Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Discover the unique phone booths in Shanghai, offering anonymous calls – a quirky piece of urban infrastructure. (1:27)
- Tip 2Navigate Shanghai's metro effortlessly using Alipay for seamless entry, bypassing the need for a physical metro card. (6:44)
- Tip 3Be cautious of food recommendations near large malls, as they may not offer the most authentic or highest quality local cuisine. (9:18)
- Tip 4Distinguish between Shanghai's traditional and futuristic districts; the east side offers a cyberpunk-like urban landscape. (14:47)
- Tip 5Explore local farmer's markets for authentic food experiences and fresh ingredients, often frequented by locals with high standards. (24:33)
- Tip 6Farmer's markets offer superior culinary experiences compared to modern shops, especially for authentic local dishes like scallion oil noodles. (28:47)
That Evan Guy takes us on a whirlwind tour of Shanghai, challenging Western perceptions of China's development. He contrasts the perceived chaos of New York with the order and modernity of Shanghai, highlighting its efficient public transport, clean streets, and futuristic architecture. The journey includes a taste of traditional Shanghai breakfast – a unique soy milk concoction with fried dough – and a dive into the city's vibrant food scene, featuring a highly-rated noodle dish. The video also touches on social commentary, questioning Western narratives about China and emphasizing the country's rapid progress and the dedication of its people.
Next travel video: ( 22 / 26 )
More about the current video:( 21 / 26 )
That Evan Guy embarks on an eye-opening journey through Shanghai, aiming to dismantle Western misconceptions about China's development. He begins by contrasting his past perceptions of New York as the world's center with the reality he found there – a "dumpster" of crime and dirt. Upon arriving in China, particularly Shanghai, he's blown away by the country's progress, finding its cities, including Chengdu and Xi'an, to be far more impressive.
His exploration of Shanghai kicks off with a taste of its original breakfast: a unique soy milk mixture with curdy soy, seaweed, and fried dough. While initially finding it unusual, he ultimately describes it as "super unique" and "way tastier than I thought," noting the high quality of Chinese soy milk compared to its US counterpart. He also savors the accompanying fried dough, calling it "crack" and "crispy on the outside, super flavorful and mushy on the inside."
The video then showcases Shanghai's incredibly efficient and clean metro system, which he compares favorably to Western public transport. He marvels at the futuristic design, the seamless payment via Alipay, and the overall sense of order and safety, noting the absence of issues like public urination, which he associates with Western cities. This leads him to reflect on the political narratives that he believes misrepresent China's progress, suggesting that Western politicians are motivated by a fear of China's advancement.
His culinary adventure continues with a visit to a food recommendation, though he's initially skeptical due to its proximity to a mall. He tries a pork liver noodle dish, describing it as "pretty delicious" but not "mind-blowing," rating it an 8.5. He critiques its modern setting, suggesting traditional noodle shops offer a superior experience.
Later, That Evan Guy is stunned by the architecture on the east side of Shanghai, likening it to Olympus and Zeus's house, with grand columns and an immense scale. He expresses awe at the "advanced engineering" and "advanced architecture," contrasting it with the perceived stagnation in the US and the political decisions he believes hinder American progress.
He also visits a local farmer's market, which he finds to be a hub of authentic experiences and high-quality food, preferred by older residents. Here, he discovers a highly recommended Shanghai specialty: scallion oil noodles (葱油拌面). This dish, described as "fragrant, slightly oily, sweet, packing with flavor," receives a perfect 10/10, significantly outshining his earlier noodle experience and solidifying his belief in the authenticity of local markets over more modern establishments.
Throughout the video, That Evan Guy consistently challenges the narrative that China is lagging behind, emphasizing its rapid development, the dedication of its people, and the stark contrast he observes with the issues he perceives in the United States. He concludes that China is perhaps the most misunderstood country by Westerners due to pervasive misinformation.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What were the sweet potato noodles like?
- A: They looked like shining leather and tasted yummy!
- Q: What was the most surprising thing you found?
- A: Probably the $1 haircut and the fact that I didn't need a ticket to enter the Zhu-long cave!
