10 Cool and Quirky Things to Do in Shanghai! ✴️🗺
Shanghai is a city that thrives on surprises, blending towering skyscrapers with ancient traditions. Let's step off the beaten path and dive into unusual experiences that reveal its rich history and quirky spirit.
From marriage markets to insect bazaars, this guide reveals 10 unique and unusual activities ideal for adventurous souls seeking a fresh perspective on this dynamic city. Let’s explore the fun!
1️⃣ Shanghai Marriage Market
➜ What It Is
A bustling outdoor matchmaking event in People's Park, Huangpu District (near People's Square Metro Station, Exit 19), where parents post personal ads for their adult children on umbrellas and posters.
➜ Why It’s Fun
It's a quirky cultural spectacle perfect for people-watching, offering a humorous and insightful peek into modern Chinese dating dynamics amid the park's lively atmosphere.
➜ The Story
Emerging in the early 2000s as a response to China's competitive marriage culture and one-child policy pressures, this weekend ritual (Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 PM) reflects traditional values clashing with urban life, drawing curious locals and visitors since its informal start in 2004.
2️⃣ Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
➜ What It Is
A 647-meter underground tram ride beneath the Huangpu River, connecting the Bund in Puxi to Lujiazui in Pudong (entrance near the Bund's Peace Hotel).
➜ Why It’s Fun
The psychedelic light show, complete with flashing LEDs, sound effects, and trippy projections, turns a simple crossing into a surreal, kitschy adventure that's hilariously over-the-top.
➜ The Story
Opened in 2000 as a modern transport link, it evolved into a multimedia attraction blending technology with whimsy, symbolizing Shanghai's fusion of East-West innovation and its rapid post-1990s development.
3️⃣ Shanghai Flower, Bird, Fish & Insect Market
➜ What It Is
A vibrant Baofeng Flowers and Birds Market in Pudong sells exotic pets like crickets, goldfish, birds, and insects in a maze of stalls.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Browsing chirping crickets in bamboo cages or colorful fish offers a sensory overload and quirky shopping experience, ideal for cultural immersion and unique souvenirs like fighting crickets.
➜ The Story
Rooted in ancient Chinese hobbies from the Ming Dynasty, where crickets were kept for luck or gambling, this market preserves folk traditions in a modern city, operating daily but busiest on weekends.
4️⃣ Thames Town
➜ What It Is
A ghost-town replica of an English village in Songjiang District (reachable by Metro Line 9 to Songjiang University Town Station, then a short taxi), featuring Tudor houses, churches, and cobblestone streets.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Wandering the eerie, underpopulated streets feels like stepping into a surreal movie set, perfect for atmospheric photography and a bizarre contrast to Shanghai's hustle.
➜ The Story
Built in 2006 as part of the "One City, Nine Towns" project to create themed suburbs for the growing middle class, it remains mostly vacant due to high prices, embodying China's ambitious urban experiments in the early 2000s.
5️⃣ 1933 Old Millfun
➜ What It Is
A Brutalist architectural complex at 10 Shajing Road, Hongkou District (near Hailun Road Metro Station, Exit 2), formerly a slaughterhouse now housing cafes, galleries, and shops.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Its maze of concrete bridges, ramps, and asymmetric staircases creates a Gotham-like playground for exploration and urban photography, with a creative vibe that's delightfully disorienting.
➜ The Story
Constructed in 1933 as Asia's largest abattoir by British architects, it symbolized Shanghai's industrial boom; repurposed in the 2000s into a cultural hub, it highlights the city's shift from manufacturing to innovation.
6️⃣ Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre
➜ What It Is
A hidden museum in the basement of a residential block at 868 Huashan Road, Changning District, displaying over 6,000 Communist-era posters.
➜ Why It’s Fun
The kitschy, vibrant artwork offers a satirical and educational dive into propaganda, with a gift shop for quirky replicas—great for history buffs seeking a thought-provoking twist.
➜ The Story
Founded in 1995 by a private collector amid post-Cultural Revolution sensitivities, it preserves posters from the 1940s to 1980s, capturing Mao-era ideology and Shanghai's role as a revolutionary art center.
🔴 Note: Entry is by appointment or small fee; respect the residential setting and avoid flash photography.
7️⃣ Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
➜ What It Is
A memorial site at 62 Changyang Road, Hongkou District (near Tilanqiao Metro Station), including a restored synagogue and exhibits on wartime refugees.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Personal artifacts, videos, and stories create an emotional, interactive journey, blending history with a quiet neighborhood stroll for a reflective adventure.
➜ The Story
During WWII, Shanghai sheltered over 20,000 European Jews fleeing Nazis from 1933-1941, when no other country would; the museum, opened in 2007, honors this "Shanghai Ghetto" era, showcasing cross-cultural resilience.
8️⃣ M50 Creative Park
➜ What It Is
A graffiti-filled art district at 50 Moganshan Road, Putuo District (near Shanghai Railway Station Metro), converted from old textile factories into galleries and studios.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Watching artists at work in open studios and discovering street art in hidden alleys provides a vibrant, inspiring escape, perfect for creative souls and casual wandering.
➜ The Story
Transformed in the early 2000s from derelict 1930s mills into China's premier contemporary art zone, it reflects Shanghai's post-reform artistic renaissance, attracting global talent while preserving industrial heritage.
9️⃣ Chenxiang Temple
➜ What It Is
A small Buddhist pavilion at 29 Chenxiangge Road, Huangpu District (in the Old Town, near Yuyuan Garden Metro but tucked in an alley), featuring intricate carvings and a sandalwood Buddha replica.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Its serene dome and quiet courtyards offer a peaceful contrast to the city's chaos, with optional incense rituals for a meditative, fairytale-like cultural dip.
➜ The Story
Built in 1600 during the Ming Dynasty, the original statue was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution; a replica was rebuilt in the 1990s, and it embodies Shanghai's enduring spiritual traditions amid modernization.
🔟 Tianshan Tea City
➜ What It Is
A multi-floor tea emporium at 520 Zhongshan West Road, Changning District (near Loushanguan Road Metro), with hundreds of vendors offering rare teas and accessories.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Sampling exotic brews like pu-erh or oolong in private tastings turns shopping into a flavorful adventure, ideal for foodies seeking authentic sensory delights.
➜ The Story
Established in the 1990s as Shanghai's largest tea wholesale hub, it draws on centuries-old Chinese tea culture from the Tang Dynasty, providing a window into the city's trading heritage in a bustling, aromatic setting.
💥Ready to explore Shanghai’s quirkiest corners? These adventures await—share your favorites!
Share your favorite hidden gems in the comments!
#Chinatravel #shanghai #shanghaihiddengems #shanghaitravel #hiddengems