OMG, Shanghai is SO Demonized! (Spoiler: It's Way Different When You're Actually Here)
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Hey, everyone! I’ve heard many people claiming that Shanghai is “not fun,” that “Shanghainese are somewhat arrogant or ignore outsiders,” and so on. But this time, after visiting Shanghai myself, I realized that all of those negative views were completely unfounded!
The biggest surprise for me was the warmth and friendliness of the people there!
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This trip gave me such a great experience, which was nothing like what it's made out to be online. Nobody looked down upon us, nobody was arrogant.
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I stayed there for four days. Except for one bus driver who spoke with a bit more harshness, every single person I met there, including hotel owners, restaurant waiters, hotel employees, taxi drivers, and even passersby, had a super friendly attitude!
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They all spoke softly and warmly, welcoming us like long-lost friends. If service attitude matters to you during travels, you should absolutely come experience what Shanghai has to offer!
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Speaking of prices, they’re not as expensive as people say they are.
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You can find reasonable meals through some apps (like Meituan, similar to Groupon and Yelp in the states) with affordable deals.
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Of course, comparing to other cities, prices can be slightly higher than average. But considering it’s an international metropolis and places like the Bund（an area right next to the river where you can see many tall buildings），Dawnan Road（a picturesque street filled with historical buildings），or Xin Tian Di （a trendy shopping and dining district）, I think prices are understandable.
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As someone who really enjoyed himself, I recommend "The Castle" at the Bund.
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We ordered two glasses of wine and a plate of fried chicken which only cost us 155 RMB.
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It felt as fancy as its name suggested, a bit like a castle, the ambiance being truly unique.
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The food arrived relatively quickly, and the servers were both personable and rather handsome!
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In addition to the live singer, there was a Taiwanese magician named Jackson who would often perform several magic tricks, making the whole atmosphere more lively and interactive.
️ Travel Tips & Safety Guarantees:- You will notice the police are around almost everywhere, especially near the Bund and Dawnan Road.
- Friends have mentioned that this is to prevent over-crowdedness, reduce the chances of accidents, as well as deter thieves.
- Why should you pay attention? Because in crowded areas, these negative situations tend to happen much more frequently. Having policemen make you feel quite safe a lot safer.
- How to deal with it? There's no need to be nervous seeing them; instead, they'll add an extra layer of security for you! When I strolled down the streets at night and saw the patrolling officers, I felt extremely relaxed.
In sum, if you...
- Value service experiences,
- Enjoy great scenery, photos, and check-in points,
- Love urban experiences and beautiful elegant streets in big cities, and
- Are energetic enough to get through packed travel schedules to reach multiple destinations,
then Shanghai should definitely be on your must-visit list!
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Nonsense. Apart from that rude taxi driver you met who was Shanghainese, the others are migrants who came to Shanghai to make a living. It's these outsiders who've actually mellowed out the infamous Shanghainese arrogance.
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Oh, so you're saying all the 'good' people from your hometown came to Shanghai, and the 'not-so-good' ones stayed back home? Where's your hometown, by the way? I need to make a note to cross it off my travel list!
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Speaking as a local Shanghainese: Shanghai really doesn't have much to offer for fun. I honestly don't get why everyone flocks here.
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Hahahaha, but the charm of the Bund is something you rarely find in other cities. Isn't travel all about experiencing things your own city lacks? That's why I mentioned it's great for photo ops. If you're purely looking for 'fun,' then Disneyland is the place.