A Taste of Shanghai

I’ve always had mixed feelings about tours that take you to the top of skyscrapers. I discovered years ago in Stockholm, of all places, that the most interesting views are often from just above the rooftops, not from miles up in the sky. From too high, a city becomes an abstract map.

Shanghai, however, is a city of many different heights, and our tour included a visit to a tower that was (I think) 88 stories high. It turned out to be the perfect altitude—high enough to be spectacular, but not so high that we couldn’t appreciate the details below. The lift ride to the viewing deck was a journey in itself, and wandering around, taking in the vast urban landscape, was a truly enjoyable experience.

Going Solo for a Food Adventure

After the tower, I decided to leave the main group for the rest of the afternoon to go on a more personal adventure. My tour guide was a little concerned about me heading off alone but was incredibly helpful, making sure I got a Didi taxi (China’s equivalent of Uber) to where I needed to go. The ride cost only 18 Yuan—just a few dollars—and seemed much easier than navigating the subway on my own.

My destination was a walking food tour I’d discovered on YouTube, led by a guide named Jimmy. He was fantastic, explaining that after a long career in the mainstream tourism industry, he wanted to create smaller, more authentic tours focused on his passion for food and local culture.

The tour was intimate—just three of us. There was myself and two men from Thailand. The older of the two, perhaps in his 40s, was deeply interested in the food, spoke some Mandarin, and was very engaged. His younger companion was quieter; his English didn’t seem strong, and he spent a fair bit of time on his phone. He had stunningly good looks, and given they were in Shanghai for “work,” I privately wondered if he was a pop star or a model.

Over the next three hours, Jimmy led us on a fantastic culinary journey. We started by watching cooks expertly prepare both fried and steamed dumplings right before our eyes. We then moved on to a place carving glistening roast duck, which we carried to a nearby restaurant to have with fresh noodles.

The tour wasn’t only about meals. We called into a fruit shop to sample different local fruits and stopped at a tea shop where a woman gave a wonderful, detailed demonstration of various teas. It was another beautiful insight into the depth of the culture.

The tour neared its end at a local handmade ice cream factory, where we watched the process before enjoying the delicious final product.

The very last stop was for a Portuguese tart, but I had to decline. Worried about my blood sugar levels after the ice cream, I made the sensible choice to pass. It was an interesting inclusion, a culinary remnant of Macau’s long history as a Portuguese territory.

I would highly recommend the tour. Jimmy was a great guide—interesting, knowledgeable, and great company for a few hours. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/AttractionProductReview-g308272-d11482239-or10-Authentic_Local_Food_Tour_in_Central_Shanghai-Shanghai.html

A VIP View of the Shanghai Skyline

I rejoined my main tour group for the grand finale: a night cruise on the Huangpu River.

Having done a similar, very crowded cruise with my friend Sue in 2014, I went one step up from “upper deck” and chose the VIP ticket (100 Yuan, or about $20 AUD), which granted us access to the upper deck, some complimentary drinks and snacks and no one to “compete with” for the views. It was worth every cent. It was the perfect end to my last full day in Shanghai.