After a year and half of having my epic Asia trip in the works, I finally packed up my bags and left for a month. I had initially planned my trip for the year prior but had to cancel last minute due to major anxiety issues. Since overcoming that, I rebooked my flights ready to take on Asia. When I finally boarded my direct flight to Shanghai, I felt a mixture of excitement, nervousness and a bit of disbelief that it was finally happening – I was traveling solo again. I traveled to Europe a few years back and loved it. However, I knew Asia would be bigger and badder. Luckily for me, while in Shanghai, I’d be visiting one of my best friends who I hadn’t seen in three years and after two weeks, my sister would be joining me. For now, though, I’d be alone and I was curious how it would go this time around.

 

After not sleeping the entire 14-hour flight and binge-watching Kim’s Convenience, I arrived safely in Shanghai. The first thing I did was check into my Airbnb and sleep like a baby. I finally awoke at 6 am the next day and went out early in the morning (something that never happens). Right outside my little apartment near Jiao Tong University, I was welcomed to a quaint street lined with small shops and beautiful overlapping trees. Pictured above, right on the corner of my street in front of Wukang Mansion, I’m sporting a casual outfit with my chambray shirt and skin-tight leggings for my first day out. To be honest, I felt a bit lost for the first couple of days. One thing about China is that all apps in the outside world are blocked – which means no Uber, no Google Maps, no social media, no nothing. The fact that I also didn’t speak a word of mandarin didn’t help either. If I didn’t have my friend who lives in Shanghai, let’s just say I’d be pretty screwed.

 

The first place I visited in Shanghai was the largest Starbucks, which I figured was the easiest place I could find without getting lost. I’d seen this newly opened massive Starbucks Reserve Roastery on IG and knew I had to go. It’s the largest in the world with fresh coffee beans being made right in front of you. They also have an impressive conveyer belt running throughout the entire restaurant. When I arrived, I was a bit overwhelmed by the selection of different artisanal pastries, pizza, and sandwiches they offered. I ended up ordering an espresso drink, which I immediately regretted (I’m still learning to acquire the taste of coffee). I’d recommend visiting if you’re a big coffee lover as people boast about the freshness of their drinks. As for me, it was nice to go once but I think I’d rather just stick to my matcha tea lattes at regular Starbucks locations.

 

On the weekend, my friend took me to the scenic town of Hangzhou, located on the outside of Shanghai, for an overnight stay. After a two and a half hour train ride, I could sense a complete difference to the big city vibes of Shanghai. Naturally, the first thing on our itinerary included a small boat ride out on West Lake, just enjoying the beautiful scenery. During the peaceful ride, that fit the four of us perfectly, I also took in the views of the old style boats. There was one in particular that caught my attention; it looked like something right out of a Jet Li movie – I would describe it as a classical-style Chinese house moving on water (see photo at the end of this post). That was definitely one of the highlights – seeing all the different types of traditional Chinese boats gently gliding through the lake.

 

The boat took us to a secluded island filled with ancient Chinese architecture and stunning pathways. When we arrived it was almost closing time so, lucky for us, we pretty much got the island all to ourselves. Other than the obvious beauty of Hangzhou, what I really loved about this seaside town was how connected I felt to my Chinese roots. Although I grew up in Toronto, it was so nice to finally visit China – the country where my parents are originally from.

 

As we walked through the island, we discovered multiple structures connected by narrow stone pathways. I only wish I knew the name of this tiny island but I loved how it was situated right in the middle of West Lake. It was a perfect spot surrounded by water and panoramic views everywhere we went. I would highly recommend taking a boat out on West Lake for those who want to spend a quiet day in a serene setting.

 

The next day, we woke up to a bright and sunny day in Hangzhou. We spent most of the day walking around West Lake as we made our way to the Leifeng Pagoda (the observatory over the lake). Pictured above, you can see the Leifeng Pagoda in the distance towering over the lake. At first, we’d prepared ourselves to climb all the way up to the top but as we neared closer, we were overjoyed to find it was fully equipped with an escalator and elevator (obviously not a stairs person). Once at the top, we were welcomed to a very packed observation deck that gives you a gorgeous 360 view of the entire West Lake down below. You can check out the view from the top in the photo gallery at the end.

 

Back in Shanghai, I spent most of my time exploring the multiple districts of the city. I would travel around solo during the daytime and meet up with my friend later at night. The one good thing about being solo is how many people you meet along the way. I would meet other foreigners who would overhear me struggling to communicate and some asking for directions in Mandarin only to realize I’m not from Shanghai either. Another thing that I had to get used to was the amount of scooters that you have to share the sidewalks with – they were literally everywhere. I was actually taken on a scooter ride one day, which also just happened to be the nicest day out. It was probably one of the highlights of my trip – riding through the intertwining streets of Shanghai with the light breeze going through my hair.

 

One of the districts I really loved in Shanghai was Yu Garden. It’s one of the top tourist attractions in Shanghai featuring a classical style Chinese garden with a pond running through it. I was in awe of the gorgeous lit-up buildings looking like Chinese lanterns against the night sky. There, you can find traditional style eats like giant soup dumplings that you sip soup out of with a straw. There were multiple souvenir and bubble tea shops but strolling through it at night was probably the best part. We also didn’t have to watch out for scooters as it was a pedestrian-only spot.

 

Even though I generally didn’t find the people in Shanghai very friendly, I ended up making a lot of new friends here. Known as the most westernized Chinese city, a lot of people come here from all over the world to work and live. It was funny when I went out to eat with a new friend of mine, the server kept speaking to me in Chinese but my friend – who’s from Spain – was the one who actually knew it fluently. I was lucky enough to have a translator half the time and the other times, I would literally just get blank stares. I would say out of all the places I’ve ever traveled to, I felt the biggest language barrier while in Shanghai. That was definitely the hardest thing I endured during my stay (note to self: make sure to brush up on some Chinese phrases before jetting off to China next time).

 

The best part of my trip to Shanghai you ask? Hands down, it had to be the day I spent wandering by myself in Zhujiajiao – an ancient water town one hour outside of the city. When I arrived at the metro station, I was a bit lost on how to get there. I was having a hard time waving down a taxi so I was relieved when I finally found one of these biker cab rides by the street (pictured above on the right). It was honestly the best way to reach the water town itself with a nice sightseeing tour of the small streets along the way. Once I arrived, I was welcomed to a beautiful little town that I would describe as the Chinese version of Venice – only better.

 

If I were to name one place that made me feel the most in touch with my Chinese heritage, this would be it. With a population of only 60,000 people, this ancient water town really captured my heart with its quiet streets and charming atmosphere. I spent hours walking through their narrow streets checking out their adorable little shops, food stalls, and restaurants lining the riverbanks. There were a lot of interesting-looking foods that I couldn’t even name. Overall, it was just really nice to see how life in China was in the countryside compared to the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

 

Located in the Qingpu District of Shanghai, I really felt like I was back in Venice. Once again, the first thing I did when I arrived was take a boat ride – almost like a gondola – out on the river. With their multiple stone bridges and river lines, it made for the most photogenic of opportunities. I would need a full album to showcase all the photos I took from that day; the beauty of Zhujiajiao was apparent in all of them. The boat ride itself was way too short – only around ten minutes. By the time, I’d finished posing for photos, it was already time to get off. There was a longer boat ride option but you’d have to pay more of course.

 

The best part of the day had to be when I tired myself out from walking and took a break in this cozy little cafe (pictured above) right on the river. The truth is there were so many restaurants lining the water that it was hard to choose from. I settled on these comfy couches that I could rest on for a while. Also, I fell in love with the tall open-shuttered windows that gave me a gorgeous view of the buildings on the river. I just enjoyed a nice meal by myself as I watched the boats pass by. It was honestly all I could ask for – lunch with a view with no one around. Compared to Shanghai, I would choose Zhujiajiao any day.

 

After adjusting to using WeChat and getting VPN to access all other apps in the outside world, I felt I was getting the hang of staying in China. However, something bad was bound to happen when you’re alone in a new city. The worst thing that happened to me during this trip was one night when I wanted to take a taxi home, I found myself stranded. I’d run out of cash and the ATM had just eaten my debit card. The cabs didn’t accept credit cards and the metro didn’t open for another two hours. Thankfully, I made it back alive after a VERY long night but I would highly recommend taking plenty of cash with you for those planning to travel to China in the near future. Learn from my mistakes!

Of course, when you come to Shanghai, you have to do the touristy things at least once. Pictured above is the Shanghai Tower, known to have the world’s tallest observation deck at 128 stories high. I prepared myself to be amazed after the fastest elevator ride up the world’s second tallest building. When I got up the top, however, I was a bit underwhelmed by the experience. I’m not a fan of taking photos through a glass window. It was really difficult to get a good shot through the reflection and fingerprints found on the glass. I found the view to be nice but is it crazy for me to say it was too high up? I just didn’t find myself wowed by it all. I was originally only going to go up the Shanghai Tower but last minute decision, I decided to check out the very recognizable Oriental Pearl Tower as well. Now was my chance to compare observation decks – which one was better you ask?

 

After a half hour wait to get to the top, I was welcomed to a beautiful 360 view of Shanghai. Although the Oriental Pearl Tower is marginally shorter than the Shanghai Tower, I actually enjoyed the view a lot more. Taking pictures through the glass windows were a problem once again with the reflections showing in many shots. However, what really did it for me was the all-around glass floor on the lower deck. It was definitely fun seeing myself walk above the city – it was a completely different experience altogether. I also decided to only go up to the second highest point in the tower as the highest was a different ticket option. I felt it was fine as I already found the super high views of the Shanghai Tower to be just okay. Of course, with the Pearl Tower, you’d have to sacrifice photographing it if you’re in it but overall, I enjoyed my experience at the Pearl more.

 

Kudos to you if you’ve made it this far in my post! This is the last of it – I swear. I ended my last night in Shanghai on top of the Peninsula Hotel for drinks with some friends. I feel like I’ve talked about amazing views a million times but it was honestly the best view of Shanghai I could ever ask for. The hotel itself was situated right on the Bund, which gave a stunning look at the skyline from above. I’ve honestly seen so many beautiful skylines in my life but never have I seen one quite like this! Here I am, pictured above, in my signature tube top and Sam Edelman block heels on my last night. I definitely opted to dress it up a bit to bid farewell to the beautiful city of Shanghai. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Shanghai with a few hiccups along the way. It really made me realize how much I need to brush up on my Chinese if I were to ever come back. It was also especially nice to be reunited with one of my closest friends in a city as colourful as this one. After tackling one big city, I was ready to take on Seoul next!

 

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Shanghai Photo Gallery