6 posts · Curated China travel tips
Shanghai is where 9 million international visitors a year discover that China is nothing like what they were told. As a China travel specialist who's been here more times than I can count, this 10-day itinerary takes you past the Bund and into the Shanghai that locals actually live in.
I'm working on a Shanghai guide this week. Been visiting that city for 15 years and it still surprises me — a new alley cafe, a hidden rooftop bar, a tiny noodle shop that's been there since the 1930s tucked between two skyscrapers. The Bund is beautiful. But the real Shanghai is in those side streets. I'll share my full guide soon. Meanwhile, what's the one thing you want to know about visiting Shanghai?
Two weeks in China is enough to fall in love with the country. This route covers 5 cities with the perfect balance of history, food, and scenery — the ultimate **China Custom Tour** for time-rich travellers.
Just spent the morning sketching out a Shanghai-Suzhou trip for an Australian family of four. The dad sent me a voice note last night: "I showed the kids photos of the water towns, and now they will not stop asking when we are going." That voice note is going to keep me going all week. Here is the route we landed on: three nights in Shanghai (Bund view, Yuyuan Garden, a food tour through the old lanes), then a day trip to Suzhou by high-speed train (23 minutes, ¥40). The kids are 9 and 12, so I added a stop at the Shanghai Natural History Museum and a evening cruise on the Huangpu River. The mom asked me: "Is Suzhou worth it for just one day?" I told her: Suzhou is the Venice of the East, except the canals actually still have locals living along them. One day is enough to see the Humble Administrators Garden, walk a canal street, and eat the best xiaolongbao of your life before catching the train back. Monday morning — coffee in hand, a full week ahead, a family excited about their China trip. Not a bad way to start the week.
A client once asked me: "Should I spend more time in Beijing or Shanghai?" After 15 years of visiting both cities, here's my honest comparison to help you decide.
Shanghai dazzles, but the real city is in its lane houses and neighbourhood noodle shops. A local's guide to seeing Shanghai like someone who's been going there for 15 years — the essential stop on any **China Custom Tour**.
