When you picture old China, what comes to mind? If you want to feel more of old Chinese-style Shanghai you need to move away from the colonial areas and the modern skyscrapers and venture onto the water towns surrounding Shanghai City. While there are quite a few water town options, the closest one to central [...]

There is one shop in Shanghai’s Duolun cultural street that’s worth a special mention – Dashanghai. As you stroll down the street it’s very hard to miss – a little shop that takes you back in time with all sorts of everyday historical artifacts – records, posters, appliances. A terrific little place. Lonely Planet recommends [...]

It’s interesting to see how the different colonial styles blended in with the local Shanghai Chinese style. Duolun is one of those recently renovated streets that captures some of the magic of that special blend. Having served as a cultural hub in Shanghai during the 30s, Duolun still hosts some interesting buildings and cultural centers. [...]

Chinese sure know how to pull off quirky tourist traps, and The Bund Tourist Sightseeing Tunnel is the perfect example. Why anyone would think that an attraction of crossing from The Bund side of the Huangpo river to the new Pudong area through an underwater tunnel of epileptic lights a good idea is beyond me.  [...]

Confucian temples are usually not as exciting as Daoist folk temples, but there is something unique about them that offers a special appeal. Shanghai’s Confucius Temple (上海文廟), though a bit off the tourist beaten track and despite not looking like much from the outside, is a good example of that. Here’s a bit about the [...]

There are times when you can’t help but think – there is some good in Colonialism, atleast architecture wise. What would Shanghai do without those beautiful European style buildings on The Bund, Xintian Di, Taikang Rd. or the French Concession? It might be my “western" perspective” making me sound a bit like an a$$, but [...]

One of Shanghai’s most recognizable symbols is the skyline of the new Pudong skyscrapers from the boardwalk on the Bund side. It is indeed quite a sight, though still pale in comparison to the long & shiny Hong Kong skyline. Best time, I would say, to go enjoy that view is during the evening time, [...]

More food, this time from the Shanghai visit. In Shanghai I visited quite a few restaurants representing different parts of China and had my fair share of surprises when it comes to diversity of tastes and levels of spicy (which I do not handle that well).   Of all the restaurants I found two worth [...]