Shanghai: Real Talk – Skip the Rushed Tour Groups.
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Hello everyone! This time, we are on a group tour of East China with Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. Shanghai is our last stop. To tell you the truth, I have always wanted to experience the 'Majestic City' Shanghai as it is described.
To be honest, Shanghai lives up to its reputation. It is so modernized and brightly lit. But group tours just won't do if you want to really feel this city's vibe. Why not?
- In group tours, everything tends to be 'insta' places—basically popular spots you feel like missing out if you don’t go but are just kind of meh when you do.
- Time management is tight, so there’s barely time spent at each place, barely enough time to get immersed in the city.
Here are some specific comments on my impressions:
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The Surprising Disappointment of Jinmao Tower (Not a 'Surprise', more like a Shock!)
- Yesterday night, I went to Jinmao Tower, one of Shanghai's famous skyscrapers, and it was incredibly disappointing! It wasn't because there were too many people there but mainly because the management was chaotic—a lack of order was evident.
- We joined a group tour, and the guide recommended paying extra for ticket to reach the height of tower and cruise along Huangpu river. But starting the queue at the afternoon after 3, we didn’t make it up until evening after seven!
- Once finally getting up, the view of the whole night landscape of the city really did live up to the beautiful description, and the elevator also made us travel quickly.
️ BUT, please be cautious about this: As we were going down, it was really a nightmare! There weren’t enough working staff, no order maintenance, everyone just rushed towards the elevator hall, the scene really made people feel uncomfortable.- Result: We missed our Huangpu river cruise which was originally scheduled due to the extremely long wait, quite regretful indeed.
Advice for those who want to sightsee independently: If you want to visit high places to see the night view of town, you’d better go early to avoid crowds or be prepared for possible busy queuing down, or consider other observation decks and check their reviews first.
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Bund and Nanjing Road during Mornings
- This morning, I visited Bund, the most famous riverside walkway in Shanghai, and Nanjing road, the exceedingly well-reputed shopping street. We arrived around nine and there weren't too many tourists.
- The East Tower had an amazing view with no obstruction, very impressive!
- Standing at the edge of Huangpu River, watching the rows of tall buildings across the Yangtze River and the spectacular western style architecture along Bund (referred as World's Architecture Expo), all with a sense of history, lifted my mood greatly. Last night's unpleasant memories at Jinmao Tower faded gradually.
- Tip: If you wish to capture lovely photos of Bund or leisurely hang out, it is highly advisable to come earlier!
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Cost and taste
- The cost level of Shanghai is pretty high. Being a prime place where the price is exorbitant (since it symbolizes very expensive real estate property here).
- In group tours, there really is not much spare time to pick a good meal independently. Most of the time we just eat something randomly outside of scenic spots. We spent two or three hundred RMB, yet the tastes were merely average. If I could've search for a restaurant which local usually visit, the experience could potentially be much better.
- Individual taste advice: My home region is Yun-Nan-Guizhou-Chongqing, southwest China, famous for spicy cuisine with a fiery favor. So, my favored meal tends to be spicy and fresh. However, food in Shanghai belong to Jiangnan flavor, generally light with slight sweet notes, so the meals there were somewhat unsuitable. You might need to deliberately look for Sichuan-style restaurants if you love heavily flavored dishes.
In summary, it’s generally not suitable to overload schedule, rushing everywhere on a trip. Each city has its gems worth spending time experiencing. That kind of superficial visit ("walk horses while viewing flowers") usually leaves some regrets and discomfort, especially during big holidays where there're many people everywhere.
Travel in Shanghai
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You absolutely don't need a group tour in Shanghai. The city center is perfect for a leisurely stroll and taking things slow.
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I had to join a group tour because I was doing a big circuit of East China. I then found out that group tours in the Jiangnan region aren't a great experience – too many sights, not enough time at each, and it's exhausting. We had to visit three or four places every day.
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Cities with convenient transportation don't require group tours. Next time, try independent travel. A city walk in the Wutong District is really nice; when you get tired, you can just grab a coffee by the roadside.
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I'll definitely make a trip on my own in the future to see it properly.
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Shanghai actually has a lot of great food from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces. You might not be aware.
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That's not quite it. When you come to Jiangnan, you naturally want to try the local cuisine. Besides, with a group tour, even if I wanted Sichuan food, there'd be no time. The days are so rushed; sometimes, lunch has to last us until the next morning.
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High-speed trains from Shanghai to nearby cities are frequent and fast. Don't do a group tour next time; Jiangnan is truly worth taking your time to experience properly.
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If I come to Jiangnan again, it'll definitely be independent travel. This group tour was just a whirlwind, and with the Spring Festival crowds and queues, I couldn't really see anything properly.
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Shanghai has nearly twenty subway lines, so you can easily get around by metro. Don't rely on these tour groups in the future; they're a total rip-off.
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The 'no-shopping' tours aren't a rip-off, but they're incredibly tiring. Sometimes, lunch has to last you until the next morning because there's no time for dinner. Shanghai is indeed very convenient; I'll definitely come back for an independent trip to experience it properly.
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I was thinking of joining a group tour in Shanghai too, but after seeing your share, I've decided against it. I also prefer stronger flavors, so the food at tourist spots wouldn't suit me.
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The entire East China region is best for independent travel, where you can take your time to walk and see things. It's really hard to experience the charm of Jiangnan's water towns on a group tour. Even though they're quite commercialized now, they're still worth a visit.
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I really wouldn't recommend a group tour for Shanghai.
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It's probably true that big cities aren't suitable for group tours. I made a mistake this time.
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Shanghai has excellent public transport, so you can easily explore on your own. Plus, there are plenty of options to suit any budget, whether you want to save or splurge.
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I joined a group tour during Spring Festival because I wanted to visit more places. Next time I want to explore East China, I'll definitely go on my own.
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You're welcome to visit again next time!