularly known for their baijiu creations. Tea culture is pervasive throughout China, and Shanghai is no exception. Go to a teahouse to experience a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in which you can see the tea prepared in front of you by a tea master. A tea ceremony will have several varieties of tea for you to taste and the tea master will explain not only about the properties and qualities of tea you are sampling but also how they are important to Chinese culture as well.Tipping is not a typical practice in Shanghai. In the fancier hotels and high-end restaurants, a tip might be included (10 to 15 percent), but most restaurants, taxis, and other services will not include or expect a tip. If you try to tip people at a local restaurant, they might actually be offended, as it could be seen as a loss of face (embarrassment, but the concept of “face” goes deeper than that). #trip#上海旅行 #thingstodoshanghai