Shanghai

travel time: November 2024

City Tour

After enjoying a delicious Chinese breakfast at our hotel, we began our sightseeing tour of the city. Our first stop was The Bund, conveniently located just a few minutes from our hotel. The Bund is a famous riverside walkway that offers spectacular views of Shanghai’s skyline. We were amazed by the stunning sight and spent quite some time along the riverside, taking photos from various angles.

Next, we took the Sightseeing Tunnel to cross to the other side of the river. This tunnel is a glass-enclosed subway featuring an artistic light installation beneath the river. While you could simply take the metro to cross, the Sightseeing Tunnel offers a unique, though slightly expensive, experience.

Once on the other side, standing among the towering skyscrapers was awe-inspiring. It made us feel so small as we craned our necks to take in their incredible heights. One of the most iconic landmarks is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, with its unique design. While seeing the tower up close, we decided to as well go inside and enjoy the panoramic views from above. Getting tickets was quick and easy, and there were no long lines to enter. The views from the top were absolutely breathtaking. You can walk around the sphere and admire the city from every angle.

After our visit to the tower, we hopped on the metro to visit the A.P. Xingyang Market, an underground maze filled with shops selling clothes, electronics, and more. At first glance, it seems like a typical market, but it is one of the few remaining places dedicated to selling counterfeit goods. The experience was fascinating, with vendors actively trying to lure us into their shops with promises of the best deals. While we didn’t buy anything, we had read online that haggling is a must to secure a good bargain.

In the afternoon, we strolled along East Nanjing Road, popping into a few shops and picking up souvenirs and sweets to bring home. That evening, we had tickets to the Shanghai Circus Show. Upon arriving, we encountered a small issue - our internet connection was so poor that we couldn’t access our online tickets. Thankfully, the staff quickly resolved the issue by checking their system and verifying our names with our passports. They printed our tickets on the spot, and the show began. Calling it a great evening would be an understatement! We were absolutely blown away by the incredible variety of performances. The artists displayed such a diverse range of talents, and the time flew by.

To end our day, we took another stroll along The Bund to admire the dazzling night skyline -- a perfect conclusion to an unforgettable day in Shanghai.

Shanghai Disneyland

On the final day of our adventure through China, we decided to do something quite touristy but no less impressive - we spent the day at Shanghai Disneyland for some fun and relaxation. The park is easily accessible by metro, making the journey hassle-free.

The day was marked by warm, sunny weather, a manageable crowd, and plenty of fun and laughter. For Vali, it was her first time visiting any Disneyland, and the experience was absolutely worth it.

Back in the city, we headed to the Shanghai Tower for a breathtaking view from its top floors. Our original plan was to go up the tower at sunset to enjoy the transition from day to night.

However, by the time we arrived, it was already dark. This didn’t dampen our excitement - we were eager to see the city lights from a bird’s-eye perspective.

We purchased our tickets quickly and, just a few minutes later, were inside the elevator, speeding toward the 118th floor. Traveling at an incredible 18 meters per second, the elevator reached the top in just 55 seconds.

The viewing platform was pleasantly uncrowded, giving us plenty of space to soak in the spectacular views from every angle. The tower offers a full 360° view, and on clear nights, you can see so far that it’s difficult to tell where this sprawling city ends.