Travel Guides & Tips in this video
Alina explores Shanghai, beginning with the Bund and Pudong skyline before using the city’s metro and visiting a street-food market. She also stops at Longhua Temple, one of Shanghai’s oldest temples, then travels to Zhujiajiao, a water town known as the “Venice of China.” There she sees canals, bridges and temples and samples local snacks. The video contrasts the city’s skyscrapers and busy streets with the quieter water town. Alina recommends Zhujiajiao as a day trip for visitors seeking a slower pace beyond central Shanghai.
Next travel video:
More about the current video:()
The Bund, Pudong and Shanghai’s metro
Alina’s Shanghai visit moves between the city’s modern skyline and older sites. She begins at the Bund, where colonial-era buildings face Pudong’s towers, including Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower. The metropolitan area has over 26 million residents, a scale reflected in the dense skyline and busy streets. Alina also points out the extensive metro system, which she finds affordable and easy to navigate, with signs in Mandarin and English.
A street-food market adds local dishes to the itinerary. Alina tries dumplings and a distinctive waffle, describing the flavors as part of a broader food experience. At night, she compares the city’s busy atmosphere with Times Square, while noting the cleanliness and distinctive character she observes.
Longhua Temple and Zhujiajiao
Beyond the modern center, Alina visits Longhua Temple, which the source dates to 242 AD and describes as one of Shanghai’s oldest temples. Its quieter setting contrasts with the surrounding city and the scale of the skyscrapers. The trip then continues to Zhujiajiao, a water town about an hour and a half from Shanghai. It is around 1,700 years old and is often called the “Venice of China.”
Alina explores the canals, bridges and temples, finding a slower pace than in the city. She samples local snacks, including waffles, pancakes and a dish she compares to empanadas. A walk through side streets reveals quieter views and smaller temples. The canals and historic buildings make Zhujiajiao a contrast to the Bund and Pudong skyline.
A day trip beyond the city center
Alina recommends Zhujiajiao for travelers who want to leave the city center for a day. Its water, bridges and temples offer a peaceful break from Shanghai’s busy streets. She also notes that dumplings are widely available around Shanghai and suggests using WeChat, Alipay or ticket machines to buy metro tickets.
Her route brings together the Bund waterfront, Shanghai Tower, Longhua Temple, a street-food market and a historic water town. The video emphasizes both modern infrastructure and older cultural sites, with Alina’s personal impressions guiding the visit. Zhujiajiao is her favorite stop because it feels calm and distinct from the large city. The trip shows how visitors can combine well-known Shanghai landmarks with a nearby town on a single itinerary.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What is the best way to get around Shanghai?
- A: Alina found the metro affordable and extensive, with clear Mandarin and English signs. Passengers can buy tickets at machines or use WeChat or Alipay; she recommends it as an easy way to get around the city.
- Q: What should I try eating in Shanghai?
- A: Alina recommends Shanghai dumplings for their juicy fillings. In Zhujiajiao, she also samples waffles, pancakes and a snack she compares with empanadas, adding several different tastes to her water-town visit.
- Q: Is there anything to do outside the city center?
- A: Yes. Zhujiajiao is a water town about an hour and a half from Shanghai. Alina walks along canals and bridges, visits temples and enjoys a slower pace than in the city, making it a peaceful day trip beyond the center.
- Q: How does Shanghai compare with New York?
- A: Alina says Shanghai felt much cleaner than New York on her visit. She was also struck by the scale of the city and its enormous buildings, especially the skyscrapers along the Bund and in Pudong.
- Q: What was your favorite part of the trip?
- A: Her favorite was Zhujiajiao: the water town felt peaceful and different from busy Shanghai, with canals, bridges and temples to explore.
