Shanghai is China’s premier city, no doubt. Like the lady in the elegant qipao with her coiffed hair and that sophisticated Shanghainese dialect, it has always been kind of set apart from the rest of China, a favourite child being put on a firm pedestal if you like. Elegant, seductive and beguiling, the glamour of the glorious 20s jazzes and dazzles along The Bund and the Former French Concession glitters with colonial, art deco and renaissance flourishes. Modern, ambitious and showy, the gleaming skyscrapers of Pudong compete with one another for the brightest lighting from the sun. Sedate, calm and self-assured, the unhurried Longtangs nestled amongst the residential suburbs hold on to traditions with dignity while walking hand in hand along with modernity at the same time. While Shanghai is a city of the moment with her eminent status in China and the world, she also has both the past and the future smiling for her. Discover all the bits and bobs of China’s showstopper with a customised Shanghai tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today and be prepared to be floored by her seductive beauty.
Motorcycle dairies Shanghai is a giant in every sense of the word and a behemoth even among the world’s largest cities, hence one may often feel overwhelmed or underwhelmed when visiting the city. With crisscross roads and freeways, the immense subway system and the never-ending human traffic, it is quite a tough act to actually know where and how to start exploring. Why not be a little creative and think out of the box? And this is how a motorcycle or sidecar tour could be the lifesaver for travellers who want to dive deeper into the city easily and conveniently, and it’s a novel way to do so at that. Your driver is your guide and your tour can be tailor made to your exact preferences. Whether you are into food, architecture or local culture, it is a sure-fire way to fall in love at first sight with Shanghai in a nippy fun way.
Keep on walking in the FFC At the heart of the city lie the picturesque lanes, interconnected longtangs (alleyways), art deco gems, shikumen (traditional Shanghainese housing) and wide leafy boulevards of the Former French Concession (FFC). As a worldly city long accustomed to the influences of European immigrants, the blend of west and east couldn’t be better represented in the whole of China than here in the FFC. The hipster enclave of Tianzifang and energetic Yongkang Road are popular sites to shop and revel in but the real highlight is to wander and get lost in its gorgeous tree-lined avenues and quiet residential streets. Get your art fix at art stores and pop up galleries along Fuxing Road, score cool threads at charismatic boutiques along Xinle Road and Changle Road, ogle at the famous Wukang Mansion and its seductive curves, and have a cuppa at the cool and quaint Ferguson Lane, a cosy enclave filled with charming lifestyle shops and alfresco cafes.
Eating Shanghainese Hit the search button on Google on where and what to eat in Shanghai typically garners you the top names to see and be seen. No doubt, some of these modern and luxurious establishments offer you the best views in town and perhaps the best pampering hospitality you can get on this side of Asia, but for a true blue experience in the Shanghai wine and dine scene, the best way to do so is to grab your dining partners and cosy up with discerning and stylish locals at hole-in-the-wall eateries away from those bright glittering lights. Atmospheric, personable and most importantly, serving dishes that are true to the best of traditions, this is the best way to eating Shanghainese. Notable names include Jian Guo 328 featuring the freshest produce and a strict no-smoking policy, the original Jesse at Tianping Road with its cramp dining room and no-nonsense authentic plates of goodness, the eclectic Cheng Cheng’s Art Salon – imagining dining in a quirky art gallery with traditional Chinese and Chinoiserie decor, and Dian Shi Zhai, a homey restaurant housed in a 1930s Shanghainese mansion with wooden accents and private rooms. Most of these are found along lesser roads with the absence of shiny signboards but trust your instinct, you will be handsomely rewarded.
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Unravel the real Shanghai amid the shiny bustling mega metropolis with a customised Shanghai tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more details.
Highlights
Every itinerary can be fully customised according to needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style of just about anyone who wants to travel privately and exclusively.
Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Transfer to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, take dinner at your own expense and proceed to your hotel for a good night’s rest thereafter.
Hangzhou
Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy a leisure boat tour around West Lake Scenic Area. Continue to Hefang Street for a shopping spree and learn about the Hangzhou culture. Next, visit the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan.
West Lake
Breakfast
Today, visit Wuzhen. This afternoon, continue to Suzhou. Upon arrival, proceed to Master of Nets Garden. Later, head to Shantang Street, an ancient commercial street which boasts 1,000 years of history and was originally built by Tang dynasty poet, Bai Juyi.
Wuzhen
Breakfast
This morning, visit Hanshan Temple, formerly known as one of the top 10 temples of China. Next, head to Tiger Hill, a large hillock with an array of historical sites dating back to over 2,500 years. This afternoon, return to Shanghai. Upon arrival, visit Nanjing Road and Chenghuang Temple. Thereafter, continue to the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai.
Chenghuang Temple
Breakfast
Today, spend the day at Shanghai Disneyland.
Note
All-day Disneyland pass and return transfer will be included.
Breakfast
After breakfast, spend some time at leisure before you transfer to the airport for your flight home.