Solo travelling can be scary especially for first-timers. Since you are on your own, travelling alone pushes you out of your comfort zone. But it’s also exciting and eye-opening as you are able to get an in-depth experience of the country! As Shanghai is a safe and friendly country, it’s a great starter country for you to get acquainted with solo-travelling. Here is a guide for solo travelling in Shanghai!
Places to Stay
A great and comfortable accommodation is always essential for a wonderful travel experience. But here in Shanghai, there are some hostels that don't allow foreigners to stay. To avoid these hostels, here are 2 recommended hostels for your stay in Shanghai!
Blue Mountain Luwan Youth Hostel
For a more social environment, check out the Blue Mountain LuWan Youth Hostel. It’s a great place to stay in especially if you’d like to immerse in the local culture. There are plenty of facilities provided by the hostel that presents the opportunity for a casual conversation. Such as the pool tables, darts, books and movies provided by the hostel in their common area. There’s even a fireplace! Despite not being a party hostel, there is a bar in the hostel if you ever feel like grabbing a drink. The fun and communal atmosphere is sure to help with opening-up to strangers!
Rooms wise, there are both single-sex and co-ed rooms for the guests to choose from. But for those who value privacy, private rooms are also available! Even though there is no kitchen in the rooms, there’s a shared kitchen available if you ever like to have some home-cooked food.
Ruijin Garden Apartment
This cosy, spacious and modern hostel is perfect for those who want a budgeted yet homely experience. The apartment provides dazzling views of the city for their guests. Ruijin Garden Apartment hostel decorates it’s interior with natural elements and minimalist colours which helps their guests relax and unwind after a long day. Because of its gorgeous interior, the hostel is popular with female travellers.
They also have plenty of facilities and amenities available for their guest’s convenience. The hostel comes with a shared kitchen with plenty of basic cooking equipment such as the oven, toaster, dishwasher and tea and coffee machine. There are also mini-bars, kettles, television and microwaves in every room! Ruijin Garden Apartment also has a shared lounge and a workspace if you ever wish to work without any disturbance.
As expected, there are female, male and mixed dorms for your choosing. Since people will be living with each other, there are lockers in the rooms for extra security and plug sockets by each bed for convenience of charging appliances. Located only 600m away from the nearest metro, Ruijin Garden Apartment is easily accessible. There’s also a nearby bar called Cotton S if you are up to some spontaneous nightlife!
Experience Culture
Cooking Workshops
What better way to get to know people than to have a group of strangers cook together? It’s basically a win-win situation since we are able to experience the local culture while meeting new people.
One popular cooking workshop would be the Chinese Cooking Workshop. They offer cooking lessons on different cuisines from the different provinces in China. A few would be dim sum, la mian, veggie wok and the world-famous Peking duck! There are even wet market tours where you get to learn about the local wet market culture.
Another workshop would be Cook in Shanghai. Their dishes do not include msg and only use the original flavours from the ingredients! Similar to Chinese Cooking Workshop, Cook in Shanghai also offers a wet market tour, but with a twist. Students are able to pick their own ingredients after the tour for the dishes that they will be cooking! The session lasts for 4 hours where students will be able to cook 2 - 3 dishes. Some of the dishes taught by Cook in Shanghai before are dim sum, Sichuan dishes, Shanghai dishes and vegetarian dishes. After the lesson is finished, students will be able to eat the dishes that they’ve made and bond after class. The instructors usually also prepare a traditional tea ceremony for the participants that is a great way to round out the experience.
For those who do not speak the native Chinese language, no need to fret as the lessons for both workshops will be taught in English!
Former French Concession
Instead of roaming through the skyscrapers in Pudong, why not take a trip back to the Former French Concession of Shanghai? The charming European styled buildings will make you question if you are still in Shanghai. It was previously the richest neighbourhood in Shanghai but now, it’s a tourist destination!
The Former French Concession is just like a mini town that has everything ranging from entertainment to essentials. While you are there, head to Moller Villa and marvel at its magnificent and unique architecture! Or if you prefer nature attractions, there are many parks in the Former French Concession. One of which would be the Fuxing Park that resembles a mini campus. You can expect to see children flying kites and fragrant roses in the park!
Perhaps you’d like to learn more about the history of China and their propaganda. Head to the Propaganda Poster Art Centre where posters during Mao Zedong’s reign are displayed! There are also many shopping streets such as the Xinle Road, Nanchang Road or Anfu Road. But definitely check out Tianzifang and their traditional stone-gate houses for a more authentic experience that’s left from the Former French Quarter.
The Bund in the Morning
Mass exercises in the public may come as a culture shock but that’s what the locals do every morning. To fully experience the local Chinese culture, head to any nearby parks or The Bund in the morning and join in the exercises with the locals! The range of exercises that the locals partake in ranges from Tai Chi to jogging to kite flying!
Even if you do not feel like joining in, it’s still a great experience to witness the Pudong skyline in the gentle light from the rising sun.
Visit Temples
Experiencing the religion of a country may be one of the easiest ways to be acquainted with the local culture. There are many different types of temples in Shanghai ranging from a Confucious Temple to Taoist Temples to Jade Buddha Temples.
One of the most famous temples that tourists and locals alike love going to is the Jing’an Temple. But the Longhua Temple in Shanghai is equally amazing. It’s the largest and oldest temple in Shanghai of 1700 years! The 7 storied Longhua Pagoda that’s portrayed in the film “Happiness of the Sun'' is a must-see when you get there!
For a unique experience in a temple, head to the Shanghai Confucius Temple on Sunday and experience their book market! There are a wide variety of books sold in the market. You can even find magazines, novels or educational books from ancient China!
Treat Yourself
Nightlife
If you haven’t experienced night life in the country you are visiting, you have not fully experienced their local culture. Here in Shanghai, there are many innovative bars that give their guests unique experiences.
One such example would be the bar/club, RIINK. This unique bar concept turned their entire floor space as a skating rink! Customers can rent skates and dance to the music played by the DJ. They even have a unique fruity, tiki concept going for the drinks served! Without a doubt, RIINK can provide one of the best bar experiences for many.
Another popular bar in Shanghai would be a Japanese-style speakeasy bar called Speak Low. This bar has been listed on World’s 50 Best Bars consistently. Spanning a range of 3 floors, the bar has different cocktail themes on each level. Prepared to be surprised with the different concoctions on every level!
M on the Bund for a fine high tea experience
The best time to treat yourself will be when you are travelling. Why not treat yourself with one of the most acclaimed afternoon tea experiences in Shanghai? M on the Bund is an elegant and sophisticated restaurant that will surely make you feel wealthy.
The beautiful view of the skyline from the restaurant’s terrace makes it perfect for pretending to be a European aristocrat while sipping tea. There is a wide variety of brunch options for you to choose from that will for sure make you salivate. What’s afternoon tea without ordering tea? M on the Bund tea set comes with a few complimentary desserts making it worth every cent!
Tips for Travelling in Shanghai
- Be sure to learn a few basic chinese words or phrases before going for basic communication.
- Shanghai is a relatively safe country where you can walk on the streets at night without being afraid of being killed. But it’s important to still take basic precautions and take care of your personal belongings.
- To avoid illegal taxis in Shanghai, take note of their license plate numbers. If they start with “京 B”, they are fake.
- Shanghai is notoriously known for their fake alcohol. They are usually advertised as “free” alcohol and served in cheap clubs or bars. These “alcoholic beverages” are either methanol or antifreeze which can lead to an extremely bad hangover. Stay vigilant and avoid alcoholic beverages with prices that seem too good to be true.
