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Joel Friend's Shanghai adventure begins with a nail-biting attempt to secure a 144-hour transit visa. Despite initial setbacks in Budapest, they arrive in Shanghai, navigating the busy city with a mix of excitement and exhaustion. From delicious local noodles to the impressive views from a rooftop bar, Joel's journey captures the lively energy of Shanghai, offering a unique glimpse into its cultural heart and modern buildings. Don't miss this engaging exploration of one of China's most dynamic cities.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2023-08-14)
Visa journey and first impressions
Joel Friend's vlog follows his attempt to reach Shanghai on a 144-hour transit visa. In Budapest, an initial denial creates uncertainty, but he persists and eventually travels to China. Once in Shanghai, he has to learn unfamiliar payment methods and finds a local who helps him complete a cash transaction. This small interaction stands out against the stress of the visa process and shows how one person helps him manage an unfamiliar situation.
Food, transport and city views
Joel tries Shanghai beef noodles and dumplings, then uses the Shanghai Metro to move around the city. He sees the skyscrapers, including the Shanghai Tower, but a long queue prevents a visit to the tower itself. Instead, he finds a rooftop bar with a view across the skyline, which offers another way to see the city's scale. At night he walks along Nanjing Road, where the pedestrian street is crowded and a light show illuminates the buildings.
The first day combines visa logistics, payment questions, local food and public transport with views of Shanghai's modern architecture. Joel encounters unfamiliar systems for paying and getting around, but also finds ways forward with help from a local and by taking the Metro. His stopover gives him a short introduction to the city, from beef noodles and dumplings to skyscrapers and the busy night scene on Nanjing Road.
Joel’s visit also includes the effort of finding places to eat and learning how the city works during a short stay. A local helps when he needs to make a cash payment, and the Metro gives him another way to move between neighborhoods. The evening walk lets him see Nanjing Road at its busiest, with crowds and changing lights beneath the surrounding towers. These details make the day a sequence of practical first impressions as well as sightseeing.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How does Joel reach Shanghai?
- A: He first faces a transit-visa denial in Budapest, persists and then arrives in Shanghai using a 144-hour transit visa.
- Q: What does Joel do when he cannot pay the way he expects?
- A: A helpful local assists with a cash transaction while he is learning to use Alipay and WeChat Pay.
- Q: Where does Joel find a view of Shanghai after skipping the tower queue?
- A: He visits a rooftop bar for city panoramas and later explores Nanjing Road and its nighttime light show.