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Shanghai Exploration: First-Hand China Travel Experience

We were warned NOT to visit China... 🇨🇳 (First Time in Shanghai, China)

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million

China travel video

We were warned NOT to visit China... 🇨🇳. This China travel video was filmed by Sun Kissed Bucket List. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

First Time in Shanghai, China - Absolutely everyone warned us not to visit China due to one reason or another. Was it due to negative press that it gets in the western media? Security concerns? Since Shanghai, China was high up on our bucket list, we decided to travel anyway in order to experience the country ourselves without believing too much from the mainstream media. We share our first hand experience from our incredible trip to Shanghai, China.

We are Taz and Libby, travellers from the UK who think it's bad manners to make holidays wait, so we left. Now trying to watch more sunsets than Netflix.

--- Sun Kissed Bucket List
December 25, 2023, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Taz and Libby from Sun Kissed Bucket List spend their first day in Shanghai exploring Nanjing Road, People's Square, People's Park and an underground market in a metro station. They notice Western brands, affordable everyday goods and high police visibility, which they find reassuring. Their route includes Tim Hortons, spicy potatoes, bubble tea and help from locals despite the language barrier, before they watch sunset from the Bund. They use color-coded metro routes, see an underground market and finish the day on the Bund. The affordable food and public transport, plus friendly local interactions, shape their first impressions.

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More about the current video:(Published on 2023-12-25)

We were warned NOT to visit China... 🇨🇳 (First Time in Shanghai, China)

Nanjing Road and first impressions

Taz and Libby from Sun Kissed Bucket List begin their first day in Shanghai on Nanjing Road. They find Western brands alongside local stores, including Starbucks and KFC, and are surprised by how familiar some of the shopping feels. Nanjing Road reminds them of London’s Oxford Street, while People’s Park later offers a quieter stop on their route. They also remark that water, food and other everyday goods seem affordable compared with Western prices. The travelers notice a high police presence, which they find reassuring rather than intimidating, and say friendly interactions with local people differ from negative portrayals they had heard.

From Nanjing Road, they visit People's Square and People's Park. The route includes Christmas decorations and gardens, before they discover an underground market beneath a metro station. They browse the market's range of products and comment on how easy the color-coded metro is to navigate despite the language barrier. Their discussion also covers the Maglev and Metro combo card and the five-yuan Metro day pass, which allows unlimited travel within 24 hours.

Food street and the Bund

The day includes a stop at Tim Hortons and a food street, where the couple sample spicy potatoes and bubble tea. They describe locals as helpful even when communication in English is limited. These stops add food and ordinary encounters to a route that has also taken them through shopping streets, a park and the station market.

They finish at the Bund, watching the sunset over the skyline. The couple's first-day impressions center on the mix of familiar chains and local businesses, the metro and market, and the people they meet. Their account reflects what they encountered on this route, from Nanjing Road to the riverfront, without treating a single day as a complete picture of Shanghai.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What was the most surprising thing about Shanghai?
A: The travelers were surprised by the mix of familiar Western brands, affordable everyday goods and helpful local people.
Q: How did they find the metro?
A: They found it easy to navigate, with color-coded routes and maps despite the language barrier.
Q: Where did they end their first day?
A: They watched sunset from the Bund.

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Shanghai Exploration: First-Hand China Travel Experience

Shanghai adventure! A UK couple defies warnings & explores vibrant Shanghai, creating unforgettable memories.

Shanghai Exploration: Unveiling China's Vibrant Metropolis

Taz and Libby, a UK-based couple, decided to visit Shanghai, China, despite warnings from others. Their trip was driven by a desire to experience the country firsthand, rather than relying on media portrayals. The vlog documents their first impressions of Shanghai, exploring the city's attractions and culture. They share their personal experiences, aiming to offer an authentic view of Shanghai and challenge preconceived notions.

Attractions in this video: People's Square, People's Park, The Bund, Nanjing Road