Doing things the local way in Shanghai

Plan your Shanghai tour? Just rush to some must to see highlights, or you may add some finer things in Shanghai – doing the things as the locals.

Shanghai has a lot to offer other than its high-rises, the Bund, the dazzling skyline as the most developed and populated metropolitan city in the mainland China since its brilliant history and development are fascinating enough to ignite the imagination of all ages.

While amazed by its skyscrapers and skylines, why not create memories that will last a lifetime and do the things the local too !

Visit the local enchanting Longtang

When in Shanghai, it is advisable to traverse the old longtangs, a journey through the past tow centuries that hardens your authentic impression of Shanghai.

Walk through the longtangs, the unique form of architecture with a good combination of Chinese and Western style, you will feel the folk and residential culture of old Shanghai behind the futuristic buildings booming everywhere.

Shanghai has long been a city of immigrants. In early 19th century, the sudden influx of Westerners and rural Chinese, and their cultural mixing, is the main cause that led to the unique architecture of the longtangs.

They are just fund to visit. To see the the real and authentic longtangs, you should walk around the places like Fuxing West Road (复兴西路) and and Xinzha Road (新闸路) in Shanghai .

Taking your map of Shanghai and get their directions for the longtangs from your hotel staff and start your old Shanghai journey.

Eat locally both roadside eateries and cozy restaurants

As a metropolitan city, Shanghai a haven for foodies with its abundant supplies of local, provincial and international cuisines. Shanghai cuisine is traditionally called Benbang cuisine.

Although Shanghai’s oily, sugary and soy sauce-doused cuisine can’t be considered as the best cuisine in China, it does offer you a unique food experience with options of from roadside stalls to Michelin-star restaurants.

Your local food tour starts with the famous soup dumpling – Xiaolongbao. You need to puncture the dumpling wrap to let out the steam before slowing slurping the soup and eating the wrap. To be a bit adventurous exploring the street food, you will become a true Shanghainese if you taste stinky tofu, the smelliest food in the city, fermented and plenty offensive to the nose.

It is one of the most favorite snacks in Shanghai. Just have a try to be local, adding to your memory of Shanghai. The list of the local food experiences could be much longer. You may find the authentic Shanghai food at Yuyuan Bazaar, Yunnan Nan Road, near Yan’an Road.

Buy locally at markets

Although malls and shopping centers are becoming more popular, the majority of Shanghai locals still do shopping in markets.

Wandering and shopping in the markets in Shanghai is worth your short Shanghai trip. These roadside markets sell a wide range of items including purses, watches, clothes, Chinese medicine, walking sticks, silk umbrellas, bamboo and rattan furniture, goldfish and the list can be much much longer. Different markets have their own targets, such as Qipu Road Market is designed for clothes.

Check out the Top 10 Markets in Shanghai for more information.

Qipu Road clothing Market (上海七浦路服装批发市场) is the largest whole sale and retail clothing market in Shanghai which offers a massive number of men’s wear, women’s wear and children’s wear. It has a history of over 100 years.

There are various of products sold here, both for domestic market and international market, such as clothing, apparels, children’s clothes, underwear, skirts, shoes, jeans, T-shirts, bags, and other related products. You have the chance to grab the latest fashion at extremely low prices in this market.

Relax like the locals at Zhujiajiao Water Town

The life pace is Shanghai is fast and the local people need to relax and unwind. Where to go? The quiet and picturesque suburbs are favorite places for the local residents. Among them, Zhujiajiao Water Town is on the top list.

Zhujiajiao consists of the villages and towns on Yangtze River Delta, 30km in the west of Shanghai city center, belonging to Qingpu District under the Shanghai Municipality. These villages and old towns have still used the water system for hundreds of years.

Zhujiajiao is like a time passage where you slow your steps, feeling the old Shanghai culture and the subtle transit from the old culture to the present developments.

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Further Readings