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Shanghai Winter Vlog: Bookstores, Cafes & Thrifting

VLOG Winter in Shanghai ❄️Secret Book Stores, Thrifting & Cafes

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million

China travel video

VLOG Winter in Shanghai ❄️Secret Book. This China travel video was filmed by Expat Natt. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Did you know Shanghai had a thrift store? Because I didn't until my good friend Melissa told me about it, and whilst explore the Christmas Market in Hongqiao I knew I had to pop over to the thrift store and check out their range of second hand clothing at a fraction of the retail cost. In this video I walk around the streets of Shanghai, indulge in the city's cafe culture, and explore the local crafters market to get into the festive spirit. Melissa and I also head out in search of the hidden unmanned bookstore in Shanghai. This time of the year the weather in Shanghai isn't too cold. December in Shanghai is usually around 10 degrees celcius, but now is the time to thrift your winter coats and jumpers before the temperatures drop to freezing in January and February. What are some winter traditons where you are from?

--- Expat Natt
December 8, 2024, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Expat Natt and her friend Melissa explore Shanghai in winter, starting at the Christmas market in Hongqiao. Melissa tells Natt about a thrift store, which she had not known existed in the city, and they visit a cafe for a distinctive drink and snacks. They then search an office complex for a 24-hour unmanned bookstore run by volunteers and supported through donations. Their route moves to a market and a restaurant in Songjiang, where Natt makes her own pizza and the chef invites her into the kitchen. They finish by celebrating six years together at a luxury steakhouse in Jing'an. The day combines seasonal activities, local shopping and food stops with a personal anniversary celebration, showing several sides of Natt and Melissa's winter outing.

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More about the current video:(Published on 2024-12-08)

VLOG Winter in Shanghai ❄️Secret Book Stores, Thrifting & Cafes

Christmas market, thrift store and cafe

Expat Natt begins the winter outing at a Christmas market in Hongqiao, Shanghai. Her friend Melissa tells her about a thrift store in the city, a place Natt had not known about before. They visit the shop and look through affordable clothing and accessories. The outing then continues at a cozy cafe, where Natt and Melissa try a distinctive coffee drink and snacks. The cafe gives them a pause between the market and their next search.

They set out to find a 24-hour unmanned bookstore tucked inside an office complex in central Shanghai. Locating the entrance becomes part of the adventure as they work out where the store is. The bookstore is operated by volunteers and supported through donations, an unusual arrangement that Natt and Melissa learn about during the visit. The search and the bookstore itself provide one of the day's more distinctive experiences.

Songjiang and a special dinner

The pair later visit a market in Songjiang and stop at a local restaurant. Natt decides to make her own pizza, and the chef invites her into the kitchen. The interaction gives the meal a personal touch and shows how the restaurant welcomed them. Their route then returns to a more formal setting for an anniversary dinner at a luxury steakhouse in Jing'an. The meal celebrates six years together and brings the day to a quieter close.

Natt and Melissa's itinerary connects different parts of Shanghai and different kinds of stops: a seasonal market, a thrift shop, cafe culture, a volunteer-run bookstore, a neighborhood market and restaurants. The outing includes both planned destinations and the small surprises of learning about a shop from a friend or finding a bookstore hidden in an office complex. It also captures Natt's personal milestone with Melissa, the anniversary dinner. Travelers interested in local shopping or food can use the route as a record of the places the pair visited, while the bookstore's donation-based operation and the chef's invitation make the day feel especially personal.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: How did you find the thrift store in Shanghai?
A: Melissa told Natt about it. Natt had not known Shanghai had a thrift store before her friend mentioned it, so they added the shop to their winter outing and looked through clothing and accessories there.
Q: What is the 24-hour bookstore like?
A: It is an unmanned bookstore inside an office complex in central Shanghai. Volunteers run it, and donations support its operation. Natt and Melissa have to search for the entrance, making the discovery part of the visit.
Q: What happened at the Songjiang restaurant?
A: Natt made her own pizza, and the chef invited her into the kitchen. The couple also visited a market in Songjiang before the restaurant stop.

Previous travel video:

Shanghai Winter Vlog: Bookstores, Cafes & Thrifting

Did you know Shanghai had a thrift store? Because I didn't until my good friend Melissa told me about it, and whilst explore the Christmas Market in Hongqiao I knew I had to pop over to the thrift store and check out their range of second hand clothing at a fraction of the retail cost. In this video...

Shanghai Winter Vlog: Hidden Bookstore, Thrifting & Cafes

Experience Shanghai's winter charm with Expat Natt! This vlog captures the city's festive spirit, from exploring a hidden Christmas market and unique thrift stores to cozying up in charming cafes. Discover secret bookstores and immerse yourself in Shanghai's captivating cafe culture. Natt shares her adventures, offering a glimpse into daily life in Shanghai during December, showcasing the city's unexpected treasures and the warmth of its community. Don't miss this captivating journey through a unique side of Shanghai!

Attractions in this video: Christmas Market, Unmanned Bookstore