Brief Summary
Sam and Victor's 5-day trip to Shanghai in 2026 includes exploring various neighborhoods, trying local cuisine, visiting cultural sites, and discovering unique coffee shops and stores. They stayed in two different hotels to experience different areas of the city, visited temples, gardens, and markets, and enjoyed both traditional and modern aspects of Shanghai.
- Explored diverse neighborhoods like Jing'an and The Bund.
- Sampled local delicacies such as Peking duck, pan-fried buns, and Yunnan cuisine.
- Visited cultural landmarks including Jing'an Temple, Longhua Temple, and Yu Garden.
- Discovered unique coffee shops and homeware stores.
Day 1: Room Tour, OPS, Captain George Coffee
Sam and Victor begin their Shanghai trip by flying from Hong Kong, noting the possibility of a 30-day visa-free entry for Canadians in the future. They check into the Okura Garden Hotel in the Jing'an area, highlighting its proximity to cafes and shops. They visit O.P.S, a coffee shop known for its coffee cocktails and unique service style reminiscent of Tokyo's Koffee Mameya. They also explore other cafes, including one with antique French furniture, and dine at a Michelin-recommended Shanghainese restaurant, though they find the food just okay.
Day 2: Jing'an Temple, Wukang Mansion, Herbal Gelato, Longhua Temple
The day starts with breakfast at a dumpling and coffee spot, where they encounter some ordering challenges due to the lack of Meituan access. They visit Jing'an Temple, paying an entrance fee and observing the coin-throwing tradition. They explore the architecture of the former Kadoorie family mansion and wander through streets filled with cute shops, including homeware and tableware stores. They visit the iconic Wukang Mansion and try herbal gelato with Asian-inspired flavors. The day concludes with a visit to Longhua Temple, decorated with lanterns for the Chinese New Year.
Day 3: Edition Hotel, Peking Duck, 1000 Trees, Panlong Xintiandi
Sam and Victor start their day with "dirty coffee" at Mahlkönig before checking out of their first hotel and heading to The Edition Hotel on Nanjing Road East. They enjoy the Pearl TV Tower view from their room and sample welcome treats. For lunch, they dine at a one-star Michelin restaurant for Peking duck, finding the caviar pairing interesting but the rest of the duck too heavy. They visit the 1000 Trees complex and then travel to Panlong Xintiandi, an ancient water town redeveloped with stylish cafes and restaurants, to see the New Year parade and market.
Day 4: Yunnan Coffee, Shanghai Shops & Buns, Yu Yuan Garden
The day begins with a visit to a cafe serving Yunnan coffee, located in a 1930s building with a focus on Yunnan crafts and coffee history. They explore various shops, including wabi-sabi homeware stores and trendy clothing boutiques on Fumin Road. They try pan-fried buns and visit Yu Yuan Garden, a classical Chinese garden with lantern shows and souvenir shops. They end the day with chicken pot at Phoebe's favorite restaurant and a massage.
Day 5: Sunrise, Rockbund, Tang Suo瑭所
On their last day, Sam captures the sunrise at The Bund and visits a free museum documenting China's economy, housed in the former Astor House Hotel. They explore Rockbund, a block of colonial buildings restored into shops and galleries, and visit Tang Suo, a modern Chinese cake shop specializing in "begonia window" cakes. Sam discovers a coffee shop near The Edition and enjoys what he considers the best cup of coffee of the trip. They conclude their Shanghai adventure with afternoon tea at The Edition's Japanese restaurant, served in a bento-style box with a view of The Bund.
