Phase 3 / seeded

Shanghai

China's electric port city where Art Deco banks, shikumen lanes, and glass supertowers crowd the same riverfront.

The illuminated skyline of Pudong seen across the Huangpu River from the Bund at night.
itinerary / Shanghai

Electric Rivers and Shikumen Lanes: The Ultimate Three-Day Shanghai Itinerary

A sharp three-day plan through Shanghai's clashing eras, from the cloud-skimming towers of Lujiazui to quiet Shikumen brick lanes and an escape to the waterways of Zhujiajiao.

7 min readSeries 01
Close-up of the historic Art Deco facades along the Bund under afternoon sun.
history / Shanghai

Stone and Shadow: Deciphering the Art Deco Façades of the Bund

An architectural exploration of the Bund's stone facades, tracing the rise of Art Deco banks, the toll of the Custom House bell, and the grand copper-clad lobby of the Peace Hotel.

6 min readSeries 02
Exterior brick walls and arched windows of the historic Ohel Moishe Synagogue in Shanghai.
history / Shanghai

A Sanctuary in Hongkou: The Story of the Shanghai Ghetto

A journey through the narrow lanes of Hongkou to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, exploring how a working-class Chinese neighborhood became an unlikely haven for thousands fleeing Nazi Europe.

6 min readSeries 03
A bamboo steamer filled with steaming, delicate xiaolongbao next to a small dish of ginger vinegar.
food / Shanghai

The Architecture of Soup: A Guide to Shanghai's Xiaolongbao and Shengjian

A field guide to the delicate art of eating soup dumplings and the rowdy crunch of pan-fried buns on Shanghai's historic streets.

6 min readSeries 04
Glistening Shanghainese red-braised pork belly (Hongshao Rou) in a blue and white ceramic bowl.
food / Shanghai

East Meets West: Decoding Shanghai's Haipai Kitchen

An exploration of Shanghai's unique Haipai cuisine, tracing the century-old fusion of European techniques and traditional Chinese sweet-savory flavors.

6 min readSeries 05
A narrow shikumen alleyway with red brick walls, hanging laundry on bamboo poles, and a bicycle leaning against a stone door frame.
culture / Shanghai

Alleyway Symphonies: The Shikumen Architecture of Shanghai's Lilong

Step inside Shanghai's historic stone-gate lanes to find a quiet world of drying laundry, community taps, and slow-paced neighborhood life hidden beneath the skyscrapers.

5 min readSeries 06
The soaring concrete vaults of the Long Museum West Bund casting sharp shadows on the public plaza.
culture / Shanghai

Corridors of Concrete: The Industrial Art Renaissance of the West Bund

Discover how Shanghai's former shipyards, fuel tanks, and runways along the Huangpu River have been transformed into a world-class waterfront art district.

5 min readSeries 07
A scenic view of Zhujiajiao Water Town with traditional black-tiled roofs, old stone bridges over narrow canals, and wooden boats.
nature / Shanghai

Bridges of Old Jade: A Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town

Wander through the narrow stone canals of Zhujiajiao, cross the historic Fangsheng Bridge, and sip green tea by the quiet waters.

5 min readSeries 08
A wooden boardwalk winding through tall green reed marshes under a cloudy sky on Chongming Island.
nature / Shanghai

Reeds and Wings: Exploring Chongming Island's Ecological Delta

Journey to Chongming Island to walk the endless reed marshes of Dongtan, spot migratory birds, and feel the wild wind of the Yangtze Delta.

5 min readSeries 09
A low-angle view of the Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and SWFC rising high into the clouds in Lujiazui, Pudong.
modern / Shanghai

Vertigo and Glass: Climbing the Supertowers of Lujiazui

Scale the architectural giants of Lujiazui, ride the high-speed elevator of the Shanghai Tower, and look down at the massive sprawl of the Huangpu River.

5 min readSeries 10